Importing APR products from the US

[kryten2001]

Hmm not sure. Dunno why it would only be an issue when it's cold.
Do you hear the rpms drop
Slightly when the noise goes away?

[gh172]

It becomes a lot less noticeable after its warm and the revs drop. Can still hear it occasionally though when the radio's off. I took it to an exhaust shop and the guy thought the mid muffler sounded completely hollow with possibly no baffles at all. Thought that might be the cause. I dropped in to Quattro motors hoping he might have some ideas. He didn't seem too interested in hearing it as he knew it wasn't purchased through him. Which highlights the downside to buying directly from the US. I was thinking of getting an APR K04 kit from the US as its a bucket load cheaper than here. The experience with my exhaust has dampened my enthusiasm to go ahead with that idea.

[Ideo]

I wonder if the ACCC will expand to more than just clothing?

ACCC to investigate internet clothing deals

[TomC]

''Making sure Australian consumers benefit from the revolution that we've got in the online world is a top priority,'' he said yesterday. ''We will therefore use the [Competition and Consumer] Act to its fullest.''

I think the word 'revolution' is used very appropriately here. The reality is that the way we shop (and pay for things) is changing and will continue to do so as online communication improves. I completely understand why, for those small business owners who have tight margins, online shopping is a threat to their business. But let's face it, mark-ups in the big retail stores (across the sectors) has been know to be easily 200-300% plus and I think they are struggling to adjust to the fact that they can no longer make these sorts of profits any more. They'll figure out other ways to make profits though, as they adapt to online shopping.

I was reading a similar article today on credit card surcharges being massive for airlines. Same deal - the way we pay for things is evolving and businesses need to adjust in order to compete.

[Guy_H]

I will order my next Golf R online & even with shipping it from overseas it will save me $13,000. Makes perfect sense!

[Candyman]

APR products need to have ADR compliance ?

Never knew that, must be why they are so expensive

[Guy_H]

13k per golf R for ADR compliance? That's a lot

[Candyman]

Perfect match for overpriced APR products

[TomC]

I will order my next Golf R online & even with shipping it from overseas it will save me $13,000. Makes perfect sense!

In fairness to the OP and the article that was posted Guy, the point you make sarcastically is quite different. I don't think it's fair to make that comparison.

[brimway]

I don't have any APR products on my car nor do I have any alliance with them, but HP seem to get a fair bit of stick on this forum. Is it justified?

[Tim]

13k per golf R for ADR compliance? That's a lot

its pretty cheap if you include re-engineering it for the steering wheel to fit on the other side though

[Ideo]

The point is not overcharging.

The point is prohibiting companies from shipping to Australia.

[Guy_H]

TomC,

I think the OP implied (even though he completely had the information wrong & was corrected) that everything should be the same price in Australia as it is in the rest of the world.

It has also been beaten to death over the past 8 pages that it's pretty normal for things NOT to cost the same as overseas (including a Golf R which is made in Germany & exported to other countries around the world).

Last trip APR made here (it was a calibration trip to Melbourne), they were shocked at the cost of EVERYTHING, from hotel accommodation, car-parking (apparently almost 3 times more than parking in Times Square in New York), rent, wages, superannuation, fuel, income tax, medical levies.

I think the cost of a vehicle (which is also under the luxury car tax threshold) is a valid comparison personally (and no, not being sarcastic).

Did you know that Australia has 4 cities in the worlds top 20 "most expensive cities in the world" to live in?

I'm happy to take any criticism, but I know (as I have visited a lot of tuning companies & dealers in a lot of countries) that the US prices do not add up to a retail price in ANY other country outside the US.

Simple fact & arguing page after page of it is not going to change anything. Simply, if you want US prices, US wages, US cost of living, US cheap cars - move to the US. Australia is a low volume nation when it comes to a lot of things.

Happy to give Australians jobs & keep exports flowing too, collectively the APR dealer network has around 130 employee's here & the associated manufacturers (in Australia) add around another 130.

---------- Post added at 06:04 PM ---------- Previous post was at 05:58 PM ----------

The point is not overcharging.

The point is prohibiting companies from shipping to Australia.

Why?

We have to service & support every product we import. Its APR's decision (WORLDWIDE) to put all products through distributors so there is seamless warranty (direct replacement of hardware, most kept in stock in Australia), support & technical assistance.

I think somewhere in this thread, someone purchased an APR exhaust OS & it may be faulty & he can not get warranty or support for it - do you think that is in APR's interest? If it was locally purchased, it would be warranted, replaced (including labor) and the customer would be on their way. Instead the customer is stuck, and faces having to send it back to the US. I know which way APR wants it handled & they wont pay for warranty on products unless returned to the source of purchase.

[gareth_oau]

I think to some extent, we are all victims of circumstance.

real estate in Oz is a lot more expensive than many overseas locations, add in minimum wage rates, compulsory workers comp etc etc, plus import duty and GST, then it really isnt appropriate to suggest that, without a level playing field that APR Oz might be still ripping us off.

and to top that off, the oz market is far smaller than say the US, so fixed busineess overheads need to amortised over a far smaller sales base.

I'm certainly not happy that I seem to pay more than our yankee cousins for many things, and will quite happily shop overseas wjen appropriate. But i don't automatically go blaming local suppliers, and in most instances accept they are not just trying to rip us off.

the reality is that if I import something privately there is a good chance that I can legally avoid duty and GST that a retailer MUST incur and charge their customers - already they are behind the eight-ball even if they dont value-add to the process

[TomC]

Guy I have respect for you and the business you run and know that many customers rave about your service. My comment was not aimed at your business. It was in response to the article posted which talked about the need to maintain competitive pricing in a worldwide market and I stand by my comment that retailers in Australia in general need to think about restructuring their businesses to stay competitive in a worldwide online shopping market. I spend a lot of time with Gen Z in my job and I can tell you with absolute certainty that in 10 years time, when they are working and earning money, they will conduct most of their lives in an online world.