I've been finding more and more recently that Aussie business' really don't seem to like communicating by email or have useful websites properly catagorising and pricing products.
Why do I have to phone to ask for the price on something? If I phone around ten places I'm still gonna buy from the cheapest place so why can't I find this out from their web page?
Almost all Yankie, Uk and European websites have full listings of stock with descriptions and currently pricing so you can compare prices there and then. Job done. Come on Australia shake a leg 👍
madness is in the eye of the beholder 👍
hear hear, especially bein way out west, net's the easiest👍
Agreed!!
pick up the fone much more plesant to talk with some one
Does anyone have the time, or the HTML/Pagemaker skills to make sites like that? Or the money to pay someone else to do it?
I guess the economies of scale are just bigger in the US and the UK.
Our Club Veedub site is overdue for a cleanup and redesign but I know Steve doesn't have the time and he's still learning Pagemaker...
I have to say that Aus is years behind when it comes to stuff like this (sorry!)
No prices on a shop website? Exactly what is the point of the website then!?? It's not just small companies either. For example, Autobarns website has a "Products" tab that hasn't been working for at least a year....just says "coming soon" or something. Useless.
I may as well get all my moans over in one go...lol
Another thing here is how long it takes to get stuff sorted. When we bought our house here it took Telstra 14 days to get our phone connected, then another 7 - 10 days for us to get the internet sorted. Took something like 5 days for our sim cards to get activated on our mobile phones. Foxtel install was about 3 weeks..The list goes on! We were used to next day service with pretty much all of those in the UK....maybe 2 - 3 days maximum.
We're used to it now though....but it really spun us out when we first arrived.
I would have to agree that most Aussie business sites are useless, no excuse for not putting pricing etc on them.
My wife has just set up a business selling babygoods and she has an online shop, it took her a few days to work out how to set it up and load prices, pictures etc and she is clueless about anything computer related.
I think suppliers here have to realise that the world has moved on from "picking up the phone" and having a bit of yack when you want to buy something. The door is wide open for a smart supplier to open a proper web site and clean up in Australia, is it any wonder a lot of people here order VW items from overseas?
Coming from the UK 🤓 shopping on sites like Just Kampers, vwheritage, german swedish french, and machine7 you just get used to it, also courier and parcel service is getting so competitive read cheap it enables you to buy it and it arrives on your door.
Places in the uk are fairly remote too (well not compared to oz) my folks place is a good couple of hours round trip to the GSF in exeter. I dont have the time.
I also would have thought that all the old arguments of the internet would be the same, less costs for the company, and 24 hour shopping, and less hassle of dealing with people. Oh and a picture is pretty helpful a lot of the time.
If I am buying service parts then I am not too bothered how I buy it or from who.
I have now re learnt to pick up the phone and know where to go to get what I need in and around sydney, and I must say get very good service from all.
I think there was a good point above where it is so much easier now to set up a website and store. Very click and play with some hosting companies.
WANTED kombi drivers side rear corner for a early bay! found after six years lol
WANTED engine lid for early kombi 71
There's too much to say on this subject, but as someone that does repair and sell parts, the 1st thing that comes to mind is that I like to offer the correct part so there is always some questions to be answered in order for the best and hopefully correct part to be offered.
I think some shops here dont actually have it in stock so price isn't always going to stay accurate, or cant keep up with the need to update thier site as often as is required.
Having said that I am presently looking into this area, but is the Oz market big enough???
Matt Berry Motorsports...air cooled advice, repairs and mods Ph 0408 704 662
OFF-ROAD,CIRCUIT,DRAG,STREET,ENDURANCE
Wow, I was expecting to be majorly bagged for saying about this but very interesting to see that a lot of people agree.
Matt berry: I understand that if an item is out of stock then the price may well have changed but then this should be stated on the website.
Most people work the same hours that the shop is open so it's not always possible to spend 15mins on the phone asking for availability and price and then have to do this again if the price seems unreasonable. Like $45 for a gearlinkage coupling. Bloody ridiculous. Even on an exchange rate of $2.50 to the UK pound it shouldn't be more than $30 and OEM not aftermarket.
