Touratech - Again

[Dellis]

or get a German address

And only Euro 450 per annum

 

[Dellis]

Another noteworthy point is that UK VAT is 17.5% against 19% in Germany.

Dave

 

[Chunk]

Touratech pricing

Is this not missing the point of this thread....we shouldn't have to go to these lengths to get the same deal as our Continental Cousins...

They have a website that allows all other EU countries to buy direct....boycott them, simple!

Give 'Chunk' your business...he could clean up here given enough support and encouragement, he's not ripping the arse out of it...

Thanks for the mention on this thread.

I almost bought some TT stuff before I worked out how much profit they were making on a few simple products.
That's why I have started to make my own, and for others.

I will be bringing more products out soon, and even more through the winter months, all at a fair price.
If any one wants a bracket for anything, I'll do what I can to help.

TT will never change. The UK market is to small.
It's unfortunate because some of there products are quite good
Will just make my job easier

Thanks again for the mention Coolcarbon.

 

[Hamster]

My e-mail to Ms.McLaughlin, copied to Touratech

Dear Ms. McLoughlin

I understand that you are the person I should be directing a complaint to.

Touratech are a German supplier of aftermarket motorcycle parts.
They are operating a 'one price for Europe, another price for UK' policy and refusing to supply to the UK at the EU price.
Any attempt to purchase directly from Touratech is forwarded to an independant UK outlet that sells the same item but a higher rate.
I believe that by refusing to sell and deliver to the UK they are breaking the EU trading rules by the use of restrictive practices

I would appreciate your opnion on this

Thank you

Robin Morgan


Touratech AG
Auf dem Zimmerman 7-9
78078 Niederesschach
Tel + 49 (0)7728-9279-0
[email protected]

 

[Thunder]

Got a reply from one of the MEPs yesterday:

Thank you for your email and for bringing this matter to my attention.

I have written to the Commissioner for the Internal Market and Services asking him to look into the subject. I now have your details on file and I shall write to you in due course with any response I receive.

Best wishes.

Yours sincerely,
Jim Allister MEP

Will await a response from the commissioner Charlie Mc Greevy with interest.

 

[Davy F]

Got my reply as well (as above).

Come on guys, the more who take a few minutes time to make a complaint, the better. Right ?

 

[Davy F]

Well, I've just spoken with Neil from TTuk who phoned me this morning. He has viewed what's going on here and explained to me why the prices are different between us and the rest of Europe and more. Needless to say, I can't repeat all the conversation, but suffice to say, there are quite a few things that they (TTuk) can't get round and unfortunately they are hampered when it comes to dealing with the German end and trying to run a business in the UK.

I know the main problem being discussed here is the fact that TTdu won't post items to the UK, but apparently they are within their rights not to.

 

[cookie]

He has viewed what's going on here and explained to me why the prices are different between us and the rest of Europe and more. Needless to say, I can't repeat all the conversation

so can you tell us ANY reason why they are ripping us off?

I know the main problem being discussed here is the fact that TTdu won't post items to the UK, but apparently they are within their rights not to.

and i'm within my rights to not buy anything from TT UK. f*ck 'em.

 

[Davy F]

so can you tell us ANY reason why they are ripping us off?

My problem is I have a memory of a fish.........

Apparently, it's all to do with carriage/costs/UK business rates/cost of living/wages etc etc.

I'm not defending TTuk, merely saying that I was given a glimpse into their world and TBH, it's all pretty baffling as I'm no business person.

 

[ironandsteel]

I have the problem solved. I use wunderlich whenever possible
Sooo much faster ,more polite and helpful.

You know that the situation is the same with Wunderlich - approximately 18% (VAT / Import Tax?) dearer than direct from Germany:

Email quote 1:
"thank you for your interest in Wunderlich parts. Please note we don't send parts directly to England"

My email Response:
"Thank you for responding so promptly - unfortunately, because you do not ship direct to the UK, I would have to pay an extra 18% on your prices and have been quoted a further 88.32 euros (plus VAT) for overnight carriage which does make purchases rather prohibitive.
In fact, it would be cheaper to drive to your works to collect all the items I required!
It is a shame as I was very impressed with your dedication and attention to detail - please let me know of you intend to treat us in the UK the same as the rest of the world any time in the future."

Their email response:
"we have our dealers in England and we are very satisfied with them. I don't think that we will send parts directly soon."

So, anyone up for a trip to Paris to collect from Wunderlich France sometime next year?

 

[Womble]

I can see Touratech UK's problems, but they're no different from any other supplier in the UK. Why not compare like with like - there are other dealers that sponsor this site and and there are hardly any complaints about costs or delivery times.

If Touratech UK can't compete, it's either because they have a bad deal with Tourtatech and the costs are being passed on to us, or it's because their business costs are too high, or both!. Unfortunately, what tends to happen to companies in this position is that they go to the wall. Touratech seem to be protecting them at the moment, but someone needs to take this thread as a hint and do some serious head scratching, because the situation might not last forever. If they managed to drop some of the markup, and develop a reputation for speedy delivery, a lot more people would be happy buying from them and they would be in for return business, increasing overall profits.

