Why are Aussies getting a raw deal on pricing?

[Ozram]

<rant>

Priced up a Carbonio CAI off the APR US site and also from a US company called DBCPerformance. They go on various US VW forums to promote things. IN STOCK: DBC Tuning-Wholelsale Pricing On OEM VW/AUDI Parts

When I checked with them they will not ship to Australia because we have an APR dealer network here too. Fine, I'm all for supporting local businesses and getting local support if I need it.

Fast forward to the Australian APR site to check availability and pricing. APR - High Performance Development for Audi, VW and Porsche Vehicles.

Are you guys seriously telling me we should be paying $255 in freight costs and "overheads" to sell this in Australia?

US$269.10 + freight versus AU$525 + freight.

Confused of Sydney

<end rant>

[team_v]

This has been covered many times on the forum.

In Australia we have to cover a lot more business costs (such as paying staff minimum wage/super/and the economy of scale is smaller so prices are higher.)

If you search i believe this exactl question was asked probably no more than 5 months ago.

[Ozram]

In Australia we have to cover a lot more business costs (such as paying staff minimum wage/super/and the economy of scale is smaller so prices are higher.)

Understood. But double the price?????

That's BS.

[Bug_racer]

Understood. But double the price?????

That's BS.

Go open a legitimate small business from a warehouse with full insurance (public liability ) and get back to us . Also factor in making an actual profit and not just breaking even ...

[LunchboxVRS]

Also add in that a company would buy more then one pushing the cost over $1000 and therefore having to pay duty and customs.

[Ozram]

Meh,

I'll happily pay over the odds for something. But there is a difference between that and getting reamed.

Sorry guys, lost sale.

[Umai Naa!!]

You've got to admit that Australia doesn't lend itself well to being competitive on a global scale in this regard.

However, you have to hand it to the US APR dealer in question for not undercutting their Australian counterparts.

[brimway]

Agree with posts above plus buying overseas can end badly e.g. TM Tuning. At the end of the day, there are far better CAI than Carbonio. I had one on a MKV GTI and all it did was look pretty.

[Scuby_snax84]

It happens with everything. I own a 4wd and have been looking at buying a Diff locker for the front. ARB who is an Australian company makes them, and ships them all around the world. Silly part is, I can buy an Australian made product delivered from the US cheaper then I can buy it here in Australia. Where is the logic in that? If I buy it from the states it has been freighted to the US and back here and still cheaper then sourcing locally.

All I can put it down to be they must sell a heap of them in the US and buy them for peanuts from ARB.

In saying this, I have bought all of my major car parts for my vw from Australia just incase something goes a stray I know have a local distributor and local warranty to sort me out.

[cktsi]

Hey Ozram, I'm annoyed at the big price differences too. APR Stage 1 in the US is on sale for my car for $300, but the sale price here works out to be around $1135. Having said that, I've noticed in Australia they try to make up for it by offering all options on ECU which takes the sting out - so it's not a direct apples for apples comparison.

As for hardware, Scuby's experience is a sad case where the US market's larger scale allows them the power to buy & sell Australian products cheaper.

[Transporter]

APR Stage 1 in the US is on sale for my car for $300

That's ridiculous!
I'd rather do nothing, than pulling the ECU from your car, bench tune it for just $300, pay taxes from it and sometimes even put up with the whinge, that it's not what you expected! Do they offer returning it back to stock for free as well, if the customer is not happy?
Not meant to be personal, just used "you" as an example.

I hope that people who drive the industry to such deals, will get at the end what they deserve!

[h100vw]

Miro, You'd only pay tax, if you actually made anything out of the deal! LOL

That's ridiculous!
I'd rather do nothing, than pulling the ECU from your car, bench tune it for just $300, pay taxes from it and sometimes even put up with the whinge, that it's not what you expected! Do they offer returning it back to stock for free as well, if the customer is not happy?
Not meant to be personal, just used "you" as an example.

I hope that people who drive the industry to such deals, will get at the end what they deserve!

[Transporter]

Miro, You'd only pay tax, if you actually made anything out of the deal! LOL

That's very truth.

[Brendan_A]

Hey Ozram, I'm annoyed at the big price differences too. APR Stage 1 in the US is on sale for my car for $300, but the sale price here works out to be around $1135. Having said that, I've noticed in Australia they try to make up for it by offering all options on ECU which takes the sting out - so it's not a direct apples for apples comparison.

As for hardware, Scuby's experience is a sad case where the US market's larger scale allows them the power to buy & sell Australian products cheaper.

You have a 118tsi right?? The US market don't have that engine so I don't know where you got that information from?

[Guy_H]

<rant>

Priced up a Carbonio CAI off the APR US site and also from a US company called DBCPerformance. They go on various US VW forums to promote things. IN STOCK: DBC Tuning-Wholelsale Pricing On OEM VW/AUDI Parts

When I checked with them they will not ship to Australia because we have an APR dealer network here too. Fine, I'm all for supporting local businesses and getting local support if I need it.

Fast forward to the Australian APR site to check availability and pricing. APR - High Performance Development for Audi, VW and Porsche Vehicles.

Are you guys seriously telling me we should be paying $255 in freight costs and "overheads" to sell this in Australia?

US$269.10 + freight versus AU$525 + freight.

Confused of Sydney

<end rant>

USD (on Sale) $269

Freight $90

Customs clearance, charges etc (not including GST) $132. (yes a business has to pay these)

landed cost = $491.

Aussie price:

$472.50 including GST (yes, ours is on sale at the moment too if you care to read the website) - if you subtract GST (as you are avoiding GST by not purchasing it locally), ours is $425.

We also give you support, direct replacement warranty, and have them in stock.