new shocks - what should i be paying in Aus

[HOLEIN1]

ok, ive made the decision to purchase new shocks from within australia to preserve the warranty...

however after some research, it seems that they are alot more expensive than what i would have thought... up to $1200-$1400 odd for some bilstein B8's... similar sort of case with some adjustable KYB's

are these sort of prices typical at this time? if am gettting ripped a new one, where do people reccomend i get them from?

[Manaz]

Those prices are similar to what I was being quoted when I was looking for suspension for my Bora.

[Dub_Star_V6]

You want premium product, you have to pay premium price my friend...

Plus buying locally means no warranty dramas, and supports local businesses. Yes it's (much) cheaper overseas but you'll find anything of that quality (KONI, KYB) won't be cheap.

[gavs]

Unfortunately that was the same scenario I was confronted with when looking for mine. Koni, Bilstein, KYB all about the same price in Australia, all about the same figures you were quoted.

I went off shore. In the US, the price of Bilsteins and Konis, after importing, weren't that much different to aussie prices (for the models I looked at anyway, the coilovers and fully tune-ables worked out much cheaper).

The KYB's on the other hand, well, I got them delivered to my door for $650 AUD!! For that price, I could replace all 4 (due to the now higher exchange rate) and it would only work out $100 more than getting them locally!

[Yevvy]

$1400 for bilstein b8s? that is ridiculous! there is my plan gone out the window

[gareth_oau]

and allow another $4-500 for installation if you arent doing it yourself

[noone]

For me, local distributors were not close and when I offered them the price I had from OS, they were not interested in getting close.

Try posting in the Wanted to Buy section, you should get a couple of distributors contact you with offers.

I went with UK distributor and aside from the delay, worked out very competitive (could not get them here for double).

Warranty may be an issue, but as others have said, if you could buy the replacement set included for the price of them locally, is it really worth it?

I'd keep hunting for the best price...

[Gravey]

Looking at B8's and Eibach Pro Kit now. The Pro-Kit is quite cheap atm direct from Eibach Australia, $320 delivered for mine, which is the cheapest I've seen anywhere - http://www.eibach.ashop.com.au

As for the B8's, locally I can get them for $1,230. Quotes from several USA sites work out to be around $850 delivered, so almost $400 (or 30%) in savings. As others have said, Coilovers you will save even more, although you would need to consider customs charges for anything over $1,000.

[Manaz]

For what it's worth, VW Australia will quote ~$1400 for stock suspension as well. So by going for Bilstein/Koni/KYB, etc, you're getting a better than stock product for stock pricing.

Yes it's (much) cheaper overseas but you'll find anything of that quality (KONI, KYB) won't be cheap.

Suspension from overseas is *significantly* cheaper than locally. Before duties and taxes, you can get a set of Bilstein PSS9s landed in Australia for $1600 (or lower with the dollar being so strong now). A set of H&R Touring or Sport Cup suspension is less than USD$650 from TireRack, Eibach Sport kit for less - you'd land those for a lot less than AUD$1,000 here, and not have to worry about duties or GST either.

Yes, there are warranty/support/liability issues with bringing stuff in from overseas - but I can't imagine how that accounts for a 100% markup on overseas pricing (particularly when it's retail pricing overseas, and they're taking the same responsibilities over there as a local retailer would take here). In fact, working with a smart local operation who are taking the responsibility for warranty/liability/etc, I managed to bring my PSS9s in for $600 less than the best price (discounted by $400 itself!) for locally sourced PSS9s. How does that work except by the involvement of price gouging the local customer simply because the importer thinks they can?

[HOLEIN1]

thanks for the replys guys, looks like ive been a little mislead during my research into suspension options... from memory i remember people being able to get both shocks and springs for around the $1200 mark. not to be by the looks of things!

all good though, as people have mentioned, premium product with warranty = premium price...

As for the B8's, locally I can get them for $1,230. Quotes from several USA sites work out to be around $850 delivered, so almost $400 (or 30%) in savings. As others have said, Coilovers you will save even more, although you would need to consider customs charges for anything over $1,000.

Gravey, where have you found the best prices? ive called places such as imparts and that place at nth tce kent town, overall prices seem to be similar...

[gareth_oau]

tirerack have got the Bilstein PSS coilover kit to suit yours for USD1078.

http://www.tirerack.com/suspension/suspension.jsp?&make=Bilstein&model=PSS+Coil-Over+Kit&group=PSS+Coil-Over+Kit&autoMake=Volkswagen&autoModel=GTi+GLS+1.8T&autoYear=2000&autoModClar=&partNum=F4.HE5.C485.H1&perfCode=S

Therefore assuming say $200 for shipping, your landed cost including taxes would be around $1830

Alternatively you could go a set of Koni FSD dampers and matching Eibach lowering springs in a kit for USD924

http://www.tirerack.com/suspension/suspension.jsp?&make=Koni&model=FSD+Damper+Set+%26+Springs&group=FSD+Damper+Set+%26+Springs&autoMake=Volkswagen&autoModel=GTi+GLS+1.8T&autoYear=2000&autoModClar=&partNum=2150-4019-2&perfCode=P

a landed cost of circa $1615

[Dub_Star_V6]

Suspension from overseas is *significantly* cheaper than locally. Before duties and taxes

There's the kicker, because when you add import duties, pricing become similar. Yes it's still cheaper OS but considering the warranty and product support you'll get I'm not sure it's really worth it with some big dollar purchases?

