Do retailers and wholesalers rip us off?

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Awrrr
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#2173957 6-Feb-2019 13:34

MichaelNZ:

Rikkitic:

If NZ retailers want to stay in business, they need to deal with today's reality instead of pining for the past.

Great idea. They should stop paying tax here, employing people here and move overseas. Then there will be less tax to pay for your pension. Talk about biting the hand which feeds.

People act in their own self-interest. That's why Communism doesn't work. As it happens, my pension comes from overseas, but even if it didn't, I would still shop where I get the best prices and I think more people will do the same as awareness grows. I doubt many will willingly pay two or three times as much just to ensure the future of local retailers. A retailer based here has to find a way to cope with that or go under. I believe many can survive if they employ the right tactics. There are signs of that already. We are in a transitional phase.

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tdgeek

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#2173961 6-Feb-2019 13:47

Rikkitic:

People act in their own self-interest. That's why Communism doesn't work. As it happens, my pension comes from overseas, but even if it didn't, I would still shop where I get the best prices and I think more people will do the same as awareness grows. I doubt many will willingly pay two or three times as much just to ensure the future of local retailers. A retailer based here has to find a way to cope with that or go under. I believe many can survive if they employ the right tactics. There are signs of that already. We are in a transitional phase.

What tactics are those? They cant reduce prices permanently by 50%+. Retail is not a cash cow here, prices are higher based on the many reasons already stated, so as prices are not a rort they cannot reduce much. Retailers face competition by their superior product competing with cheap rubbish. The other is higher costs here are hard to compete with the identical product that an overseas seller does not have, and who also has massive economies of scale. Best option is let nature take its course, retail can drop away, courier costs here will be added to imports as well as the country to country freight. Freight is fake currently, that needs to be fixed

MichaelNZ

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#2173965 6-Feb-2019 13:51

Rikkitic:

People act in their own self-interest. That's why Communism doesn't work.

Self interest is only equal to cheap and crappy for people with no money, who incidentaly are also not a good source for economic advice.

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MCONZ

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#2173966 6-Feb-2019 13:54

MichaelNZ:
MCONZ:

Also for the fact that some 'Genuine' Mercedes part are so cheap and made in China.

Why does he believe it is genuine? Some counterfeits are audatious.

For example, when buying tools one can choose "Wiha" or "Xiaomi Wiha". The former is German made and the later a Chinese copy come counterfeit. The later even includes a ripoff of the former's brand logo.

Because he was told as such by Amazon.

I can't imagine Amazon would knowingly sell counterfeit goods mislabeled as genuine.

Rikkitic

Awrrr
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#2173967 6-Feb-2019 13:59

MichaelNZ:

Rikkitic:

People act in their own self-interest. That's why Communism doesn't work.

Self interest is only equal to cheap and crappy for people with no money, who incidentaly are also not a good source for economic advice.

You seem very bitter about this. Do you have family in retail?

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logo

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#2173968 6-Feb-2019 14:02

MichaelNZ:

MCONZ:

Also for the fact that some 'Genuine' Mercedes part are so cheap and made in China.

Why does he believe it is genuine? Some counterfeits are audatious.

For example, when buying tools one can choose "Wiha" or "Xiaomi Wiha". The former is German made and the later a Chinese copy come counterfeit. The later even includes a ripoff of the former's brand logo.

Not counterfeit

https://www.wiha.com/en/press-reports/detail/wiha-proud-of-co-branding-partnership-with-chinese-smartphone-manufacturer-xiaomi/

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#2173969 6-Feb-2019 14:03

logo:

MichaelNZ:

MCONZ:

Also for the fact that some 'Genuine' Mercedes part are so cheap and made in China.

Why does he believe it is genuine? Some counterfeits are audatious.

For example, when buying tools one can choose "Wiha" or "Xiaomi Wiha". The former is German made and the later a Chinese copy come counterfeit. The later even includes a ripoff of the former's brand logo.

Not counterfeit

https://www.wiha.com/en/press-reports/detail/wiha-proud-of-co-branding-partnership-with-chinese-smartphone-manufacturer-xiaomi/

I stand corrected, thanks.

It is clearly a poor example I used but the problem is very real.

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Aredwood

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#2173971 6-Feb-2019 14:12

MCONZ: My brother was looking to purchase a part for the front window de-mister in his Mercedes.
He looked around here in NZ and the cheapest quote he got was a shade under $500, so of course he went online and found the same part on Amazon for $180 NZ landed here, so he purchased and and he thought win win..

It arrived and included in the box was a invoice, which I guess was mistakingly put in there by the manufacturer (In China) which had the item cost on there and shipping charges of $23 US total.
As you can imagine he wasn't happy about it at all and contacted Amazon asap, and they were very surprised he got that invoice and after a few back and forth emails etc, they gave him a refund of part of his initial purchase cost ($105 NZ).

Quite interesting I thought.

Also for the fact that some 'Genuine' Mercedes part are so cheap and made in China.

Was that invoice addressed to Amazon? Or was it addressed to a 3rd party seller who is selling on Amazon?

Just because it says ”genuine part” Has it been purchased from Mercedes? Or at least made in the same factory that makes the Mercedes genuine parts?

I know someone who owns a counterfeit version of the Mercedes dealer diagnostic scanner. In other words a copy of a specialist piece of equipment that was never intended to be sold to the general public. Which shows just how far some people can go to make counterfeit products.

mudguard

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#2173982 6-Feb-2019 14:29

I mix buying online and from retail stores. Some of my larger online purchases have mainly been mountainbike equipment. I bought a helmet which ultimately cost near $1000 simply because I couldn't buy it anywhere in NZ. I was lucky enough to have a friend who owned one and had the same sized head. That said, that particular website makes returns quite easy.

