FYI: Mavic Dealer Warning

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Just because some get-rich-quick artists have found ways to buy questionable products which have been dumped or rejected or stolen or sold in job lots at overseas auctions' date=' is no reason to assume you're dealing with hoods at your LBS. Are these guys hoods out to steal your money?

 

SNIP SNIP......... 

 

Be very suspicious of those who imply that because they can pull moves, know shady suppliers overseas, and can land stuff super cheap, that they are the saviours of the cycle trade in South Africa and will rescue you from the dealers mentioned above.     

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Just because some get-rich-quick artists have - By this commment you defame a business which as far as I know has a fair number of happy customers and have been around for a fair period of time, much like the shops you suggest in your post.

 

have found ways to buy questionable products which have been dumped or rejected or stolen or sold in job lots at overseas auctions - ............and what proof do you have this is the case.? Please do furnish the world with this information. I am quite sure Mavic France will NEVER allow, questionable seconds or reject products to reach the public market, firstly the liability will be more than the business is worth and secondly why do they need to sell their reject products - no reputable manufacturer will do this and anyone who suggests this to be the case is assuming the public are fools.

If Mavic allows Job lot stock to be auctioned (and I am not convinced this is true) they MUST KNOW some of these products will find their way into the international market, "if" and its a " BIG if"  this is happening, Mavic must be convinced of the integrity of the product and willing to back it up with warranty.

 

know shady suppliers overseas, and can land stuff super cheap, - were I an international supplier I would take extreme exception to the implication and statement here, are you implying that because an international supplier sells into SA at a reduced price they are "shady"??

Perhaps you have not heard of the "SA FREE TRADE AGREEMENT"

 - let me enlighten you - basically it means SA companies can trade freely with anyone they like, and may sell any product they have legally purchased and imported through the proper channels locally. 

 

that they are the saviours of the cycle trade in South Africa and will rescue you from the dealers mentioned above.  - No I am sure they dont, however the public has a right to choose where and from whom they make their purchase, and as a Mavic Wheel from "XYZ" company is exactly te same as a Mavic wheel from "ABC" company, price and service are the only criteria whereby the two companies can be judged.

 

Instead of threatening and distancing the local market, perhaps the present supplier should rather try and embrace the customer and get them to move forward with them.?     

 

widget2008-02-20 05:52:51

[Iwan Kemp]

I posted this so all cyclists out there can be aware and know what's going on. Never intended it to become a mud-sling-fest. If you don't like a certain dealer DON'T BUY FROM THEM AND KEEP THE REST TO YOURSELF. Unless you have 100% factual info that might be worth knowing to the rest of us keep the conspiracy theories for your next braai.

[Kranswurm]

and did I told you that I phone Dragons yesterday asking which shop can supply my with a mavic crossmax tubeless valve kitset?

They dont have in stock and no shop will have it.

So' date=' do I make my own or do I import?

so, please Mavic Importer/Supplier, if you are hard arse with the customer, make sure you can supply the "LEGAL" product when the costomer asked for it.

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Pops,

Just fit DT Swiss valve kits

[Brakkies Sport Fotos]

ok, waar kry ek dt swiss valves, ek sal self ons plaas trekker se goodyear vat, maar my boetie het hulle op gebruik vir sy kettie rek

 

 

 

Ek soek enige tubeless valve wat op 'n mavic rim werk, sa as jy sien, kom pm my die shop SE NAAM ASB.

[Kranswurm]

ok' date=' waar kry ek dt swiss valves, ek sal self ons plaas trekker se goodyear vat, maar my boetie het hulle op gebruik vir sy kettie rek

Ek soek enige tubeless valve wat op 'n mavic rim werk, sa as jy sien, kom pm my die shop SE NAAM ASB.[/quote']

 

I know that Tour de Frans in Jhb sells DT Swiss conversion kits and valves.

