Sick of getting ripped off

I recently bought some mirrors from a well known Australian supplier for my bus, they are the round type and they cost $130 each,Mirrors only, not including the arms, when I got them I found out that they originally came from A. Schofields in England.
I am getting some stuff from Roy at Classic VW(pacific) and asked him for a price on a Schofield mirror.
He gave me a price of just over $40.00.

Now Roy is making a profit otherwise he would not be in the business of selling goods, So why are other places ripping us off by so much,??
Is it because there is a secret deal where they all organise to add over 100 - 250% to everything????

I could have saved $180, on 2 mirrors.
Or should I look at it the other way and think I have been well and truly shafted up the jacksie for $180.

Just a thought for others, dont think that because you have been using a supplier for a while that he is doing YOU a favour, shop around and save.

This has been a public service anouncement on behalf of The Not Getting Ripped Off Party.

Cheers
Dave

I make it a rule to get several quotes before I buy anything substantial. As you said, you can easily save $100's on even a fairly small purchase, which is definitely worth the 10min it takes to send an couple of extra emails or make another phone call.

I also like to let the places which were expensive know that they have lost a sale because their prices were too high. Hopefully this will help to stimulate some competition and the older more established retailers will realise they don't have a monopoly anymore.

Where do we sign up to join The Not Getting Ripped Off Party?

i noticed this on the weekend, one stall selling something for $99.
across the hall, same item in the same packaging selling for $180.

now this is the exact same item and the 20meters that i walked i saved $81.

written and spoken by lee cutler for the The Not Getting Ripped Off Party?


[Edited on 1-11-2004 by buzzbug]

hey Dave you should have gone to a glass place they would have fit a bit of mirror for about $20, did that with a mirror on my mums car, saved as fair bit and it was a better quality mirror than what the dealer place was selling

Tip for others
Danielle

Hi Danielle.
It wasnt just the glass I needed it was the metal backing as well.
Thanks anyway.
,
Back to getting ripped off.
Where do they get their prices from.
Some defenders of established businesses might say that they have to pay wages, premises etc, but to have a differance of a hundred dollars plus on the same items is amazing, how much profit do they make???.
I think it is because they have a captive market because ther isnt that many stores selling VW stuff.

Most people I know (should be a song title) in the past have orderd direct from overseas, even with postage and duties it always works out cheaper than buying from the established dealers and they get trade discounts.

I will now call Classic Vw(pacific) first, they seem to charge the dollar equivelent to the overseas price
This is not an advert for them its just that they are not ripping me off.

Cheers
Dave

i did a similar thing with one vw shop in melbourne. i ordered a set of empi dash panels so i could put some gauges in, i even asked him if they were the empi ones cause they use a similar clip to stock. i got sent a set of alloy panels cut to shape and that was $80 + postage. i got up him and he told me that i asked for custom ones not empi ones which he didnt have in stock any way. and from working in the auto industry some places there trade is the same as retail in some other places

there was a post on here a few weeks ago saying give the shops a break.

if this is the type of service that we can be accustom to, then i will not be suprised to see the amount of ppl going OS or to places like classicvw and classicvw(pacific)

Don`t forget that some of these shops had brought some of this stuff in a while ago and maybe only got a few things.
And now the market is a lot bigger they can order more stuff and even drop there prices.
I guess what I`m saying is give it time and we will have access to most parts at good prices!
They see it just as well as we do.
Here`s to heaps of great parts and great prices!:party

hey im all for buying from over here i mean micks brought my mags in when no one was stocking them but if im going to get shafted ill take my business elsewhere but ill look after the people that look after me.

well said Barls

it comes from working in the motor trade and being in the navy i can spin bull with the best of them

I have already black listed 1 brissy vw shop to "never do business with again list" and a few others are only a , "if they are the only ones". because the 2 shops that get all my work are the ones that treat me rite.

[Edited on 1-11-2004 by BiX]

This isnt meant as a plug for our business but we have been overwelmed by the positive feedback and messages we have received since starting this business two months ago.
We have enjoyed every minute and met some fantastic people.

As a new business we welcome any feedback positive or negative, thats the only way to improve service and most business's should take the same view

There are bad, really bad, dealers out there and I know that from experience (the resto on my 58) that will shaft you for a quick buck. But there are also ones that will help you beyond the call of duty.

Again thankyou from the crew at ClassicVW(pacific)

[Edited on 2-11-2004 by ClassicVW(pacific)]

This is exactly why i have been bringing my own gear in from the
U.S for years now.
From engine tin screws to a full "sets" of wheels.
Have'nt had a problem yet.
"Touch wood".....lol

My 2 cents.