 

[Uinneag]

I can see Touratech UK's problems, but they're no different from any other supplier in the UK. Why not compare like with like - there are other dealers that sponsor this site and and there are hardly any complaints about costs or delivery times.

If Touratech UK can't compete, it's either because they have a bad deal with Tourtatech and the costs are being passed on to us, or it's because their business costs are too high, or both!. Unfortunately, what tends to happen to companies in this position is that they go to the wall. Touratech seem to be protecting them at the moment, but someone needs to take this thread as a hint and do some serious head scratching, because the situation might not last forever. If they managed to drop some of the markup, and develop a reputation for speedy delivery, a lot more people would be happy buying from them and they would be in for return business, increasing overall profits.

Well put that man

 

[Hamster]

My problem is I have a memory of a fish.........

Apparently, it's all to do with carriage/costs/UK business rates/cost of living/wages etc etc.

I'm not defending TTuk, merely saying that I was given a glimpse into their world and TBH, it's all pretty baffling as I'm no business person.

If Touratech posted to the UK from Germany, there are no UK business rates involved, surely? The Business rates are the problem of the man in the UK who is an independant by their own admission and the very man we are trying to by-pass.

The cost of living in England bears no relation on the selling price of an item posted from Germany

They can post to Eire at a price less than the UK, so that doesn't hold water either

Cut out the middle man and let us buy at EU prices!!

I WAS planning to buy a full set of Zega panniers plus extra.
Whe I found the price difference I voted with my wallet. I wouldn't have TT as a presnt now, it's a matter of principle.
AND I prefer be be given a kiss when I'm being screwed.

 

[Paul S]

The principle here, imho, is not what prices Touratech UK decide to set.

For all I care they can try and sell an oil filler plug for £1000 if any one is daft enough to buy one.

What is wrong is that as a UK resident we are being prevented from buying products direct form Touratech DE which is against the rules of the EEC.

So get on and complain to the Commission/your MEP (as set out in the earlier posts) to try and get it this changed

 

[Bert]

another storm in a tea cup

So many wrongs in the world and so much 'Angst' !!
I have yet to see identical items priced the same in Spain/France/Germany/Italy/Greece etc - that will never happen. Market forces and politics will always be at play.

The solution is really simple - each choses what he/she buys and where from. Why make such a song and dance about it?
Take a few days hols (we do ride out bikes don't we? ) & enjoy riding and travelling in the E.U to get the best it has to offer at the same time rather than wait for a *** miracle!

Like that you get the best of everything and soooo much less stress
BTW...
Could this be the perfect opportunity for a ride out?
A 3 day blat to the Black Forest for a bit of intense retail therapy

 

[Thunder]

The solution is really simple - each choses what he/she buys and where from. Why make such a song and dance about it?

The problem is Bert we don't have the choice of where to buy from, if we did this thread would not exist.

 

[Jacqueslemac]

The problem is Bert we don't have the choice of where to buy from, if we did this thread would not exist.

..and the EU treaty says that it is illegal for any manufacturer to refuse to ship to anywhere in the EU. It used to be called "restraint of trade" or some such legal term.

No-one is saying that Touratech should be forced to lower prices, just that they're breaking EU law by refusing to sell their products to UK citizens.

If I live in the UK and want to buy from Germany, or France, or Belgium, that should be up to me, not the manufacturer.

 

[Ian916]

Having worked previously for a UK importer I do have some sympathy for Touratech UK, - running costs of business are high here and we pay more than our European friends for a lot of products. - BUT the problems here are not the consumers problem, they are the manufactures (not the importer). Clearly it is against the European laws for the German sales outlet to restrict trade in this was to the UK, but you can see that they are protecting their UK counterparts, but as said their loyalty is illegal and will get them into trouble if the EU trading commission does what it says it will by investigating this.

The only answer is for the manufacturer to subsidise the UK market by selling their parts at a cheaper price, but I suspect as the first law of economics is price is determined by supply and demand and we have here a limited supply and relatively low demand the prices to the importer remain high.

 

[Ginger DJ]

Not just TT, BMW as well, check out clothing prices here and in Germany

 

[Hamster]

Having worked previously for a UK importer I do have some sympathy for Touratech UK, - running costs of business are high here and we pay more than our European friends for a lot of products. - BUT the problems here are not the consumers problem, they are the manufactures (not the importer). Clearly it is against the European laws for the German sales outlet to restrict trade in this was to the UK, but you can see that they are protecting their UK counterparts, but as said their loyalty is illegal and will get them into trouble if the EU trading commission does what it says it will by investigating this.

The only answer is for the manufacturer to subsidise the UK market by selling their parts at a cheaper price, but I suspect as the first law of economics is price is determined by supply and demand and we have here a limited supply and relatively low demand the prices to the importer remain high.

Forgive me if I'm wrong, but isn't the TT distributor in the UK an independent?
TT have set up a deal where the independent has all UK business forwarded to him to supply goods at HIS price and they are refusing to supply goods at the EU price. Thus they protect the independent's business.
He is the one with the overheads - not TT de.
After all, if TT.de would sell to the UK at EU prices, the UK dealer would go bust in a heartbeat.
BUT, I think they are engaged in unfair and restrictive practices.