sandbar said:
I have watched this thread with increasing concern.
There are a lot of opinions being expressed which are quite obviously based on incorrect information and false assumptions.
Just in case I am accused of using an alias e-mail address etc, let me make my situation clear so that it is obvious what my position is. I import a well-known make of carbon fibre products from Germany. I am the UK agent and distributor for these products which include rear huggers for most of the BMW range. These products are not only available under the Ilmberger name, but are also available from other sources.
I do not agree, as a generalisation, that list prices are any different from country to country within Europe. I do not agree, as a generalisation, that list prices are greatly different from Europe to America. I have done the research - I bet you have not!!
I do not have personal experience with coolcarbon's products, but I do know the company that manufactures for him, and let me tell you that I am amazed that his replies have been so calm and peaceful. It must be all that Scottish air!!
For the record when our R1200GS hugger becomes available in the UK - hopefully soon, the basic price (£132.75)will be as near as possible to the basic price in Germany. If you have an issue with the application or level of VAT, then take that up with the government and do not try and blame suppliers.
By the way, we have not yet found a cost free way of transporting any products from one place to another, but if we do then you can be assured that the saving will be passed on to you.
The original assumptions that seemed to have been used to start this particular discussion are of course deeply flawed. Any attempt to compare costs with weight alone seem to me to be extremely simplistic and juvenile.
I notice comments about manufacturers prices against retail prices. If there was that much profit available, why was it "when I used to..........." Why are you not doing it now? It is because the profits that are being talked about are simply not there, and the reality is completely different. Why let the facts get in the way of a good story
And the final thing that really made me throw my teddy out of the pram is the suggestion that this (or any other forum) should be used for any ill-informed rant to make unsubstantiated allegations against people, organisations or companies who would then be prevented from replying. That is, of course, offensive. I was going to use the word unfair, but that would have been impolite!
To coin a phrase " You sir - are a bounder!"
Sandbar
Dear Sandbar,
If you do not understand the concept of price per tonne/kilo/pound, then it is apparent that you have no valid economic industrial base upon which to state an opinion on that point.
Sales agents/importers without design, manufacturing/procurement and distribution experience are out of their depth here.
Perhaps you are familiar with the name of Phil Irving, Chief Designer for Vincent and I believe Velocette. In his publications of the 1960's he actually explained the concept and how it effected the price to the consumer.
This is a common concept wordwide in numerous industries and is particularly prevalent in Germany(where I lived for about 12 years and had my industrial base for 17 years),you could make yourself more aware of it and enhance your procurement capability. Perhaps the simplest example is in sand caste iron or aluminium, where once the tooling is paid for by the buyer then the "pour" is based on a tonnage basis and that is what is bought. Not the number of components.
Now, the laws of physics and economics have not changed in 50 years, and all we are discussing is the source price for the raw(intermediate)materials and the labour to create the finished product. And none of them are anything special in our era.
So what has changed? Could it be that the motorcyclist of today is far less likely than 50 years ago to have a background in engineering or manufacture, and that the salesmen are taking advantage.
And just because these people wish to make unreal profit margins and silence anyone who questions their business practices, am I, having a background which makes this seem transparent, supposed to be PC and not out them??????
And I still need to understand how and why some contributors, stating purely consumer interest, find their interests are so aligned with the guys who charge them such high prices. Somewhat odd do you not think, especially when my protagonists come and go so frequently. But perhaps this is just a reflection of how trusting we Brits have become.
Furthermore, anyone who imports German aftermarket stuff which was actually MADE in Germany is either deluding or masochistic. The Krauts generally outsource almost anything and everything East and Far East and then charge home market prices. So we poor Brits are paying a premium on top of their premium. If you are unceratain on this point check out your 12GS, I believe that the original BMW OEM seat has a Far Eastern origin mark.
Strangely Brits seem to prefer to deal with intermediaries(Krauts?) who introduce another profit margin into the chain, and they always complain about transport costs. I recently checked for freight out of New York to Belfast for motorcycle components and it was about GBP 100 per cubic metre delivered to my door in less than 7 days. And that was not on a competitive tender basis. So road transport out of Germany should be cheaper.
And I am still waiting for Dutch, or anyone else on that side of the discussion, to explain in detail their pricing or , even more fun their charitable not for profit status. Meantime I will content myself with having boosted sales for Dutch, as he claimed a few days ago, before leaving others to defend the cause.
Now, before you get all excited again Sandbar, please just understand that we do not exist to make profit for you guys, even if you choose to pay high prices to equally greedy Krauts. Tell them that their price per kilo is ridiculous for such simplistic designs and fabrications.
And remember what Carroll Smith(who won LeMan for Ford with the GT40's against the Ferrari domination of years)said: " Multiply all claims by salesmen by a factor of 0.25" Personally I think Carroll was being generous. Sorry if you do not share my humour.