Don't try and order SRAM from overseas anymore...

[PygaSchmyga]

Phew! Looks like I got my kit in the nick of time!

 

You've got to love how this works.  Instead of trying to be competitive in SA, the local agent has obviously rather chosen to try to shut down people buying from other sources.  Why else would all the online retailers no longer ship to SA?

 

Well done to the current agent.  Great business model - carry f0k0l stock locally, charge over-the-odds prices, and when the free market makes a pesky intervention, you try to shut it down.  Well to hell with you too.  An all to often South African response to competition - don't try harder, just try to kill your competitors - classic taxi industry response.

 

Maybe we should start a campaign for SRAM to cancel their local SA agency, and switch it to a company that actually invests in their working capital to provide a sufficient depth and range of stock, and that doesn't try to remove their customer's organs when buying the stuff.

 

In the meantime, use http://www.postbox-courier.com/ to get around the SRAM shipping ban to SA - it will still work out much cheaper thanks to the gouging we get here.  I am so tired of this.

 

Who is the local agent, by the way?

[Captain Fastbastard Mayhem]

I'll say it again. It's NOT JUST US. The same thing is applicable to Australia, NZ, anywhere outside the EU territory except the UK.

 

 

Some other forums are abuzz with it

Edited September 30, 2016 by Myles Mayhew

[PygaSchmyga]

I'll say it again. It's NOT JUST US. The same thing is applicable to Australia, NZ, anywhere outside the EU territory except the UK.

 

 

Some other forums are abuzz with it

OK, fair enough, but do other countries get the complete treatment that we seem to love - you know, no vaseline and XXL?

 

My recent purchase is a case in point.  You cannot get SRAM Eagle drivetrains in SA, amongst many other SRAM products.  When they do sporadically bless us with 1 or 2 stock items, you end up paying upwards of 30%-50% MORE! Is it as bad on other countries?  When I first started looking for an Eagle, some crowd in Cape Town listed it for R26K FFS!

 

If a local supplier cannot be competitive, then why have an agency?  Why not leave it all to online retailers?  Or better yet, why not adapt your business model to work with the online retailers? This small-minded bucketshop mentality gets up my nose, and everybody suffers.

[Grogs]

If a local supplier cannot be competitive, then why have an agency? Why not leave it all to online retailers? Or better yet, why not adapt your business model to work with the online retailers? This small-minded bucketshop mentality gets up my nose, and everybody suffers.

This sums the whole problem up.

 

I would add that another part of the problem in SA is that (despite what others might think), the SA market is in fact tiny, so SRAM in the US couldn't give a rat's arse whether or not SA consumers are having the vaseline + XXL experience when trying to buy SRAM.

 

The fact that it is a small market also contributes to higher costs of holding stock (which moves slowly)

 

Another possible problem is the mark up that retailers are probably charging on SRAM products bought from the distributor and sold to the consumer.

 

Having another distributor in SA in order to induce some competition is simply not feasible - the market is just too small to support more than one distributor.

 

In short, I think the whole agent/sole distributor model is just completely inappropriate in SA - the market is simply not big enough to support a distributor, and we should be able to buy from international online market. Come to think of it, the market is far too small for there to be any competition if distribution is in any way limited.

 

Would be interesting to hear whether there are any SA competition law issues/problems with the model that SRAM are using in South Africa.

 

One thing's for sure, consumers who like SRAM/Zipp have the full vaseline + XXL experience in South Africa.

Edited September 30, 2016 by Grogs

[PygaSchmyga]

This sums the whole problem up.

 

I would add that another part of the problem in SA is that (despite what others might think), the SA market is in fact tiny, so SRAM in the US couldn't give a rat's arse whether or not SA consumers are having the vaseline + XXL experience when trying to buy SRAM.

 

The fact that it is a small market also contributes to higher costs of holding stock (which moves slowly)

 

Another possible problem is the mark up that retailers are probably charging on SRAM products bought from the distributor and sold to the consumer.

 

Having another distributor in SA in order to induce some competition is simply not feasible - the market is just too small to support more than one distributor.

 

In short, I think the whole agent/sole distributor model is just completely inappropriate in SA - the market is simply not big enough to support a distributor, and we should be able to buy from international online market. Come to think of it, the market is far too small for there to be any competition if distribution is in any way limited.

