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Obviously they are hurting, and instead of looking at what they can do to improve things, they try the big stick approach and think a letter from a Lawyer will scare everybody into submission. There is just no way on earth anybody can stop free trade.

This is exactly how HiFi Corporation works selling Parallel imports Yes, SL-C thats a good example of a legit parallel importer - no "grey" products there.

I think what you are really saying Icycling is that Importers here are not able to buy direct from the actual manufacturers (ie)drop shipment of branded lines direct from the manufacturer - due to quantity limitations and costs. So they have to buy direct from the official company or an official wholesaler . For eg - Brand "joe soap" is based in New York but manufacturers in Taiwan. SA importers can not buy "joe soap" branded lines on drop shipment from Taiwan due to quantity and cost prohibitations, so have to buy from the New York office at a much higher cost due to the cost of shipping to NY, tax implications, extra profit margins etc which are added to their cost and of course this cost compounds down the line. If so, Yes of course you are right. Raliegh here has proved this, top quality products direct from the manufacturer at a fraction of the price. So even with a handsome retailer margin the product is still cost competitive. widget2007-05-18 04:23:49

The days of the middle-man are coming to an end. Only major economies like the USA and a united Europe can afford this luxury - small importing countries like SA can not. The cost of importing is almost doubled using a middle man (compound cost structures) and I predict we will soon see official importers opening their own retail outlets, where they will simply sell direct to the consumer at (now) trade / wholesale price.

Manufacturers who value their customers will have an international warranty - count about 99% of them. The issue that arises with this, is that the manufacturer will in all cases, leave the warranty issues to his appointed distributor - now in some industries the local distributor will honour the warranty of parallel imports and some (like bike importers) dont. Unfortunately this is a commercial decision - personally I think its short sighted and an indication of an immature industry, but thats the reality. It must also be noted the following - There is a massive differance between GREY PRODUCTS as often referred to here and PARALLEL IMPORTS. Legally "Grey Imports" are considered products which are imported via an illegal means whereby the local import tax, vat and / or duty is diminished or eliminated on the product, so the importer gains an unfair advantage. "PARALLEL IMPORTS" are legally referred to as "Products imported into a country (where there is an authorised distributor) but via the right channels" (ie) legally and where tax, vat and / or duty is paid and there is no UNFAIR advantage gained. "Parallel imports" are perfectly legal - "Grey Imports" are not for the reason as above. This stands even if the official importer has knowledge of the parallel import or not.

There is NO COURT in the world that can stop on-line trading into SA. S.A. is a free trade port - in other words, anybody can sell into SA as long as the product is legal and the purchaser complies with all trade requirements (ie) VAT, DUTY etc. Believe me this is my field of business - IT CAN NOT BE STOPPED. The official importer may have an agreement with the manufacturer, however any retailer anywhere in the world who also has an agreement with the manufacturer can sell here if he so wishes - there may be commercial disagreements between importers and distributors, but that is between them - legally anybody can sell into SA.!

I've been told by a lawyer that these indemnities we sign really mean nothing if you can prove gross negligence on another rider or the oganiser's side. Same as the "At your own risk" signs you see anywhere really. If someone does something really k@k stupid or reckless and causes you personal injury or loss' date=' you can sue them irrespective of these notices. [/quote'] Quite correct. If one can prove negligence, there is a valid case irrespective of any notice or indemnity. However in my opinion, it will be seen as a "known risk" by most courts if it ever gets there which is unlikely. He is simply been opportunistic.

Yes, its a joke, Landis made a big thing about it been open to the public, I wonder how many folk have bothered to attend??. Not too many (if any) I shall wager. Dont know if LeMond will be good for Landis case, it appears he will testify AGAINST him - but it may spark a bit of "groupie" interest.

He is not a bike retailer - as he likes to say "he works for a living". ...........but Yes Midrand - Gauteng.

