Know of an AKL tire/brake specialist open 31/12 or 01/01/14?

[Tristan 338]

Flight landing back in AKL on 31/12/13 at 7am and was hoping to have tires and pads (supplying parts) installed for a road trip on 2/01/14

Herb Morgan and pitstop onehunga are open in morning of 31st anyone know of anyone open al day either day?

Thanks

[Apex 693]

I can look after your car and have it ready when you return, will even pick you up from the airport.

[Tristan 338]

Heh I don't think my insurer would like that too much

Nor will 2 suitcases, 3 boxes, and 4 tires fit in the car

Edited November 20, 2013 by Tristan

[Apex 693]

Ah you are bringing them back.

Best bet will be to find a place and book... you may want to grab a bottle of Johnny Walker to sweeten the deal on the way through duty free.

[e38king 1]

Not to sound too negative but I doubt you will have much luck, especially on the 01/01. I wouldn't want to be doing labour only on either of those two days, or if I was it would be at a pretty decent rate. You are effectively cutting them out of business by supplying your own tyres and brake pads and the double whammy is you are asking them to do it on almost a public holiday.

[*Glenn* 854]

Not to sound too negative but I doubt you will have much luck, especially on the 01/01. I wouldn't want to be doing labour only on either of those two days, or if I was it would be at a pretty decent rate. You are effectively cutting them out of business by supplying your own tyres and brake pads and the double whammy is you are asking them to do it on almost a public holiday.

+1 on that JnO

Alot of repairers are getting negative on repairing vehicles when the owner supplies their own parts. We are looking at it on a 1 on 1 basis

[*Glenn* 854]

Sorry Tristan... but I need to add to this.

There are a number of people on here that I have helped and done all the hard work to check and make sure what they are ordering from overseas are the correct parts and of a reasonable standard / quality on the understanding I was going to do the work, having diagnosed and confirmed the faults or necessary repairs at no cost... only to be shiited on and these people getting there "mates" or other repairers to do the work.

[jake1829 119]

Not to sound too negative but I doubt you will have much luck, especially on the 01/01. I wouldn't want to be doing labour only on either of those two days, or if I was it would be at a pretty decent rate. You are effectively cutting them out of business by supplying your own tyres and brake pads and the double whammy is you are asking them to do it on almost a public holiday.

I am prepared to pay fair costs - not prepared to get ripped off - which some NZ business think they can get away with - few examples

• When I was looking at getting Michelin PSS tyres for my Vossen wheels - quotes ranged from 3.2 - 3.5K

Bought them from tyretrack for less then 2K shipped into NZ.....

• When i was looking to buy Vossen CV3 mags - got a fair quote from Platinum Wheels - paid my deposit and waited 8 weeks (supposed to be only 4-6 weeks) only to have the mag wheels fitted and them turn around and charge me more then what I could of got the wheels online

• When I was looking at getting the BMW performance exhaust - had Ross get a quote from Jerry Clayton- they wanted to charge me $3600 ex Germany

I can buy the same exhaust online & shipped from the US for $1400

Wonder how you can justify the insane markup.

Sorry Tristan... but I need to add to this.

There are a number of people on here that I have helped and done all the hard work to check and make sure what they are ordering from overseas are the correct parts and of a reasonable standard / quality on the understanding I was going to do the work, having diagnosed and confirmed the faults or necessary repairs at no cost... only to be shiited on and these people getting there "mates" or other repairers to do the work.

That's not cool , after helping them etc - they should be getting you to do the work

[Apex 693]

The wholesalers are all closed at that time of the year so its not like they could sell him something.

My tyre guys don't mind fitting tyre's for me, its cash and they don't actually make a hell of a lot on tyre's these days anyway and understand NZ wholesalers don't often have a good range of tyre's in stock. My guy actually said he would buy them from overseas too given my circumstance.

I wouldn't turn down a box of beer and $80 in the back pocket over the holidays.

If you get really stuck I have a mate with a tyre fitting machine and a hoist who may be keen to help out.

Edited November 20, 2013 by apex

[M3_Power 636]

Firstly I'd just like to know why would you bring back 4 tyres from the USA?? Flying first class are we? I'd have thought the excess baggage payment would have outweighed any savings vs shipping through legitimate channels. That website Matt put up from the UK has by far some of the best pricing I've seen with reasonable shipping rate.

Secondly, Glenn and the likes are right ... tyre shops hate people supplying their own tyres - it basically takes all their margins away. Remember it's not just the margins on the tyres itself, but also the overall volume they move.

Unless you have a mate that actually owns a tyre shop, then it's a different story.

