Touratech - Again

[Peter Pan]

I've read this thread with a lot of interest. Historically I've purchased TT stuff (via my main dealer and with a 10% discount) and been very pleased with the delivery and quality of the product.

However, it just seems plain wrong to me that TT.de won't ship to the UK and all orders have to go through TT.uk - which results in an inflated price being paid. That is my biggest beef with this lot.

Just because TT.de have a supply arrangement with TT.uk shouldn't on it's own prohibit me from buying directly from TT.de - there may be other reasons why I may chose to buy from TT.uk for example they may have it in stock and could (potentially) get it to me quicker but let me decide what I want to do. I do not want a single 'take it or leave it' solution thrust at me.

This thread has opened my eyes to the antics of TT (both in the uk and Germany). I do not consider it acceptable and for that reason, until the situation changes, I will not be buying anything further from TT.

Count me in Guys!

 

[red1]

Just got the TT UK newsletter and responded with:

If and when you align your prices with other European Touratech distributors and stop charging inflated prices to UK customers I may consider dealing with your company.


Can't harm to keep at them can it.

 

[Thunder]

Have just received a reply from Brussels to my last email in which I provided them information which demonstrated TT UK and TT De were in fact separate companies.


Dear Mr ********

Thank you for your e-mail of 28 November 2007, in which you indicate that Touratech DE and Touratech UK are not connected.

If it can be indeed established that Touratech DE and Touratech UK constitute independent economic entities and that the refusal to deliver is the result of an agreement concluded between them, then the practice at issue could fall within the field of application of Article 81 of the EC Treaty.

However, it should be noted that the information provided by you is not sufficient for my services to establish an infringement of the EC competition rules at this stage. Moreover, even assuming that such an infringement could be proven, it would appear that its effects would be in any event limited to the UK market. As a matter of fact, the Commission has not received, so far, any other complaint concerning Touratech's alleged conduct which could involve consumers established in other Member States. Therefore, in the light of the information currently available, it would appear that an investigation on this issue might not entail a sufficient Community interest to justify a direct intervention by the European Commission.

This preliminary view is, of course, without prejudice to the possibility for you to bring this matter to the attention of the UK competition authority, the Office of Fair Trading, which is fully empowered to apply the EC competition rules.

Having said that, it should be noted that the information provided by you will be treated as market information. Market information, such as the one you have given us, is often not in itself sufficient to give rise to an investigation. However, information from various sources may form a pattern which might lead the Commission to initiate a full scale investigation at a later stage.

We therefore appreciate that you have chosen to inform us of this issue and we have taken note of your concerns. Your information has been put on file and will be taken into consideration should we at a later stage decide to open an investigation.

Yours sincerely,


Paolo CESARINI
Head of Unit

European Commission - DG Competition
Antitrust: Basic Industries, Chemicals and other Manufacturing
Rue de la Loi/Wetstraat, 200 - B-1049 Brussels
J-70 01/128

So basically as I'm the only person who has complained to them and it only effects the UK it's not worth their while looking into something which may be a breach of trading regulations

 

[Berin]

But the OFT might be worth a call. They have hundreds of busybodies with not much to do.

 

[santrix]

Allways had good quick turnaround of order form TT untill i ordered a zega kit of them a month ago, still no show... after i explained to them i needed them by the end of the month, which they said will be no problem. Anyway, bought some H&B now so theyll be getting the cancellation monday... TT has terrible communication skills... you'd think theyd have a bloody body there to deal with enquiries while they were at the london bike show....

 

[Jacqueslemac]

Exchange rate

I've just sold one of my cars so I can afford some ally cases.

Touratech UK are charging £550 for a set of Zega cases, with mounting kit, for my bike.

The exchange rate is so bad at the moment that if I had a set of cases sent to my French address from TT France, it'd still cost me £527.

 

[StephenC]

TT Goodies

Guys, I've just taken delivery of a new GS and new to this site, a real new boy !! I've ordered a whole heap of stuff from TT who told me that it will take 7-10 days to arrive. What other sites are available for high quality "bits". They also told me they never give discount is that true ??
It looked to me like TT have cornered the market. Any hints would be much apprecaited.

 

[EggChaser]

Guys, I've just taken delivery of a new GS and new to this site, a real new boy !! I've ordered a whole heap of stuff from TT who told me that it will take 7-10 days to arrive. What other sites are available for high quality "bits". They also told me they never give discount is that true ??
It looked to me like TT have cornered the market. Any hints would be much apprecaited.

Hi Stephen

Suggest
Motobins http://www.motobins.co.uk

Nippy Normans http://www.nippynormans.com

 

[Taff]

..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.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.

Touratech have a shop in Aachen, just inside the German border, so there's no need to go to the Black Forest.

