Originally Posted by mark manley

A simple solution would be to not buy the stuff, you don't need most of it and the rest has alternative suppliers.

Originally Posted by Oo-SEB-oO

They won't respond to a mail like that. I wouldn't in any case.

Alternatively you could try the Belgian TT distributor, he speaks dutch and probably will ship to FR or NL as he's a good guy... just an idea...

Originally Posted by casperghst42

I don't know how TT have setup the whole thing, but it looks like franchises, and they dictate the minimum price - price wise I think the UK is the most expensive.

I've had both good and bad experience in regards to how they treat their customers; it looks like it's only in Germany it's possible to spare parts like half a pannier rack (but that might have changed in the last few years).

One have to give it to TT, they have figured out how to convince all adv. bike riders (or hopefuls) that you're not a real man (or woman) if you haven't spend all your savings in buying bling from them. They have useful stuff, but also a large amount of useless stuff..

As for seats; Kahedo's own branded seats are mostly cheaper (and better), and they do sell seat directly to end customers.


Casper

Originally Posted by Keks

I´m sure the folks at TT Germany would have found a solution if you would have asked. Whilst I have occasionally not been exceptionally impressed by their stuff (at other occasions I have), I have always during the last six years found the TT staff by mail, by phone and in person (be it at their store at HQ or at bike fairs) very friendly and solution-/service-oriented. I have dealt with them on a high number of occasions to equip my Africa Twin, my KTM 1190 Adv R and my wife´s Transalp.

You will have to understand and accept that their business model is to have distributors in certain countries which they most certainly have to protect due to contractual obligations, through which they do regular business, which is everything but odd (French specialties such as payment are well known to any traveller trying to purchase gas from a gas station outside daytime Monday through Friday without a French payment card); but it would utterly surprise me if I would not be able to receive help for e.g. urgent spare parts and accessories from my local German or the local national TT shop if I am on the road abroad. Should your Dutch TT distributor prove to be unhelpful (I cannot see from the Dutch website nor from Google Maps that at the TT Netherlands address the TT distributor is in fact (only) a BMW dealer) - I am surprised you did purchase from the German website although TT offers a Dutch website for its Dutch operations anyways - a call into TT HQ would most certainly have helped. Have you ever contacted TT France regarding their ability to serve you in English?

Regards
Chris

Originally Posted by casperghst42

EU = European Union
EC = European Community, which was the the predecessor of the EU

In this case the the EU have nothing to do with anything. TT is a company which runs it's business how they decide.

Casper

Originally Posted by chris

So, as suggested by others already: If you don't like how they sell/distribute their products, go elsewhere (there are plenty of other vendors who ship Europe and Worldwide) or don't bother at all, as most of the TT catalog is just tat anyway.

If you really do "need" TT stuff, check the companies who make items for TT (like Kahedo) and buy it direct from them, probably for less. TT just adds their logo and adds a premium to the OEM price.

Originally Posted by AliBaba

It's worse up here, price for an IMO:

Germany: 449€
UK: 617€
Norway: 781€

It would have been cheaper for me to order the part to a hotell in Kiel, bring my gf with a cruiseship to Kiel and spend a night at the hotell then to buy it in Norway.
I even had to wait more then a month for the part, it was in stock in Germany...

Anyway, I wrote a mail to TT and got no answer.

Originally Posted by kentfallen

Personally I'd rather hit my head hard with a hammer than buy anything from this lot. I have experienced the problem myself and promised to NEVER use them again in the future. I know 4 others who were ripped off by this company (paying way over the odds for what they needed).

My advice is to research the internet to locate what you need. It's often possible to find what you need at a fraction of the price demanded by this bunch.

No one minds a retailer making a reasonable profit what we don't like is being ripped off!

Originally Posted by Zebra AT

But the only product I like is their panniers.

Originally Posted by Pongo

Hi Guus, Sorry to hear you are having so much trouble with TT. I have no involvement with them as you know, but we did meet up with Yvon Bodelot down in the Aveyron last September if you remember. Yvon is the TT franchise owner in France, based at Orange, actually not too far from Montpellier. ( 100Kms) ZAC Porte sud 356 r Roussanne BP 124 84104 ORANGE Cedex. Yvon@touratech.fr. I am sure he would be delighted to hear your complaint!! ( he speaks excellent English).

Originally Posted by chris

I get the impression that virtually every man and their dog makes aluminium panniers. Not just TT/Zega. I can name at least 10 alli pannier manufacturers. You can always buy or make your own mounts to bolt onto your racks.

Or if it's plastic or soft you want, there are also a huge multitude of vendors.

Originally Posted by Samy

I only wonder : "what is the EU stands for? What does EU means ?" In this case !