 

Would be interesting to hear whether there are any SA competition law issues/problems with the model that SRAM are using in South Africa.

 

One thing's for sure, consumers who like SRAM/Zipp have the full vaseline + XXL experience in South Africa.

Fully agree with you - so I looked it up, some outfit called Cape Cycle Systems - I see you mentioned ZIPP as well, and lo and behold, also carried by these okes.  Seems Cape Cycle Systems have a trend here - who are these okes?  Seems they enjoy giving SA cycle consumers reason to buy chamois cream. I'd love to hear how they would explain charging like they do, and then shutting down other sourcing avenues when customers choose not to be ripped?

[Captain Fastbastard Mayhem]

Fully agree with you - so I looked it up, some outfit called Cape Cycle Systems - I see you mentioned ZIPP as well, and lo and behold, also carried by these okes.  Seems Cape Cycle Systems have a trend here - who are these okes?  Seems they enjoy giving SA cycle consumers reason to buy chamois cream. I'd love to hear how they would explain charging like they do, and then shutting down other sourcing avenues when customers choose not to be ripped?

ZIPP is an SRAM product. It's OWNED by SRAM. Not just distributed by CCS. 

 

Their products include

 

SRAM

AVID

Quark

Truvativ

Rock Shox

 

amongst others. 

 

Again - it's an international thing. NOT just us. We do not live in a corporate bubble. 

 

SRAM corporate are essentially telling online stores to stop selling outside their regions, or they will stop supplying them. 

 

It's in Canada, it's in Australia, it's in NZ, it's in the States. IE Everywhere but the EU, in the case of ProBikeshop, bike24, bike-discount, CRC, bike-components and all the european stores. 

 

JensonUSA won't be able to sell SRAM to anyone outside the USA, pretty soon. 

 

http://www.pinkbike.com/forum/listcomments/?threadid=193561

 

In essence, ALL the local distributors would have gone to SRAM corporate and asked them to see what they can do to stem the flow of grey imports, given that they're supposed to have exclusivity of supply in their particular regions. 

 

SRAM goes to the online stores and says "Right. Stop supplying outside your regions, or we stop supplying you"

Edited September 30, 2016 by Myles Mayhew

[PygaSchmyga]

ZIPP is an SRAM product. It's OWNED by SRAM. Not just distributed by CCS. 

 

Their products include

 

SRAM

AVID

Quark

Truvativ

Rock Shox

 

amongst others. 

 

Again - it's an international thing. NOT just us. We do not live in a corporate bubble. 

 

SRAM corporate are essentially telling online stores to stop selling outside their regions, or they will stop supplying them. 

 

It's in Canada, it's in Australia, it's in NZ, it's in the States. IE Everywhere but the EU, in the case of ProBikeshop, bike24, bike-discount, CRC, bike-components and all the european stores. 

 

JensonUSA won't be able to sell SRAM to anyone outside the USA, pretty soon. 

 

http://www.pinkbike.com/forum/listcomments/?threadid=193561

 

In essence, ALL the local distributors would have gone to SRAM corporate and asked them to see what they can do to stem the flow of grey imports, given that they're supposed to have exclusivity of supply in their particular regions. 

 

SRAM goes to the online stores and says "Right. Stop supplying outside your regions, or we stop supplying you"

then there has to be a duty on the agent/distributor/shop to carry stock.  They cannot have it both ways.  Carry f0k0l stock, charge over the odds money on the trickle of good actually brought in, and then prevent other from selling in the region. How can that be right?  Agree with the comment above about competition commission

 

edit: typo

Edited September 30, 2016 by SpezSpaz

[Captain Fastbastard Mayhem]

then there has to be a duty on the agent/distributor/shop to carry stock.  They cannot have it both ways.  Carry f0k0l stock, charge over the odds money on the trickle of good actually brought in, and then prevent other from selling in the region. How can that be right?  Agree with the comment above about competition commission

 

edit: typo

100%

 

And - also - I think their pricing structure should take a bit of looking at. From SRAM, that is. The volume-based discounts that the online stores get is (apprently) huge. They can sell for below what is considered wholesale from distros. And that's just not cool.

