Harding Performance is no longer an APR dealer distributor????

[tigger73]

I'm sure his lawyers have told him not to make any comment.

[MGV]

Maybe APR will pass on HP's cut to the consumer...

hahahahaha, doubts...

[sergioscirocco]

This was in the APR US web site on the 31st of of March

"APR, LLC. Announces New Importation and Support Across Australia and New Zealand.

March 31st, 2016

Over the past year we’ve focused heavily on improving our customers’ experience across the globe in many facets. Following feedback from APR customers, dealers, and the marketplace in general, we’ve made several key moves in Australia and New Zealand. We will continue to evaluate the market for other areas of improvement. Our goal is to provide the best products and service possible, while continuing to responsibly enhance the driving experience.

Our network of 30+ independent dealers will remain largely unchanged, and they will continue to provide support and access to APR products in the region as each account is processed in our systems. If there are any pressing matters, please feel free to contact us. We want to thank everyone for all of the feedback and support over the years, as we look forward to an exciting 2016!

Thank you and Go APR!"

So this means all dealers will continue normally dealing directly with APR and not with HP?

[VW Convert]

So this means all dealers will continue normally dealing directly with APR and not with HP?

Sounds like that's what is intended, perhaps trying to remove a layer from the supply chain.

IF this is the case and IF as is stated on the HP website this action was taken with no prior notice to HP, after 16 years of trading and with HP having invested heavily in their business partnership with APR, I would question the ethics of APR's actions. Of course, this is speculation prefixed by the capital IFs, APR will no doubt claim to be justified in their actions and we'll probably never know the ins and outs of it, but it is normal practice in such cases for either party to give reasonable notice that the arrangement is coming to an end.

Cheers

George

[K04Tiggy]

Mmmm....I feel so sorry for Guy.
I probably won't buy anything from APR again. I am also disappointed.

[wasabiz]

Mmmm....I feel so sorry for Guy.
I probably won't buy anything from APR again. I am also disappointed.

though some say APR's code of conduct is quite unethical... it doesn't mean that they produce a bad product. I don't see why it should hinder a person from getting a service that they provide. If you look at it that way, let's all stop buying McDonalds or KFC or anything from the big giant corporations that is on the face of this earth. Try to look THEIR code of conduct and see if you agree with them.

You can feel sorry all you want but at the end of the day, the licensor holds the power.

[tigger73]

I think the difference here is that K04Tiggy had his car tuned at Harding Performance workshop and has a personal relationship with Guy.

Anyone that does business now with APR will probably be pretty cautious as APR LLC have proven they are likely to do anything/change their mind at a whim and only inform their distribution network "after the fact".

It's not like it was at the end of an agreement period and the distributor was given adequate notice to restructure their business.

The workshops are probably pretty "safe" but what about those workshops that are "underperforming" in terms of sales?

It really does not inspire confidence within the whole dealership network when decisions get made without consultation which effects the distributors business.

[VW Convert]

though some say APR's code of conduct is quite unethical... it doesn't mean that they produce a bad product. I don't see why it should hinder a person from getting a service that they provide. If you look at it that way, let's all stop buying McDonalds or KFC or anything from the big giant corporations that is on the face of this earth. Try to look THEIR code of conduct and see if you agree with them.

There are many companies whose products I no longer purchase because of ethical concerns, you've just mentioned two of them. I only buy free range eggs because I don't like the ethics of companies that produce eggs from chickens who never see the light of day, I only buy fairtrade certified chocolate and clothing from ECA certified manufacturers because I don't want to support manufacturers who use what is essentially slave labour in poor countries in the manufacturing process. We should always question the ethics of the businesses we support, to shrug your shoulders and accept their poor ethics makes us as guilty of poor ethics as the businesses concerned.

You can feel sorry all you want but at the end of the day, the licensor holds the power.

Ultimately, the consumer holds the power, no customers, no business.

Cheers

George

[VW Convert]

I think the difference here is that K04Tiggy had his car tuned at Harding Performance workshop and has a personal relationship with Guy.

Anyone that does business now with APR will probably be pretty cautious as APR LLC have proven they are likely to do anything/change their mind at a whim and only inform their distribution network "after the fact".

It's not like it was at the end of an agreement period and the distributor was given adequate notice to restructure their business.