As for getting the right part, well thats down to the product description. It may take a while to do the first time round but once it's done it done. The ID of a 64 torsion bush is never going to change.
I agree there are some parts that an unfamiliar would be wise to call about but not that many.
And I know the UK/European market is bigger but lets say I did a deal with VW Heritage to open an online store in Oz. Fully priced except for specialty items it may very well succeed.
Pardon my groan please but I, probably like most people, only have my evenings to investigate things and work on my project so it can be quite frustrating. 😉
madness is in the eye of the beholder 👍
Hey, this is a really interesting topic, and something I've been wondering about for a while.
I'm an IT geek and so will happy spend hours researching stuff on the net, yet I won't make a phone call about a part. Partially I feel dumb or rude making a 30 second phone call "how much for an X". Call me lazy or whatever, but you know I'm the one with the $$$ so really the shops should be making an effort to extract it from me, not me going to effort to spend it.
Keeping prices updated on a site, well that was something I learnt in 1st year uni 15 years ago... so most so called "web developers" should be able to set it up using current software pretty easily. Yes it's a bit more involved than what the "build your own website for dummies" books cover, but it wouldn't (shouldn't) cost a motza to get a pro to do it for you. Even something simple like "keep this Excel spreadsheet updated, and the site updates itself from there" is really all most places need.
And Matt, you're right about market size... although not guaranteed worth it I still the think the first to crack it will gain a niche in the market, at least until the others catch up.
It's widely known that Australian's are early adopters of technology... so why are we so far behind on this one ???
VWDCQ vice pres & web dude - vwdcqinc.org.au
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Sides wrote:Hey, this is a really interesting topic, and something I've been wondering about for a while.
I'm an IT geek and so will happy spend hours researching stuff on the net, yet I won't make a phone call about a part. Partially I feel dumb or rude making a 30 second phone call "how much for an X". Call me lazy or whatever, but you know I'm the one with the $$$ so really the shops should be making an effort to extract it from me, not me going to effort to spend it.
Keeping prices updated on a site, well that was something I learnt in 1st year uni 15 years ago... so most so called "web developers" should be able to set it up using current software pretty easily. Yes it's a bit more involved than what the "build your own website for dummies" books cover, but it wouldn't (shouldn't) cost a motza to get a pro to do it for you. Even something simple like "keep this Excel spreadsheet updated, and the site updates itself from there" is really all most places need.
And Matt, you're right about market size... although not guaranteed worth it I still the think the first to crack it will gain a niche in the market, at least until the others catch up.
It's widely known that Australian's are early adopters of technology... so why are we so far behind on this one ???
Dude, If you know the web page side of things then I'll have a word with some UK companies and see what the go is? What do you reckon?
I knew that one of the easiest ways to keep prices upto date was to link to a spreadsheet. How my old company did things. Once the pro had set the basic page up then the rest was kinda copy and paste. Anyhow, there ya go. It's not hard.
😉madness is in the eye of the beholder 👍
An Oz VW shop in Sydney tried to get a web site happening....4 times, each time spending 4 days taking and editing photos etc and then not getting any results from the web designer. Now a deal linked to a US supplier.....now surely that can be done, I order from some in the states where it's all too easy.
Matt Berry Motorsports...air cooled advice, repairs and mods Ph 0408 704 662
OFF-ROAD,CIRCUIT,DRAG,STREET,ENDURANCE
matberry wrote:I order from some in the states where it's all too easy.
That's the guts of it.
Its all to easy to buy from the US sites. Most of the time its shipped just as quick as ordering over the phone over here.
I don't really care about an online VW supplier being in Australia.The world is just a small place these days.