I am prepared to pay fair costs - not prepared to get ripped off - which some NZ business think they can get away with - few examples

Wonder how you can justify the insane markup.

I've found in recent times that if you are a genuine purchaser and you show the local retailers here what you can obtain parts for, they are usually willing to match or come close to what the overseas retailers charge.

I've now come to a point that I'd rather support local businesses than having to go through all the hassle of importing. It only takes one bad transaction to really ruin the whole experience.

As a result, I've built up quite a good relationship with local parts suppliers and get preferential rates as a result of the businesses I've put through with them - it's a win win for both parties. I get genuine quality parts at majority of times near or better than off shore prices with the added local back up should things turn to custard when it turns up.

[Tristan 338]

Yes, the days that I need the work done aren't when people want to be working, but my question was not that.

I wanted to know if anywhere is open. If they're open, they're there. If they're there they may as well do the work if I'm paying for it. Or they can refuse and I'll just wait a week and drive a different car.

Sorry Tristan... but I need to add to this.

There are a number of people on here that I have helped and done all the hard work to check and make sure what they are ordering from overseas are the correct parts and of a reasonable standard / quality on the understanding I was going to do the work, having diagnosed and confirmed the faults or necessary repairs at no cost... only to be shiited on and these people getting there "mates" or other repairers to do the work.

Hi Glenn, thanks for your input although I don't understand the relevance of this comment. Have you mistaken me for someone who has done the aforementioned?

In response to your previous comment: Fair enough that repairers can only install parts they sell but the reality is money is money. I'm not sure of your circumstance but I'm sure some repairers aren't in the position to turn away business, particularly in this economic climate.

Firstly I'd just like to know why would you bring back 4 tyres from the USA?? Flying first class are we? I'd have thought the excess baggage payment would have outweighed any savings vs shipping through legitimate channels. That website Matt put up from the UK has by far some of the best pricing I've seen with reasonable shipping rate.

Secondly, Glenn and the likes are right ... tyre shops hate people supplying their own tyres - it basically takes all their margins away. Remember it's not just the margins on the tyres itself, but also the overall volume they move.

Unless you have a mate that actually owns a tyre shop, then it's a different story.

I've found in recent times that if you are a genuine purchaser and you show the local retailers here what you can obtain parts for, they are usually willing to match or come close to what the overseas retailers charge.

I've now come to a point that I'd rather support local businesses than having to go through all the hassle of importing. It only takes one bad transaction to really ruin the whole experience.

As a result, I've built up quite a good relationship with local parts suppliers and get preferential rates as a result of the businesses I've put through with them - it's a win win for both parties. I get genuine quality parts at majority of times near or better than off shore prices with the added local back up should things turn to custard when it turns up.

First class? No. But if I can buy the tyres for $1150 US shipped to my business partner's office, and pay the additional cost for the extra baggage it still works out a hell of a lot cheaper than a) buying them here, or buying them there and shipping them.

I am no stranger to traveling with a lot of luggage due to the nature of my work so an extra 2 pieces of "baggage" is no skin off my teeth.

[Tristan 338]

The wholesalers are all closed at that time of the year so its not like they could sell him something. My tyre guys don't mind fitting tyre's for me, its cash and they don't actually make a hell of a lot on tyre's these days anyway and understand NZ wholesalers don't often have a good range of tyre's in stock. My guy actually said he would buy them from overseas too given my circumstance. I wouldn't turn down a box of beer and $80 in the back pocket over the holidays. If you get really stuck I have a mate with a tyre fitting machine and a hoist who may be keen to help out.

Thanks for the offer.

[M3_Power 636]

First class? No. But if I can buy the tyres for $1150 US shipped to my business partner's office, and pay the additional cost for the extra baggage it still works out a hell of a lot cheaper than a) buying them here, or buying them there and shipping them.

I am no stranger to traveling with a lot of luggage due to the nature of my work so an extra 2 pieces of "baggage" is no skin off my teeth.

Commercial samples? hehe Go on I dare you

[*Glenn* 854]

Hi Glenn, thanks for your input although I don't understand the relevance of this comment. Have you mistaken me for someone who has done the aforementioned?

In response to your previous comment: Fair enough that repairers can only install parts they sell but the reality is money is money. I'm not sure of your circumstance but I'm sure some repairers aren't in the position to turn away business, particularly in this economic climate.