Yes, there are warranty/support/liability issues with bringing stuff in from overseas - but I can't imagine how that accounts for a 100% markup on overseas pricing (particularly when it's retail pricing overseas, and they're taking the same responsibilities over there as a local retailer would take here).

Is this because companies like Bilstein and KONI make their local distributors actually stump up and buy all the items they want to stock? If so, it becomes understandable that the importer/wholesaler/distributor all want their cut to make sure they cover their a$$es after paying for something someone is yet to purchase?

tirerack have got the Bilstein PSS coilover kit to suit yours for USD1078. Therefore assuming say $200 for shipping, your landed cost including taxes would be around $1830

Alternatively you could go a set of Koni FSD dampers and matching Eibach lowering springs in a kit for USD924, a landed cost of circa $1615

How much import duty would you end up paying on those amounts, and would that therefore take it close to local pricing (despite the current strong AUD exchange?)

[Manaz]

There's the kicker, because when you add import duties, pricing become similar. Yes it's still cheaper OS but considering the warranty and product support you'll get I'm not sure it's really worth it with some big dollar purchases?

The prices are not similar, not even close. As I indicated, working with a local operator, we managed to get my PSS9s as a one-off (ie no discount for bulk purchase or per unit savings for bulk shipping) landed with all taxes, duties and profit margin for TWO end-user facing businesses (only one being an online business with the associated lower operating expenses) for $2420. That's ~$600 less (or 20%!) than Bilstein Australia quoted when they've got access to better pricing due to their wholesale/import agreement and their ability to bulk import and save money on the per-unit shipping costs. The initial quote from Bilstein Australia was actually $3400 (they only dropped the price to $3000 due to having the item in stock rather than having to bring it in), or almost 50% more expensive than I've ended up paying.

And that's just one example. The ball joints mentioned in another thread are another prime example - Pedders want $110 per ball joint (because they're German), I doubt VW Australia are any cheaper various places in the US will sell them for USD$25 each. You'd get two of them shipped here for less than the price of one bought locally.

Rotors for the Mk4 R32 Golf are another golden example. AUD$680 per rotor from VW Australia, or land a pair from the US for less than AUD$400 including all shipping.

I realise there's some justifiable price premium given our geographic separation from the point of origin and relatively size of the market here, but the amount of markep that seems to be the norm here is simply ridiculous at times.

I keep hearing calls that we should support local businesses - but that needs to work both ways, and perhaps some local businesses should also consider supporting the local market rather than trying to rip it off blind...

[gareth_oau]

Quote:
Originally Posted by gareth_oau
tirerack have got the Bilstein PSS coilover kit to suit yours for USD1078. Therefore assuming say $200 for shipping, your landed cost including taxes would be around $1830

Alternatively you could go a set of Koni FSD dampers and matching Eibach lowering springs in a kit for USD924, a landed cost of circa $1615

How much import duty would you end up paying on those amounts, and would that therefore take it close to local pricing (despite the current strong AUD exchange?)

My 'quoted' costs ($1830 and $1615) are inclusive of all local duties, GST and import agency fee, and will also include delivery to your home.

Note, they are an estimate based on a $USD200 shipping fee, which would probably be lower.

also note that I believe import duty will drop from 10% to 5% from January, so that would reduce the landed costs to circa $1750 and $1550.

Local suppliers will also benefit from the lower duty, but i imagine this will take time to filter through the system and their existing stocks are cleared.

If you are genuinely interested, email tirerack and ask for an all inclusive ex USA cost including delivery, then give that quote to a local customs agent and ask how much extra it will cost to clear the goods.

you could also wait for the A$ to increase further to US$0.93 (currently 0.8 and then you will avoid duty and GST altogether (though I cant see that happening in the near future!!)

another option would be to find suspension less than US$880 ex USA (not including delivery) and then you will not have to pay any Duty/GST/customs fee

[Manaz]

another option would be to find suspension less than US$880 ex USA (not including delivery) and then you will not have to pay any Duty/GST/customs fee

Duty is calculated on the value of the goods, but GST is calculated on goods plus delivery - so you might avoid duty, but not GST in that instance.

Duty will also only drop to 5% on goods from the US which are manufactured in the US - goods from the US manufactured elsewhere (Europe for a large amount of the gear we're likely to bring in) will still remain at 10% I believe.