The workshops are probably pretty "safe" but what about those workshops that are "underperforming" in terms of sales?

It really does not inspire confidence within the whole dealership network when decisions get made without consultation which effects the distributors business.

Great summary, also, how will end customers feel about the support they are likely to receive from a manufacturer whose ethics they perceive to be dodgy?

I had been seriously considering an APR tune when my warranty is finished, if the facts are as described to date, this is very unlikely to happen now.

Cheers

George

[mrmomoz]

Heard about all of this through my workshop in Lynbrook [Peerless Automotive] Simon (owner) said just hang tight, and wait a few weeks. He believes prices for APR goods are going to get cheaper if the negotiation process goes their way. The group [GTi/R Club Melbourne] have 2 power shops in the discussion. Raz from PAW and Simon from Peerless Automotive. I shall hang tight and wait, as my vehicle is all APR branded with mods.

[Eddy]

There are many companies whose products I no longer purchase because of ethical concerns, you've just mentioned two of them. I only buy free range eggs because I don't like the ethics of companies that produce eggs from chickens who never see the light of day, I only buy fairtrade certified chocolate and clothing from ECA certified manufacturers because I don't want to support manufacturers who use what is essentially slave labour in poor countries in the manufacturing process. We should always question the ethics of the businesses we support, to shrug your shoulders and accept their poor ethics makes us as guilty of poor ethics as the businesses concerned.



Ultimately, the consumer holds the power, no customers, no business.

Cheers

George

Hoyhoy.

I go along with ya George, even when shopping @ Woolies with the missus, we don't buy any home brands.
Plus as far as APR agents here in Aussie, who set them up, GUY. So it should be his business.
What about all the advancement of ABS, GUY.

APR-USA.........

Harding Performance...

[Dutch77]

At the end of the day the APR product remains, but even if prices do come down I think it's going to be a nice boost to other brands. A lot of people, myself included, accepted paying more in the past because of the local R&D, Greg's assistance and the fact we recognised it's a 'bricks and mortar' business which ultimately is always going to have higher costs.

I'm sure once the legals are resolved HP will be selling something new, along with their existing DSG products and distributorships.

Best of luck to Greg once he pops back up for air.

[VW Convert]

Hoyhoy.

I go along with ya George, even when shopping @ Woolies with the missus, we don't buy any home brands.
Plus as far as APR agents here in Aussie, who set them up, GUY. So it should be his business.
What about all the advancement of ABS, GUY.

APR-USA.........

Harding Performance...

Same here with the home brands Eddy, maybe it's because we're old school! Home brands are the big supermarket chains way of exerting power over little guys and I won't be party to that. Never buy my fruit and veggies in Woollies either for the same reason.

Cheers

George

[sergioscirocco]

I wrote this e mail to APR LLC
Hi My name is Sergio and I am one of your customers in Australia, I just saw a disturbing letter from my local distrubitor Harding Performance where it says that APR has terminated the importation and distribution of products. I am really concerned about this since the only reason I installed the APR products on my Golf R mk7 was because we have a local dealer to respond for the brand, I am also confused about what is going to be the future of the brand from now on?, what is going to happen with the products I purchased from Harding Performance for my car ? Some information would be really appreciated. Thanks.

This was the Answer

"Hi Sergio,

Over the past year we’ve focused heavily on improving our customers’ experience across the globe in many facets. Following feedback from APR customers, dealers, and the marketplace in general, we’ve made several key moves in Australia and New Zealand. We will continue to evaluate the market for other areas of improvement. Our goal is to provide the best products and service possible, while continuing to responsibly enhance the driving experience.

Our network of 30+ independent dealers will remain largely unchanged, and they will continue to provide support and access to APR products in the region as each account is processed in our systems. If there are any pressing matters, please feel free to contact us. We want to thank everyone for all of the feedback and support over the years, as we look forward to an exciting 2016!

Thank you and Go APR!

Ryan Miller
International Account Manager
APR, LLC.

T: 334 502 5181
F: 334 502 5180"

A very general answer I would say.

[jamesatfish]

A very general answer I would say.

Worse than that - it's just an exact copy-and-paste from their press release.

APR, LLC. Announces New Importation and Support Across Australia and New Zealand.