Hi guys ,

I recently went to purchase some items off Touratech Australia through their web site. I had originally tried to make the purchase on the Touratech International site but because they have an Australian Site the international site won't let you select the option to for shipment to Australia.

So I went through the process of finding the same items on the Australian site which took some time believe me. What I found was astonishing. The difference in price for the exact same 4 items is an AUD$ 271.39.

I emailed Touratech in Australia and have enclosed their response at the bottom of this. I thought people out there in Australia would like to know how much we are being ripped off. I have ordered the parts through the international site and will have them shipped to a friend in Ireland where I can sent to Australia for no more that $100 I reckon.

I wonder if Touratech Germany know how much we are being ripped off?

Items:

Holder for 2 litre canister
Part number: 01-070-0522-0
Stainless Steel Holder for 2-Liter Canister | 117-Luggage Accessories | 113-Luggage & Panniers | Touratech Australia - Touratech Australia
Aus price AUD$61.56
International price Euro 23.10/AUD 30.11
Difference of AUD 31.45

Packsack Ortlieb Rack-Pack Size XL black
Part number: 01-055-0095-0
ORTLIEB Roll Closing Q Packsack, Size XL 89L, Black | 119-Travel & Dry Bags | 113-Luggage & Panniers | Touratech Australia - Touratech Australia
Aus price AUD$197.54
International Price Euro 78.65/AUD 102.51
Difference of AUD 95.03


Canister 2 litre
Part number: 01-070-0520-0
2-Liter Canister with spout, Black | 117-Luggage Accessories | 113-Luggage & Panniers | Touratech Australia - Touratech Australia
Aus price AUD $26.88
International price Euro 10.50/AUD 13.68
Difference of AUD 13.20


Heated waistcoat - men's, XXL
Part number: 01-601-0104-0
Heated waistcoat - men's, XXL | 312-Clothing | 259-Clothing | Touratech Australia - Touratech Australia
Aus price AUD$293.22
International price Euro 123.90/AUD 161.51
Difference of AUD 131.71

Total difference in AUD for the four items comes to $271.39

responce:

Hi Kevin

I'm very for the delay in replying to your email.

With our pricing I can understand your concern. Unfortunately, we are the furthest distributor from Germany and have to air freight all our parts into Australia every 3 weeks, to keep a reasonable range of stock. This does significantly increases our freight costs.

Because of our business is much smaller here in Australia we are not able to stock all parts that are available in Germany or US. Our market is significantly smaller than the German or American market.

Again, it is difficult for Australian business’ to compete with these countries (large populations and lower freighting costs) with pricing and parts availability, however, we are reviewing our pricing based on the stronger $A foreign exchange rates, which will improve the local price on imported parts.

Hope this explanation helps a little.

We thank you for taking the time to forward your concerns, If you do have any further queries or feedback about Touratech products please feel free to contact us.

Thank you
Lauren

*********************
Touratech Australia
Lauren Roman
1933 Everton-Carboor Road
Carboor, VIC 3678

Phone 03 5729 5529
Fax 03 5729 5559

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Ride on
Kev

Just don't buy them, overpriced IMHO

If you do want those specific items, but them overseas or have a friend but them in a destination country and pick them up when you get there

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www.travellingstrom.com

I did a similar exercise yesterday with tarp clips.
UK price worked out at AUD29
Aussie price $120

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Postie Notes - "you're not seriously going around Australia on a postie bike??"

Support local jobs? Yeah right. Not at that price difference.

It's the same with a lot of things these days. We are used to being ripped off for stuff if we need it quickly.

I order a lot of parts from overseas these days.

Cheers,
Brett.

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May 2015 - Canberra to Townsville via the Birdsville Track in a 1969 Mini Van.
http://www.facebook.com/TeamBMCAdventures

Hi KevKO
Try the differance in price for parts from state to state.
Wanted lefthand switchs unit for K100,
Price in Adelaide $550
Price from WA $300 +$14
Given excuss of transport. What! you mail it to the USA then To Peru then to Adelaide.
Same goes for simple things, clutch cable from BMW Adelaide nearly $100 told him l bought one six month before for $70 why increase, eventually gave it for trade price $69 ???
If they can't suppy things at a reasonable price, no wonder business goes too overseas companies cheaper even with the cost of transporting it here.

Do a search on the difference between the prices/quality of service of TT UK (much more expensive/poor) and TT Germany (a lot cheaper, although still a rip-off).

As suggested by others: Shop elsewhere. It'll be most likely cheaper and the quality better.