One other factor to consider when we are thinking about TT UK mark up is if you order an item through a dealer it is supplied to you by said dealer at the RRP provided by TT UK, just the same as TT UK will charge you if you order from them, but of course being business the dealer gets the item at a lower price so he can add his mark up.

Does this mean that if you were to order an item through a German dealer, that you get charged the German price?

i went 2 tt today it was good, very friendly good coffee and had all we wanted in stock, and anything that np didnt have was 7 to 10 days he promisd!

Interested to know whether he kept his promise?

The offer is still there guys!

You could be quite busy SF.

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

Touratech have a shop in Aachen, just inside the German border, so there's no need to go to the Black Forest.

Taff,
Have you got the address and contacts??

 

[Jacqueslemac]

Does this mean that if you were to order an item through a German dealer, that you get charged the German price?

Yes, but they won't deliver to a UK address. See also my post just above - with the current exchange rate, it's not a lot cheaper than in the UK.

 

[Taff]

Taff, Have you got the address and contacts??

Touratech - West,
Kohl Automobile GmbH,
Neuenhofstr 160,
52078, Aachen,
Germany.

Tel: 0049 241 5688462.

I have no special information - Its on page 4 of the 2008 catalogue.

N50 45.947 E6 08.881. I called there on my way back from Bavaria and must say it looked very impressive and efficient. Sadly I had less than 30 mins max to have a look around, before having to leave to catch the train back to the UK.

I'm sure they probably won't deliver to the UK, but at least its closer than Munich if / when you find yourself on a trip to Europe.

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

Touratech - West,
Kohl Automobile GmbH,
Neuenhofstr 160,
52078, Aachen,
Germany.

Tel: 0049 241 5688462.

I have no special information - Its on page 4 of the 2008 catalogue.

N50 45.947 E6 08.881. I called there on my way back from Bavaria and must say it looked very impressive and efficient. Sadly I had less than 30 mins max to have a look around, before having to leave to catch the train back to the UK.

I'm sure they probably won't deliver to the UK, but at least its closer than Munich if / when you find yourself on a trip to Europe.

Great.............I shall be in Aachen in 3 weeks time and have waypointed the address into my GPS

Fecking useful these GPS things, never thought I'd be saying that

 

[Thunder]

Does this mean that if you were to order an item through a German dealer, that you get charged the German price?

Yes it does, the prices are recommended retail for the countries involved.

One factor that has changed since last year though is the Euro exchange rate which will eventually work it's way through the system

 

[Taff]

Great...... I shall be in Aachen in 3 weeks time and have waypointed the address into my GPS.

It's not an easy one to find as there's no sign or anything to show where it is from the outside, but it's part of the BMW dealership - which is easy to find.

 

[Felters]

Allways had good quick turnaround of order form TT untill i ordered a zega kit of them a month ago, still no show... after i explained to them i needed them by the end of the month, which they said will be no problem. Anyway, bought some H&B now so theyll be getting the cancellation monday... TT has terrible communication skills... you'd think theyd have a bloody body there to deal with enquiries while they were at the london bike show....

Curious... I ordered a pair of Zega's and the frame for my GS about a month ago on a Monday morning. They were delivered on Wednesday the same week.

If you think Zegas are expensive have a look at what Metal Mule are trying to charge now for their new models.

 

[Urban Rider]

I ordered a Touratech Top Box bracket last Thursday and received a call from TT on Friday morning to state that they were not in stock and needed to be ordered from Germany. I told them I was going away on Friday to Wales and wanted it for that trip. On Friday afternoon I received another call from them to say that the bracket had been ordered and should be with me by the middle of this week....... Tuesday morning the Postie arrived with the bracket as promised by TT. Great service..

 

[Gs Craig]

I ordered a few bits last week told 7-10 day delivery 4 days later they arrived.

I agree some bits are more expensive than other places selling a precived same item, so you just shop elsewhere.

 

[Berin]

I ordered some parts - fairly basic stuff, handguards and some other stuff, in March to pick up on-site at the new shop in early April. Called in at the stop - no handguards - be in next week. Called the shop in Munich, in stock so got them there 20% cheaper.

Last week got a call saying my order was in stock -since I'd ordered a few things, most of which I have since sourced direct from Germany, I wasn't sure what was left on the order. So I called them, and said "you called me to tell me my stuff was in". They left me on the phone for 5 minutes and then came back and asked what I'd ordered. I said I'd ordered lots of stuff, and it was so long ago I couldn't remember the details and asked to just tell me what was in from my order. They then just said sorry, we made a mistake when we called, we meant to say it should be in soon. At this point I gave up.

Shite as ever.

 

[Magwa]

Good service!

Ordered some stuff on Monday ( This week) it all arrived on Wednesday inc a nice new 2008 catalogue

Well done TT