Other stuff I'll buy as I travel for work, I sit in hotels at night and buy bits and pieces that I need so that they're at home when I go back, I don't have to waste any time driving to get them. Yet in other cases I'll buy locally, simply as I've broken something and want to ride before the part can get here from overseas.

I do think the distributor model is slowly dying, whether companies will pick it up themselves will become clear in the next few years I guess.

gzt

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#2173985 6-Feb-2019 14:40

There will always be a need for it in NZ. The mower part given as an example likely available from the local distributor same day or next day. If you want next day from an overseas source that's almost impossible and usually impractical.

MCONZ

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#2174060 6-Feb-2019 17:02

Aredwood:
MCONZ: My brother was looking to purchase a part for the front window de-mister in his Mercedes.
He looked around here in NZ and the cheapest quote he got was a shade under $500, so of course he went online and found the same part on Amazon for $180 NZ landed here, so he purchased and and he thought win win..

It arrived and included in the box was a invoice, which I guess was mistakingly put in there by the manufacturer (In China) which had the item cost on there and shipping charges of $23 US total.
As you can imagine he wasn't happy about it at all and contacted Amazon asap, and they were very surprised he got that invoice and after a few back and forth emails etc, they gave him a refund of part of his initial purchase cost ($105 NZ).

Quite interesting I thought.

Also for the fact that some 'Genuine' Mercedes part are so cheap and made in China.

Was that invoice addressed to Amazon? Or was it addressed to a 3rd party seller who is selling on Amazon?

Just because it says ”genuine part” Has it been purchased from Mercedes? Or at least made in the same factory that makes the Mercedes genuine parts?

I know someone who owns a counterfeit version of the Mercedes dealer diagnostic scanner. In other words a copy of a specialist piece of equipment that was never intended to be sold to the general public. Which shows just how far some people can go to make counterfeit products.

It was addressed to Amazon and definitely was not meant to be included with his purchase.

As far as we can tell it is from a factory that makes genuine Mercedes parts.

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MichaelNZ

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#2174062 6-Feb-2019 17:06

MCONZ:

It was addressed to Amazon and definitely was not meant to be included with his purchase.

As far as we can tell it is from a factory that makes genuine Mercedes parts.

I'd wager it is counterfeit or grey market because it makes no sense whatsoever for Mercedes to undermine their normal distribution channels. Out of the 2, I'd think counterfeit because when Mercedes found out their products were being grey marketed they would cut the manufacturer off.

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tdgeek

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#2174108 6-Feb-2019 18:45

Its not made by Mercedes, but is it made by a third party FOR Mercedes?

bmt

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#2174143 6-Feb-2019 20:14

Sounds like MichaelNZ is coming up with answers to suit his own pre-conceived biases. Would deny it of course.

dejadeadnz

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#2174167 6-Feb-2019 22:30

I think people need to separate out the selling of truly commoditised/mass market stuff (e.g. books) where certain entities (whichever level they are on the supply chain) add absolutely zero value or highly dubious value but rely on completely outdated tactics to survive, as opposed to sellers/suppliers of relatively low in demand items or items where reasonable buyers who aren't just chasing the lowest price would welcome some service/sound advice. Three of my least favourite retail stores are Whitcoulls, Paperplus and Mightyape. Personally, I would go as far as describing them as cancers of retail.

To me, I have a fundamental problem with the first two's absolutely outmoded, outdated and out-every-thing operating model that leads to high costs and high prices that prey solely on the cluelessness, apathy and "I want it and I want it now" sentiment on the part of people. Why does Whitcoulls feel the need to invade every large mall and putting excessive numbers of staff into each store (who mostly do nothing but mill around) whilst seemingly instructing every staff to barge in front of shoppers and ask "Can I help you?" the moment you walk near them? I've occasionally wanted to browse their shelves for stuff to buy but just get sick of being bothered by minimum wage sales assistants who frankly couldn't help me even if they tried. Paperplus operates on a similar model, except that the staff at least don't tend to bother you. Both stores do absolutely nothing other than recommending the same, boring mass-market rubbish published by the big publishers, whilst almost everything they sell can be easily bought cheaper in NZ-based online stores that deliver the following day or even at independent retail stores. For a laugh, my partner and I know a lot of people interested in photography and we bought 4 copies of I am New Zealand for 20-30% cheaper from thenile.co.nz as Christmas gifts, which was delivered for free the following day. Even when Whitcoulls was running a 20% sale, the Nile was still 12% cheaper. Sorry but not everybody is an idiot.

My problem with Mightyape is how they've somehow convinced so many Kiwis that only they know how to deliver items quickly (untrue) whilst usually maintaining prices that are the same as retail stores in most of the areas of goods that I am interested in. Unless you are a friend or family member of Simon and Vicki Barton (the owners), it's hard to know why anyone should put up with this. They are also notoriously bad at RMA/post-sales service when it comes to hardware.

But I also have no time of the day for people buying/wanting to buy things like cameras, high-end AV equipment, and the like and go off to good sellers that take the time to consult with them, provide sensible advice, and letting them play with the equipment for an hour plus and then proceed to buy the same from some parallel importer for a 15-20% saving and dodgy warranty support whilst simultaneously decrying the non-existent ripoff that's going on. I had to LOL when some rich lawyer that I know decided to pull exactly the same stunt after wasting Auckland Camera's time and then buying a Fuji XT-3 with a parallel importer to save a few hundy. He's been in a giant fight with the seller since.

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