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Brighty's website: TheBrightStuffDotCom

CURRENT RR WITH REGULAR UPDATES: The Wife Takes on Chlamydia: A South American Retrospective

I notice a similar thing in Europe, about 10 years ago I was with a friend buying a new centre stand for his R80GS in Germany where it was half the price of the UK, I went to buy an oil filter to discover the German price was 3 times that of the UK so wild variations but no pattern to price difference at all.
It just pays to shop around especially if buying expensive items.

Price and cost are entirely unrelated. If someone came up to you in the street and offered to give you £10-million cash for the newspaper you just bought for 50p you might be worried that there was some catch in the deal, but you'd be insane to turn it down on the basis that it only cost you 50p and a bit of wear on your shoe leather. Someone out there is willing to pay, so that's what they sell at. The TT Australia reply is customer service BS.

I used to be responsible for a certain Ford part. Ford bought it from us for €10. Both my employer and Ford sold it as a spare for £150 through their dealer network and independent garages. Halfords (UK walk in parts supplier for the DIY market) wanted £450. I know a garage that charged £1700 to fit one (less than 2 hours labour). As a brake part the owner might not be too happy paying that to keep his £5000 van on the road, but he wasn't going to risk a crash. Now the vehicle is out of production they are £200 on e-bay as NOS. I doubt the Transit will ever be a classic, but if they were I'd be buying them up, they fail and you can't drive without one.

The spares pricing strategy of the manufacturers will vary through the life of the vehicle and legislation. A German for example can't fit a pattern part for some bits. Where they have to supply more they somethimes pass on the savings to keep the market sweet, where they can make more money overall they do.

A lot of manufacturers actually give away cars and trucks. They sell service parts and finance.

For metal boxes TT Germany face stiff competition even with a TUV cert. Australia I would guess is awash with welders making their own. TT buyers want the logo, so the price is boutique.

Andy

Pricing in Australia for anything imported by a business has about a minimum of 24% (in price) disadvantage due to duty and taxes, which the private importer does not pay as long as the item arrives by Post and has a declared value of less than AU$1000 including the freight cost. For a business there are also profit requirements, inventory costs, local transport costs, etc etc. Australian distributors dont get the same purchase prices as the larger markets such as the USA, UK, etc.

When I worked for Isuzu, we used to joke that the total Australian vehicle demand was produced by Japanese vehicle manufacturers on a Saturday afternoon. Pricing was not about what it cost, more about what the market will pay - especially with large multi nationals that can produce things at very low prices, you can see examples driving around any Asian country - they dont pay the equivalent of AU$80,000 for a Landcruiser.

One of the options the government is considering at present is to limit the quantity of items in a parcel to one, so that the private importer of multiple items is forced to pay a lot of additional freight costs and thus the local businesses are "protected" from so called unfair private importation of goods. Better write to your MP if you want to retain the right to import of multiple items upto $1000 per package.

Isn't that typical of GovThinking!
Let's change the law to "protect" the VCR industry, or stop music CDs from becoming redundant, or save bookstores from closing.

The game has changed - adapt or move over.

I talk a lot to the local motorcycle shops who whinge and complain that the customers are buying online and they are hanging on desperately to the "old" ways. "The Government should do something" they cry! What would you like them to do - stop technological development?

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Postie Notes - "you're not seriously going around Australia on a postie bike??"

RogerM has it correct. When you live on a continent that imports substantially vice manufacturing your own consumer products (with a market size to support it) then shipping costs go to you. Boat or plane, somebody has to pay for the fuel oil to get you your stuff. And oil isn't cheap, don't you know.

Governments must have a constant cash flow (duties / tax / tariffs / rego fees ) to provide for the "services" the collective "You" demand. RogerM is right, write your government representative (or get a new one!) if you want to change how things are done.

Start making your own stuff or keep paying outrageous taxes and shipping costs. Good luck with that!

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Buy from here - motorcycle-luggage-shop.com
Excellent service and including delivery to Australia about 50% 0f the price.

Your experience is common. Yes, we are a long way from source but the adventure biking market is becoming really expensive as suppliers try to meet demand. There are alternatives to choose from. Amazon will come in soon and suppliers will get a shock.
More and more adv riders are choosing much smaller and cheaper bikes. You do not need a $30k BMW GS. In fact, watch Charlie Boormans videos on the Long Way Round on YouTube. Look at Lois on the Loose too as a contrast.
The go now seems to be soft panniers and minimum weight.

Yes. The prices are very steep. I have seen a number of pannier racks priced at more than $400. They could have been made for $50. I will make my own.
Yes, a light bike is the way to go. I am looking at 400's or even 250's as in Australia, even in the remotest parts of the outback, assistance can be found. So one does not have to carry all one's worldly possessions.

Way over priced shit products and the play the money market to rip you off even further!