 

Well, cool for us, but severely undercuts the local distro system. 

Edited September 30, 2016 by Myles Mayhew

[Eddy Gordo]

Yesterday I managed to add a sram cassette into my basket on CRC. Today I get an email to complete the order. My settings were based for UK though.

However, I guess shimano is going to have a boost in sales.

[IH8MUD]

Just out of interest? ( I might be wrong)

 

Is there not a trend in this Ar$eho!e way of thinking. 

 

 

SRAM (and all under them)

Specialised (have never been available to SA through CRC as far as I can remember)

Garmin? 

Are they not all American Companies? 

(although manufacturing is elsewhere)

 

 

 

Shimano, Campagnolo, Hope, ext.

Japanese,  and European companies not doing this BULLS&!T  mentality. 

Edited September 30, 2016 by IH8MUD

[PygaSchmyga]

100%

 

And - also - I think their pricing structure should take a bit of looking at. From SRAM, that is. The volume-based discounts that the online stores get is (apprently) huge. They can sell for below what is considered wholesale from distros. And that's just not cool.

 

Well, cool for us, but severely undercuts the local distro system. 

The question that rears its head here is: What possible use is the local distro system, esp in SA? Most of the time you are dealing with ex-cyclist bucketshop operations, who add absolutely no value, and have no working capital to offer a semblance of range/service.

 

With no disrespect to okes trying to make a living, you cannot ignore customers who have access to the interweb.  There must be a model where these guys can work with the online shops, rather than try to stamp them out, and if not, then sorry, Darwin wins, and their business cannot justify its existence. 

 

What I do not accept is the whingeing about how unfair the playing field is etc etc - you have chosen to play on this field, sunshine, perform or get off

[shaper]

There will always be a way to get what you want overseas if the local price is not lekker..... it may just take a bit more ingenuity and keyboard searching to do so!!

[BMXER]

I think we need to boycott SRAM!

Only buy SHIMANO, far better product.

 

Your bike will thank you.

 

End result = you win.

[Eddy Gordo]

I think we need to boycott SRAM!

Only buy SHIMANO, far better product.

 

Your bike will thank you.

 

End result = you win.

Well my next build is gonna have to be shimano seeing that it is cheaper now and easily available on overseas sales

[Hairy]

if the SRAM GX cassette is not reasonably priced by the time I need a new one, I will rather buy a new free hub and a Shimano (Or any of the other interesting options available) vs being knocked hard. It is a financial decision, not a decision based on the product as I really like their XD type offerings.

[Edge_Design]

This sums the whole problem up.

 

I would add that another part of the problem in SA is that (despite what others might think), the SA market is in fact tiny, so SRAM in the US couldn't give a rat's arse whether or not SA consumers are having the vaseline + XXL experience when trying to buy SRAM.

 

The fact that it is a small market also contributes to higher costs of holding stock (which moves slowly)

 

Another possible problem is the mark up that retailers are probably charging on SRAM products bought from the distributor and sold to the consumer.

 

Having another distributor in SA in order to induce some competition is simply not feasible - the market is just too small to support more than one distributor.

 

In short, I think the whole agent/sole distributor model is just completely inappropriate in SA - the market is simply not big enough to support a distributor, and we should be able to buy from international online market. Come to think of it, the market is far too small for there to be any competition if distribution is in any way limited.

 

Would be interesting to hear whether there are any SA competition law issues/problems with the model that SRAM are using in South Africa.

 

One thing's for sure, consumers who like SRAM/Zipp have the full vaseline + XXL experience in South Africa.

 

I don't have the facts to back it up, but suspect you might be surprised how big a market SA really is... In SA everyone wants the S-Works with Eagle XX1 (because 11 speed XX1 only really worked last year). My experience internationally is people are riding simple commuter bikes or bikes actually fit to their needs (lots of 26" visible still). Serious cyclists get the toys and that end of the market is bigger than ours, but our market has huge support from the thousands of execs (and hubbers) on R100k+ bikes who would be just as fast - and more comfortable - on a R30k Anthem.

 

No self respecting South African "cyclist" would be caught dead on 99% of the bikes in Amsterdam/"Bike City". We're an incredibly strong market for most premium products as image is everything in SA.