Matt i"m like you i like to have a chat to the customer and then advise that this is what I have and this is what available,but this is also hard when people ring just to do a comparison of prices between you and an unknown quantity,I sell what i consider good parts for a reasonable amount,it has taken me about 40 years to aquire this buying network and people expect me to then tell them where I am purchasing my parts so that they can take advantage of this experience.An example of this was at Old Bar when a stranger asked where I purchased various parts,i didn't reveal this source and he said I wouldn't buy them from you anyway even though they were a reasonable price and cheaper than advertised by a big company.I have a small one man business and try to help all of my customers but I do not have the manpower to put a website up.
grumble wrote:Matt i"m like you i like to have a chat to the customer and then advise that this is what I have and this is what available,but this is also hard when people ring just to do a comparison of prices between you and an unknown quantity,I sell what i consider good parts for a reasonable amount,it has taken me about 40 years to aquire this buying network and people expect me to then tell them where I am purchasing my parts so that they can take advantage of this experience.An example of this was at Old Bar when a stranger asked where I purchased various parts,i didn't reveal this source and he said I wouldn't buy them from you anyway even though they were a reasonable price and cheaper than advertised by a big company.I have a small one man business and try to help all of my customers but I do not have the manpower to put a website up.
Exactly.
Matt Berry Motorsports...air cooled advice, repairs and mods Ph 0408 704 662
OFF-ROAD,CIRCUIT,DRAG,STREET,ENDURANCE
alien8 wrote:The world is just a small place these days.
Yep
Matt Berry Motorsports...air cooled advice, repairs and mods Ph 0408 704 662
OFF-ROAD,CIRCUIT,DRAG,STREET,ENDURANCE
All valid points.
I've found though that bringing in from the US... even if I don't get hit for customs or GST... costs about 10-15% on top for shipping.
So... part of my wondering was, is it really true that Aussie businesses can't bring parts in and on-sell for around that 15% ???
There are a few good Aussie online places, just not ones catering to VW (more the ricer and racer crowd). I'd definitely support a local business if it worked out the same price wise, or even slightly more...
VWDCQ vice pres & web dude - vwdcqinc.org.au
Join a car club - get car peeps
My toys
'70 Hillclimb Bug 'Jezebel' w/- Haltech EFI -
http://bit.ly/VwTNtQ
'60 KG Coupe - resto kinda started
01 New Beetle - gf's car, but I turn the spanners
i do all m yadvertising on the net...100%...best thing ever😂
4 days delivery from UK or the States is usual.
helbus wrote:4 days delivery from UK or the States is usual.
Sometimes.....I'm presently waiting for some engine parts for over two weeks where from the same company has been 6-7 days twice before. Never assume anything
😂Matt Berry Motorsports...air cooled advice, repairs and mods Ph 0408 704 662
OFF-ROAD,CIRCUIT,DRAG,STREET,ENDURANCE
grumble wrote:Matt i"m like you i like to have a chat to the customer and then advise that this is what I have and this is what available,but this is also hard when people ring just to do a comparison of prices between you and an unknown quantity,I sell what i consider good parts for a reasonable amount,it has taken me about 40 years to aquire this buying network and people expect me to then tell them where I am purchasing my parts so that they can take advantage of this experience.An example of this was at Old Bar when a stranger asked where I purchased various parts,i didn't reveal this source and he said I wouldn't buy them from you anyway even though they were a reasonable price and cheaper than advertised by a big company.I have a small one man business and try to help all of my customers but I do not have the manpower to put a website up.
I like chatting about VW's and the likes too but those places I have phoned haven't been interested in a chat. What do you want? yes we have it. This much, do you want it. Got better manners from a website.
I agree that you shouldn't give out your hard earned sources. Just from what you've said I take you to be a nice bloke and if I had the expertise I'd make a website for free for you to help your business.
What I'm getting at is having a reputable company you can do business with either by phone or internet. US and UK companies have spent many years building their reps like CIP, Airkewld, VW Heritage, Machine 7, CSP, Wolfberg West and so on. If they started to use cheaper, low quality stock people would very quickly stop using them.
I think the main thing here is being able to order something on a saturday arvo when you find that you now need that thing you just broke and can quickly order it on the net and have piece of mind that it'll be on it's way come Monday.