Although being a pom like most Australians i would much prefer to buy from Oz and back businesses here which i do. There are good priced VW shops and there are some very expensive places selling the same stuff.
I'd say most of us here on the forum are average folk with average wages coming in and when your building a project and spending say $5k plus every saving counts.
I have a heap of stuff to buy and a list a mile long that i'm working through pricing right now. I'm sourcing from Ozzy places first and doing quite well on alot of things for my 65 Notch. However some prices are shocking and also there is only so much early Notch parts in Oz. So like alot of people i'm buying OS for parts. It isn't always as cheap as you think it is going to be but is always cheaper than over the counter here in Oz even with taxes etc. Also if your sneaky there are lots of ways to avoid paying quite so much.
Hopefully some of our shops here in Oz will pick up the fact that they're losing alot of business by being too gready about their profits. With the Net it's very easy for people to order stuff and not have to cue up on a Saturday morning , waiting ages to get served , wasting their w'end off , just press a few buttons on your pc!
On the flip side of this is that with parts bought OS the warrantys no good anymore unless you want to send them back and wait along time. Also some of these places are just supermarkets and offer very little tech info , not run by vw people who have the experience needed.
Lastly we all want value for money. Lets face it life is getting more expensive , bills , morgages etc and most folk have to make their dollar go as far as it can , well i do. I don't mind paying alot of money for something quality but when one place is selling a particular part for $335 and another is selling exactly the same part for $205 how the hell does that workout???? If it's old stock as mentioned hard luck Mr Retailer. Get real , reduce it to clear and learn how to run a business and not lose it , you muppets!!

Thank you that was my 2 cents


Dan

i've pretty well much given up buying locally(melbourne),
not only are basic parts never in stock(eg link pins,windscreens,to name a couple), the mark ups are cruel.
i find it much easier to shop online and get my parts from the US delivered to my door,not only cheaper but i can get anything i want.
let me say that i now buy the bulk of my parts from CIP1 and are completely satisfied with their service.

So its not just me that isnt happy then.
It also shows that there are quite a few dealers out there who are making huge profits!!!

Shop around you might just be suprised

Cheers
Dave

Sorry Dave but the Samba trims you ordered are going to be delayed by 3 months and due to excessive additional costs the price has gone up by $700

hehe but mine where on $100 ...

( note this is a joke .. the buggies don't have trims .. )
:blush

How do you know when a plane load of pommies has landed ?

Cause when then jet engines stop, the whining continues...


dave why don't u get your next engine a Turn Key from an os company and then try and get some service when it all goes Pear shaped.

[Edited on 4-11-2004 by johny rotten]

OUCH!!!!!!!!


I was only joking by the way, I have just had confirmation the container is landing tonight.

[Edited on 4-11-2004 by ClassicVW(pacific)]

ROY.

Have you become an Aussie??

Sound like an aussie dealer here.

Cheers
Dave

Wink wink

Sounds like the two new kids on the block are the ones to support...

Classic Vee Dub in Sydney
Classic VW (Pacific) in Qld

Its interesting, ive noticed that in the last 6 months, two prominent VW shop owners have been quite friendly lately, seems they need to be now...They used to be hard to deal with, good may come...

Wait til i have some legal stuff dealt with then i'll have a story to tell about a VW shop in (a big town in another state very close to me), its the definition of ripoff...

[Edited on 5-11-2004 by byronbus]

Oooo Bruce, do tell. Sounds serious.

You cann't blame businesses for trying to make as much profit as they can, it's human nature. It's the way of the world, if there's no competition then the established players don't have to make any effort 'cos they'll get your business anyway. As competition increases only the best survive by offering low prices, good customer service and after sales back up. Hopefully with the growing Oz VW enthusiast scene, the number of suppliers will increase, competition for our business will increase and the quality of the suppliers will improve. This is good for all of us.

Cant tell more yet, in the hands of a solicitor and the tax man...will later though, dont worry about that, not just me either...group effort

Its great, competition that is, those guys in sydney who used to have the market tied up are starting to cry now as they watch their businesses slowly dwindle...and the OS option is too easy now...

Jonny Rotten.

If me complaining about getting ripped of makes me a whinger, then so be it.
And I dont know why you have to bring the pommie thing into it??
I am after good service at a reasonable price.
So you think im whinging , you must be happy to pay strupid prices???

Whos the clever one then????