It wasn't directed at you at all Tristan, It was an add on to my reply to Juxu. Alot of repairers are getting fed up with diagnosing & helping people with their cars at a very low cost or a freeby to gain work, only to loose the work to a back yarder or mate when the problem has been identified. Our overheads are calculated on a labour + parts mark up less costs to run our businesses. We must guarantee our work and cover risk. Remove the parts margin and it's cheaper to drink coffee and not incurr the risk installing parts of an unknown source or quality supplied by an owner at a labour only rate.

[Tristan 338]

Commercial samples? hehe Go on I dare you

Heh not quite

[Driftit 2078]

They will not even smile and continue to hold out their hand for the GST.

[M3_Power 636]

They will not even smile and continue to hold out their hand for the GST.

Not necessarily.

[Tristan 338]

They will not even smile and continue to hold out their hand for the GST.

You'd be surprised. I've brought a lot of things (exercise equipment being most frequent) back with me from overseas and have only been charged GST once, and that was on a dinner set.

EDIT:

This can probably just be closed now.

Edited November 21, 2013 by Tristan

[yng_750 247]

feel for you glenn.

seems to be the downside of the internet forums. people take help but they dont see that you are a business.

people also seem to forget that local suppliers pay gst that private imports neglect.

and having bought local you gain the consumers guarantees act coverage, and expert knowledge, and same day service, and no risk of shipping loss and often they will take parts back if you bought the wrong thing.

bit of a toss up but annoying when people only think of cost when they condemn pricing.

[Phil-540i 166]

The other side of the coin is labour cost. If a shop only has a lift and some hand tools they should be charging $35 an hour, not $80.

Even $35 an hour is 100% markup on the labour cost which is incredible.

Any shop should be happy to do labour only work unless they already have a full workbook.

I'm picking you don't work for yourself or employ any staff.............

[e38king 1]

Secondly, Glenn and the likes are right ... tyre shops hate people supplying their own tyres - it basically takes all their margins away. Remember it's not just the margins on the tyres itself, but also the overall volume they move.

Having run a very successful tyre shop we fitted very little of people supplying their own product. It is not just the labour cost associated with fiiting the tyres, but also the risk involved if for example you scratch a rim or tear a bead on a tyre. Who pays then?. Charging to fit $35-$50 to fit and balance a tyre that usually costs 3-4 times that amount is not good business sense. We had fantatstic equipment and great staff so it never happened personally, but I can imagine it has plenty of times.

I was told the other day of a respected tyre shop who quoted on a set of premium tyres only for the customer to turn up to get them fitted after having bought off the net. After fitting them the customer had saved about $50 per tyre. Here is the good part, one of the tyres developed a fault. The customer took it back in to the tyre shop for a "warranty claim". The shop then proceeded to take the tyre off, have a look at it and then charge him for it ( as you do being in business). The shop agreed it was a warranty claim and gave the customer the tyre and told him to take it back to his place of purchase for the claim. Apparently it took the customer a couple of weeks to get it sorted out. When the customer questioned the manager about it, he was told that if the tyres had been bought through the shop, sorting the claim out would have been part of the service they offer, it would not have cost any more and the claim would have been sorted in 48 hours! In the end buying form the net actually cost the customer more time and money.

Moral of the story: Service can't be bought from the internet, and even though the initial price may seem cheaper - it is not always so.

[e38king 1]

The other side of the coin is labour cost. If a shop only has a lift and some hand tools they should be charging $35 an hour, not $80.

Even $35 an hour is 100% markup on the labour cost which is incredible.

Any shop should be happy to do labour only work unless they already have a full workbook.

Have you ever run a business?

How much do you think a good mechanic is paid these days? $35 wouldn't cover the wages, let alone the associated expenses, etc

[_ethrty-Andy_ 2132]

lol charging customer $35/hr, not worth the risk and admin costs employing someone if having them there makes you less than $15 an hour after wages, and then overheads got to come out of that. owner gets 50cents of that if they are lucky? not worth it. Maybe if staff are idle, but even then, still risk to factor in

Edited November 30, 2013 by _Ethrty-Andy_

[e38king 1]

Dude $35 an hour is $70k+ a year. Think about that.

Not to sound rude but maybe you need to think about it...... out of that $70k has to come rent ( jump on Trade Me to see how much a workshop costs a year to rent), Wages, GST, ACC Levies, Insurance, depreciation on equipment (or leasing of equipment if you can't afford the initail outlay).. the list carries on and on. Buying or renting specialist equipment is not cheap, especially all the latest diagnostic equipment. Now see how much you have left over. Ask Glenn, I bet he wouldn't open his doors for $35 an hour.

[*Glenn* 854]

.

A mechanic should NOT cost the same as a dentist.

Why not ??