$A V $Us - Brakes M35

[Paramour]

Ok, it's a rant but come on. . . so much for strong Aussie dollar to buy products cheaper locally. They are same price when I enquired when A$ was at 0.60c.

K-Sport - Australia

The price on the Front 330mm rotors with 8 pot calipers are $1999.

The price on the Front 356mm rotors with 8 pot calipers are $2299

The prices do not include shipping.

Then US ebay site for exact same product

US$1445

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Ksport-ProComp-8-Piston-Brake-Kit-03-UP-Nissan-350Z-_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQhashZitem4cf51dde65QQitemZ330529889893QQptZMotorsQ5fCarQ5fTruckQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories

US$1623

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/03-Nissan-350Z-Z33-14-Ksport-Rear-Big-Brake-Kit-_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQhashZitem2a080e959fQQitemZ180523799967QQptZMotorsQ5fCarQ5fTruckQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories

[Duncan]

sure, but they would have local warehouses full of stock they bought at 70c to USD. Any importer with stock in Aus more than 6 months old is in big trouble vs buying direct over the net atm.

I guess prices will come down to over the next 6 months.

[Jetwreck]

I know what your going on about Jules....I used to race Jetski's many a year ago and I found it to be a bit of a rip off when I new they were ordering Ski's from the US for me and what the exchange rate was at the time......then to have them only every increase pricing and never decrease. I ended up buying oversea's through people that I had met in the Ski game simply to keep price's down.

In saying that Duncan is right on local stock warehoused....but more than likely wrong that prices will come down just because they purchase there stock at a lower price.

[andy65b]

Unfortunately many business will never decrease their price despite exchange rate fluctuations. As said above, they would not be seeing any benifit of the improved exchange rates yet for a couple of reasons, 1) warehouse with stock bought at old exchange rate 2) many businesses forward purchase currency to protect against unpredicted drops in the exchange rate.

I know in my case when August last year we had a HUNG parliament and an exchange rate of $0.87, we could only see the exchange rate going one way, down. So we forward purchased most of the money needed for the next 6 months. This was a bad call but who would guess that we would be still be on parity 6 months later. Not us.

[darrinspencer]

Don't forget our import duty of 5% plus 10% gst on top plus smaller population equals less turn over so higher profit margin is needed to stay in bussiness.

[andy65b]

Don't forget our import duty of 5% plus 10% gst on top plus smaller population equals less turn over so higher profit margin is needed to stay in bussiness.

++++

Local labor rates that are DOUBLE the US.

Rental prices that are at least DOUBLE the US.

All I say is remember that when you buy from overseas that NO ONE locally will help you with any problems or warranty claims.

[Daleo]

Andy makes some very interesting points; especially regarding purchases made at a higher exchange rate. I'd hate to be running any kind of business in Australia, if a comparable product could be brought in from the States, etc. You would just about be dead in the water right now.

I buy virtually all of my bike & motorbike parts from outside Australia at the moment, the prices are routinely less than half that of the Australian item, sometimes closer to a third...

The thing is, I'd actually buy more here if the retailers actually HELD STOCK in Australia, and I'll happily pay for good service.

Instead, most of the time I get "We'll have to order it in" and after waiting WEEKS for simple parts like gaskets, I end up ordering over the net delivered for less than half, and delivered within DAYS For things that are being ordered on a Demand basis, the prices should reflect the current exchange rate, not the "We've been gouging you for years" price. If I can get a gasket for a current model bike from America, quicker than I can get it from my local dealer; something is bloody wrong. And lets not forget, the guy in America is obviously still making a profit; even though he's only charging $5 delivered against $15 from my local dealer.

I think there are a lot of local businesses that are going to have to smarten up in the next few years, otherwise they may not last until our dollar value drops.

I've not got a problem with anyone making money, but there are some businesses that have been making a killing for years that are not prepared to release the stranglehold on that profit margin AND supply quality customer service that keeps people coming back.

I guess the lesson for everyone is to keep going to businesses who give good service and competitive prices locally, rather than just saving a buck. Support quality businesses in our local community, and our community stays strong. Otherwise the knowledgable experts end up leaving their chosen fields, and you no longer have any back up for the parts you saved a few bucks on.

Something to think about, that's for sure...

[darrinspencer]

The price on the Front 330mm rotors with 8 pot calipers are $1999.

The price on the Front 356mm rotors with 8 pot calipers are $2299

Tyr this guy for pricing, you might be supprised

http://www.streettotrack.com/

[andy65b]

Instead, most of the time I get "We'll have to order it in" and after waiting WEEKS for simple parts like gaskets, I end up ordering over the net delivered for less than half, and delivered within DAYS For things that are being ordered on a Demand basis, the prices should reflect the current exchange rate, not the "We've been gouging you for years" price. If I can get a gasket for a current model bike from America, quicker than I can get it from my local dealer; something is bloody wrong. And lets not forget, the guy in America is obviously still making a profit; even though he's only charging $5 delivered against $15 from my local dealer.

I think there are a lot of local businesses that are going to have to smarten up in the next few years, otherwise they may not last until our dollar value drops.

Dale,

I agree with you entirely with this. If businesses think they can operate in this market as an expensive "order to demand" store they have lost sight of what the internet has done to the world market. I know in our business we know the only way to grow our business, is to operate as a true distributor where I carry a comprehensive range of stock that is available to dealers the next day.

[Angus Smart]

i am sitting on 50k worth of stock i bought when the euro was around 0.55 Eur - $1 Aud the euros now sitting @ 0.74 and i cant move my stock dew to competitors buying in now.

i aint shifting my price any lower just to compete and loose money, thats just the way it goes. now if i had 80-100k now i'd be buying more stock to average my wholesale prices down

[whitestag]

Loving this exchange rate. Buying everything in us cheap.

Just cost of shipping which gets most for large items.

On side note can 19"x9.5 fit on m35? Looking at some works vsxx 3 piece

[Angus Smart]

cant see why not. i am running 18x10 the rears tuck in.. however you might need a tiny bit of lip as i get a little bit of rubbing over bumps and dips in the road.. the fronts you can prob fit westrac 777 wheels under it.

[whitestag]

So 10 is as wide as m35 can take. Might ask if they got 10's in stock lol.

[iamhe77]

sure, but they would have local warehouses full of stock they bought at 70c to USD. Any importer with stock in Aus more than 6 months old is in big trouble vs buying direct over the net atm.

I guess prices will come down to over the next 6 months.

Agree 100%.

But if it works for fuel companies....

[JayM35]

$1400 NZD for D2(same as Ksport)

So why go US?

[Dunc]

$1400 NZD for D2(same as Ksport)

So why go US?

Ouch, NZD aint doing to flash at the moment.. But that does make it a steal for us; $1050 AUD. And yeah, I cant be bothered googling but do you have any links to NZ suppliers/stockists?

[Paramour]

Ouch, NZD aint doing to flash at the moment.. But that does make it a steal for us; $1050 AUD. And yeah, I cant be bothered googling but do you have any links to NZ suppliers/stockists?

Cheers will give them a look in, thanks for the heads up. yes would rather throw $$ to NZ than US

Dunc - http://www.d2racingsport.com/brake_F330.htm

[Paramour]

FYI - on the D2 NZ site they range around the $1800 to $2300 mark

[JayM35]

Will confirm tomorrow, que typical story of - mates girlfriends dad - used to be mates with owner of redline performance, who are D2 stockists

[Jetwreck]

mmmmmm cheap

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/D2-356mm-8-pot-Brakes-skyline-r33-gtst-/120684392848?pt=AU_Car_Parts_Accessories&hash=item1c1959b190#ht_661wt_1141