Another way to think of it is the business being lost by Australian companies due to not keeping up with the times. I'd love to buy Australian but not if it's more expensive and less user friendly than an overseas reseller. I work hard for my money so like to make it go as far as possible
🙂madness is in the eye of the beholder 👍
yeah phone and talking to people is great until it becomes a fulltime job just to answer the phone ringing off the hook with questions that don't lead to sales and subsequent income to the business.........you would have experienced that Matt 👍
.......makes a website look good
vw54 wrote:pick up the fone much more plesant to talk with some one
Yes,
ringing the US via the phone thru the internet is the way to go at least no phone bills... ..
I like to see whether I'm buying German [G] Euopean[E]
Brasillian [B} Mexican [M] USA [US] made parts
so these suffixes are excellent and are used by some sellers..
I would also Love to see some company Brasilian names so when i find some OK parts I'll buy those...
as even some VW do Brasil parts are crap...
and I'd rather leave the mexican parts for the mexicans..lol
to have a professional website done costs a Mass of money...
I have seen some aussie shops trying to do websites, but they seem to get half done...
I would like to know that I am buying German or Brasilian oil change kits... I don't want to pay the same for both.!!
I prefer to buy parts that are made in the USA....
Mat and others have said they have found good sources for parts... Well, We need to know what you are selling at what prices...
as you kn0w many people just ring up someone who happens to have a mexican or brasillian Muffler etc very cheap.
and they ring You [Mat] etc and get a price... they then hang up and tell all their mates how expensive You are...
If that muffler takes two days to fit and then rusts out in 18 months... some remember that You sell quality stuff and it costs more... and others still buy the crap... lol
many VW owners have all sorts of chinese/taiwanese/mexican etc aftermarket parts that just don't fit....
they really cannot be sold on... as You know they won't fit..
Generally speaking - when ordering by fax - email or phone -
You don;'t really know what quality Your parts will be...
there are some good brazillian parts out there... but how to pick out the good factory out of all the bad ones????
cheers
LEE
- Helping keep Air Cooled VWs on the road - location: SCONE in the Upper Hunter Valley - Northern NSW 320 kms NNW of SYDNEY---
I prefer to buy parts that are made in the USA....
not much of that nowdays
I think there are pro's and cons of aussie companies doing websites.
While Matt and co have a a valid point about not wanting to release knowledge about theri suppliers etc if they are not going to get a sale, there is a flip side as pointed out about spending all day on the phone.
Many vw nuts, know what they want (and have good knowledge to back this up).... from something simple ie a gasket kit to things more complex. Simple things are great bought from a website, and australian companies need to understand this. Even to more complex things, some people may buy from a website (Say heads for a new motor), in which case the aussie companies loose out again.
I have a good basic knowlegde of VW's there are many things I will buy from a website either from my own online research or from talking to more experinced people (not VW shop people). Then there are things that I want to sit and dicuss with a expert and in this case I go to my regular, respected machanic and talk to them about it.
I have no sympathy for my car, only the wallet that pays for it!
Go hard or go home!!!!
have bought parts on line form both states and uk .usually find couple of emails back and forth to make sure of corrct part then parts sent and arrive at resonable time have bought parts localy find it just as easy to pick up the phone and ask
I did shop around on the different US sites for the best price. Now I just order everything from the one place as it is easier than working out if this shop has this item a little less than that shop etc. I would much prefer to buy from an Australian shop as long as I could see the photos of the parts and read an accurate description of the part and where it is from. The Australian shops need to realise that they will expand their circle of buyers in this way as well. How many people around the world would also look at the website here and buy just as easily as from the UK or USA?
Yogie
Living in the west Oz I am envious of you guys on the east coast, at least the big heavy items wont cripple you in freight costs! but as for everything else I am just as comfortable buying from US, UK, or Germany, as the delivery times to WA are no different than to WA from our eastern states. To be honest, its way more convenient over the web, re stock availability, full descriptions, price. I wish I had these resources 30 years ago when I built my first bug.
psimitar,i can understand what you are trying to say and where you are coming from,unfortunately I do not have the time or the manpower to run a website,i enjoy my job and customers.Over the years i have built a good clientelle with a strong VW following,this unfortunately interferes with my free time when I am trying to slow down.If you would like to buy into a viable business this is your chance.👍 cheers Les
