Outer Limits 4x4 Board

noelb1 wrote:try being on the other side of the counter dealing with certain types of people , makes a days work not very enjoyable somedays.

Mate, I have been on both sides of the counter. Sounds to me like your the one with the set mindset. Join the whole conversation like everyone else, instead of having a go at one persons post. I have generalized my comments, but you have made them personal, so take a chill pill.

Lol, Go the rangies.

zagan wrote:Something also that I havn't seen pointed out.

Mainly based around service.

Some places will charge more and offer a better service for customers, not saying all as it depends on what kind of service your after.

What kind of service do you get for your money from a US company website?

$780 isn't cheap for something to turn up at your door broken is it.

my parts turn up quicker from the states and am kept informed compared to stuff i have got from businesses in queensland , yes there is a risk to buy over sea's warranty wise etc , but when you can import 2 sets of something for what it would cost for 1 set here and the ones here break and hardly ever get warranty it still better to risk the stuff from the states .

i believe customer service is were its at , i will and have payed more when the business is polite keeps me informed (its called a phone use it ) offers helpful addvice etc , but mainly it the being kept informed and contactable that does it for me , unless of course its just heaps cheaper somewhere else ,

i do like the businesses do , i have rent wages (im married ) etc etc to live so i do whats best for myself first , but am always willing to pay more for good service . ( i got offered 4x4 dvd's etc from a friend in the industry at cost but i still payed retail as he goes out of his way to help there fore i appreciate his business and prefer to assist in it possibly making money instead of using him .

How exactly can someone rip you off on a product ??

If you don't want to pay the $$$ then you don't buy it, if you do buy it and you could have got it cheaper somewhere else then bad luck.

No two independent stores will ever price things the same and unless you own the place you really have no idea how much their overheads are and what is involved in getting that product on the shelf.

If you can buy stuff so cheap from overseas and all these local guys are overcharging then why don't you import and setup your own shop and set the Australian Price Right ??

I export parts to other countries and sell them cheaper than I do locally .. why ?? Cause the overseas people don't waste endless hours trying to get stuff done for free and asking stupid questions when you know they are just trying to get enough info to do the job themselves using the years of expereince you have gained through working hard.

I am not saying there is anything wrong with asking for info just that someone has to pay for this info. Have a look how many of these great USA businesses offer customer service over the counter, try ringing them up for a chat ??

Hay turbo 42.
I like you, what you said is 6 hours of my every day. Know wonder I work back to 10pm every night and have probs getting things done

^^^^^^

Turbo42 is on the money! Being in the industry I agree 100% !!!

I love this 'buy local and save an Aussie job' debate. It's a load of bull.

I'd ask any 4x4 store when they buy their booze for a Friday arvo, do they try and buy a slab at a decent price? Or are they happy to pay way over the mark.

Commerce is commerce is commerce. Business is business. What you sell doesn't matter, the principal remains the same.

4x4 stores might not make much money...guess what, neither do a lot of your customers, so of course we're going to try and save ourselves a buck where we can. BUT, and its a big BUT if we're smart we'll do it when we can afford to, and that's the key. If we need more than just a part from some online catalogue then we should definitely buy local.

BUT we should also shop around. There are a hell of a lot of local guys who cry poor and say they'll have to shut soon, who bitch and moan about people importing their own gear, wasting their time, blah blah...and there are guys who are so busy they can't keep up.

Considering they both sell the same gear and aren't that far away from each other, there must be something separating them. Wonder what it is?

I recently had some ratios and lockers installed. Now I was given the ratios years ago, and had a mate bring me a front locker and some carriers back from the US. I rang around and got quotes from $1350 an end to far less (which is the one I ended up going for). Turns out I had some serious issues with the carriers - the shop could have, quite rightly, charged me $$$ for their time, but they didn't. They bent over backwards to help, and did a brilliant job in the end. Because of that I'll happily drive over an hour to get all my work done by them from now on, and I've recommended them to every person I know.

They didn't care where my parts came from, they just provided brilliant service and advice, and in the end parts as well, at extremely reasonable prices.

Every business faces competition, 4x4 stores aren't any different, and aren't any more special. Run a good business and you'll be successful, expect people to do you a favour just because to keep it alive and you'll soon be putting the space up for lease.

Just a side comment ..

Americans are proud of their country as same as all .. but if their found better price in chinese products .. you thing they gonna pey more for US products .. ?

Some can do off course ..

But actually the goverment improve the protection of many thinks in US and all of us can see how the dolar works to protect the US economy ..

Ben wrote:I'd ask any 4x4 store when they buy their booze for a Friday arvo, do they try and buy a slab at a decent price? Or are they happy to pay way over the mark.

From the local grog shop 2 mins down the road, not one that is $5 cheaper on the otherside of town...