Cheers
Dave

I am happy to pay for quality products with a margin included but i do expect good back up service from trades a person who knows the product , not from a supermarket type Business is this going to happen(unlikely), for example Can Classic diagnose possible problems with all the products they sell ? Can they give the right advise based on years of real car repairs experience ?

Like Woolys once they kill the competition they start to rob every body, Vintage(example only) might not be the cheapest but they have people with real experience from years of good service and will back up what they sell. ( not only them, ther are several others)

Now I might not be the sharpest tool in the shed but I will deal with those Australian Shops that promote the Aussie products where ever practical.

Can you please list Aussie products for Vws,
You seem to have a problem with Classic VW(pacific) are you a dealer by any chance???

I have heard that a few dealers have already started to drop their prices because of Classic,
Who benefits from this, WE do!!

Who cares if they dont service vehicles, they are only parts suppliers and I believe they have full back up from the manufacturers, so what is the problem, If you bought a part from your local established dealer and there was a problem I would hope that they would sort it out.
I know that if I have a problem with a part from Classic, they will also sort it out, So I will say again whats the problem.

Your established dealer will be getting his parts from overseas, so is Classic so whats the differance????

I just dont see your logic, apart from the fact that you will be paying more from your dealer for the same imported parts????????????

Cheers
and saving loads of cash

Dave

Hey johny
Could I put you straight on a few things, I was repairing my own Volkswagens when I was 17, I am now 44, I have restored a number of kombis over the past few years.
I dont profess to know everything, (he who knows everything knows nothing at all).
We potentially stock thousands of items, if I need to know about a product I will ask my suppliers, they are phone call away, fax or E-mail.
I have helped people with advice, where I can and if it is beyond me I will reccommend a local repairer. I have my vehicles serviced at GC Vee Dub and a fantastic job Dave and Jack do, I receive excellent service a good price and therefore return to them.

We supply parts and panels, Creative, Schofields etc. Many of my customers know more than me, but they are getting good prices, they dont say, no way I know more than him so I will go down the road and pay $700 more for this item.

We have a forum member that bought a rear safari for a pick up, long before we started. This did not fit as the wrong one was sent, now that was Creative's fault so do you stop dealing with creative becuse they dont know what they are selling. No.
As for customer service and back up, we have told the forum member that we will accept the rear safari and credit the amount even though we did not sell this item, so we are going to be out of pcket, tell me if many other long established VW shops will do the same.

I have another customer in Perth buying samba trim from me, he also wanted a splitty clock and an ashtray, on a visit to a Brissy shop I found them for him and am going to post these without profit, to him as a favour. The Brissy shop didnt seem to have a problem with that, and once again excellent service from Wendy at Volksworld.

We are all ready supplying trades around Australia, they do not seem to have a problem dealing with a person, with a building background offering good quality items at a good price and some items that are unobtainable.
It is not our intention to close everyone else down but more to do with getting Volkswagens on the road and more attendance at shows.

I have a complete air ride system coming in for my 65 delux, I havnt got the foggiest how to fit it, but I am going to find out isnt that the whole enjoyment of it.

[Edited on 5-11-2004 by ClassicVW(pacific)]

established vw shops "huh". i bought a full set of rubbers for
my kombi when i had full recondition 3yrs ago which cost thousands
of dollars, syd company supplied rubbers, what a shame they didnt
have front door seals of quality so sent me mexican seals on the sly
& only a few months later cracks appeared right around both seals.
established crap :cussing:cussing
p.s. i asked for quality seals only price not a problem

My Son & I have both visited Volksbahn on two occasions...
When We asked the cost of some of the items on Show...
the reply from Leanne was "they are very expensive"....
I did have My engine align bored there and had bought parts from there but Now We wouldn't touvch them if they were the last people on earth... We had travelled 330 kms to their shop..... I bought some WCM outer door hand grommets or seals [4] from VVDS $14 on special.... two of them cracked overnight when placed on car..... I bought replacements from Mick Motors for 55 cents each... they weren't made from the same material but I'm sure Micks hard plastic seals will last longer than one night...

When restoring a VW, We only want to do the job once....
the only exception being the door seals on a beetle , they aren't hard to put on so cheap ones will do there... but all the very hard installation jobs only want to be done once....

Barls, I bought those gauge cutout plates from CB Performance in the USA ... they were the steel ones with the flat tabs... I was hoping they would be able to be turned over & used... but they are Not, plus the LHD versions are a slightly different shape to the RHD!!! price was something like $2-95 & $4.95US.... so they are cheap... So I made My own.... It looks like Classic VW Pacific are doing great work and see Us as fellow VeeDubbers and NOt just someone to be ripped off at every given opportunity....

Lee