I know Johan well - and have trained with him for years - he is very experienced and a perfectionist. After I crashed at the Lost City, I was in a hurry and had my wheel re-spoked by a well known shop here - I had endless trouble - the wheel kept going out of true and eventually one of the spokes was so tight it cracked the hub. I then realised I needed to call Johan - he took a side cutter and removed every spoke by neatly cutting it in the middle - he then told me to come back in two days, the wheel was ready, perfectly trued and its never given me one minutes trouble since. He is an absolute nut, expect to be told off and dont expect him to be polite, but he is extreemly knowledgable and if he re-builds your wheel - it will be right, believe me. ...........and by the way he is also quite an accomplished mountain biker having done the Epic and various others so he knows whats up.

- Yup - its more interesting watching "moss" grow on your shower curtain.

Hmmm, I think the newspaper head line sums it up perfectly - Landis case - Lost in Translation. From what I have seen and read, nothing new has been disclosed. In my opinion the whole thing is going to get bogged down in scientific jargon with dozens of "experts" punting their various points. Goodness knows how a "lawyer" is going to understand all this which means they will be calling for further clarification from more experts and so on and so on....................! Dont expect an outcome soon.

You are confusing two seperate issues. The Australian politicians do not meddle in the selection process which is done by the sporting body concerned totally independantly. This was the issue in SA. The Australian government has banned the tour protesting against the Mugabe government on the basis of the human rights abuse by the this government. and are also concerned about team safety, which is also an issue.They also offered 15mil to the official opposition. The two issues are TOTALLY unrelated to each other and are seperate animals. widget2007-05-15 08:10:37

Sporting bodies should also start talking up and stop rolling around to the political tune. In all major sporting countries, the sport bodies are completely autonomous (independant of political will) and act on their own, in the best interests of the sport. They do not tolerate political intervention and say so.

Rai has excellant coverage - I just PVR channel 93 from around 2pm and then search around for the race,- their times are also a bit suspect. Even if you cant understand Italian, the commentators enthusiasm is contagious and you sort of know instinctively what he is on about. Plus of course they always have these little inserts of the spectaculor Italian countryside and the gorgeous Italian woman. .........how could one not chuckle yesterday when the cameraman showed one of the podium girls doing a little dance for the camera and the commentators cheering her on and chuckling in the backround. ..........you just gotta love em.!

Flower of Scotland makes me wan't to launch into battle and certainly not slit my wrists!!! You must be thinking of that anthem down south...the one about saving the lizard! !

Robert Hunter is NOT a hero of mine - I dont have any "sporting" Heros.!! In my opinion, most of them are overpaid, arrogant,small minded,narcisstic,greedy and egotistical. Not my defination of a HERO. Landis was dismissed before the team was officially disbanded. I dont know if RH dopes - if he is never caught I will assume he is clean.!

Hee,Hee, - I always enjoyed Paddy Agnew - he has a sharp wit and is great fun, not taking things too seriously. Cant say I like the new Giro theme song either - a bit like the Scottish national anthem - jf you listen to it too long you feel like slitting your wrists. Really Dreary.! ............but on the plus side, the Giro gos through the most stunning countryside - I have travelled extensively in Italy but never been to Sardinia,which is definately my next stop when in Europe again.

Yes, I know TNT1 - seems a fairly "moot point" really.! Maybe Swiss was just feeling a bit "left out" ..................Not so Swiss.?

Haaaaa - Swiss - feeling a bit "nit picky" today are we. Okay, I confess, I am sorry, I feel awefull, I will make a public statement of retraction - "LANDIS DID NOT ATTACK THE LAB IN "THIS" ARTICLE" ...........he left that to the 6 dozen or so other media articles he has been quoted in.

Sure TNT1 - theres no argument - standards have to be applied and adhered to. Its in every facet of life from the time you are born until you die - we live, work, and socialize by a standard - it may not be what we like, but thats it - its accepted. They cannot be twisted to suit one person, because then - when do you stop "twisting"? .........and this is the angle Landis and almost all the other accused take - they try and have the "standards twisted" to suit them.

Yes, there probably are - although I cant think of any recently. Perhaps you can enlighten me. I can however probably think of at least 20 athletes who got caught, lied, had their day in court, were proven as liers and cheats and were either suspended or just retired. Certainly not the outcome I wouild have expected from flawed procedures or sloppy lab work. 99% OF ALL CASES ARE PROVEN and the results UPHELD.Thats a pretty good result for sloppy labs.!!