They are the same as Mavic valves.I have fitted them myself on Crossmax's

[Brakkies Sport Fotos]

jy kry my nie in Jo'burg, nie eers om my Lotto wen ticket te gaan inhandig :-)popeye2008-02-21 01:00:19

[Kranswurm]

Any port in a storm

[Ox_Wagon]

If Mavic allow all this shady products to enter the market it makes sense to stay as far as possible away from anything that has Mavic on it because there is no guarantee it is the real deal.  Mavic needs to get their house in order before I will consider buying anything from them. <?:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />

[xak1]

For V-Brakes, the Mavic Crossmax SLR is really a good wheel.  But, the problem is response times locally for spares, as well as the price of stuff.  On-line prices from especially Germany for these wheels are about 60% (including shipping and VAT on this side) of local retail price.  That is a lot to pay (about R5000 more in RSA) for service, etc.  I have found that I also get the stuff much quicker buying from Germany (as quick as 6 days to maximum of 12 days).  I think, like in all industries, local importers and bicycle shops will have to look at their value proposition, and charge more for the value they add and not charge for where they do not add value.  If they argue that they work on your bike, therefore you must buy spares from them with a higher margin to compensate for this, rather charge more for working on the bike and less for the spares - this is nothing new and happens in all industries.

With regard to Dragon not selling spares to people who own wheels legally (either bought from overseas or on a bike), that is totally ridiculous - it is the sign of a company that is not confident of its value propisition and now trying to protect their market share by means of control.  It will not work - they will either force people buying from overseas or buying other products that do not have similar restrictions.  If I want to buy a spoke for my wheel that I bought from overseas, and they do not want to sell it to me, they will loose the margin on the spoke, and I will buy it from overseas (much cheaper).  As I am also involved in a huge export business, I can say that an approach like this is nothing short of idiotic.

[The Hawk CT]

If i by my Rsys through the "authorised" it will cost me about R4000.00 more!!! I take out insurance with that and it will pay more many years premiums should anything go wrong.....

Tell the "authorised dealer to drop there prices and make cycling goods more cost effective for the non sponsored riders!!!!!!!

 

They are rediculously expensive!!!!

[The Hawk CT]

Why by a top of teh range Trek or Cervello for between R25 and R30k?? There are very good deals on the market. Top end Specialised SL2 for R17K! Same like teh Pros!!! what the deal with being brand loyal... for what???

[The Hawk CT]

Giant/Mavic

Years back Giant never wanted to supply a few shops so some guys in JHB brought in a few containers of Giant bike and flooded the market... guess what ??? Giant came begging them to sell there products!!!!

 

I guess i will not support them as they are basically saying that CWC have joblot/reject RSys wheels and so on!

 

How do you get joblot/auction/reject wheels in the first few months of releasing a product???? 

[rock]

I bet the local agent does't stock a 28 hole 819 rim.

[porky]

I dont believe that Mavic will ever allow reject wheels into the international market - can you just imagine the liability and litigation issues if someone is killed on a reject wheel - it will put Mavic out of business - not going to happen - never.!!!

 

Any distributor who tries to tell you this is fact, is insulting your intelligence.

 

As for Auctions and Job, lots, well if Mavic allows this, then they must be prepared to support the line. We live in an international and global enviroment, Mavic are not stupid, they know cyclists travell around internationally and that job lots can be sold into other markets, its the name of the game, and if they participate in this action (and its not clear they do) then they will be willing to warranty.

 

Personally I think the local distributor needs a lesson in public relations, this is not the 18th century and the consumer has tremendous power in his wallet.        

 

[Wolweseun]

There is a few wholesalers and shops trying to justify the ridiculous margins they are used to charging.

As industry changes and we become more a part of the global economy business has to adapt to the changes instead of spreading pathetic rumours.

We cant get stock yet of the R-Sys wheelset from the distributor(according to LBS) but I can get them in 4 - 6 Days approx R4K Cheaper than projected price.

With the exchange rate weakening it now brings huge oppurtunities for grey imports as the distibutor wants his 25 -30% and LBS wants at least 30% add it up.

I know of at least 2 other Discount/Grey importers in the process of setting up shop.

Only one way to get rid of grey imports cut prices