Imports and warranties

[Cornelis]

I have been looking at buying gear from chainreaction and Jensons, out of costing point of view it makes sense.

Does anyone know what the fineprint says when importing lets say XTR components and it gives hassles? Is coolheat still liable to uphold the international warranty?

The company that imports Apple had a similar run in when they refused to honour the companies International warranty,the warranty only stated the product had to be bought from a registered dealer, no mention was made that repairs or warranties can only be done in the country of purchase, and they are forced to serviced any Apple product regardless where it was bought if it's still under warranty.

Another thing, why are we the only country in the world where you can't buy cycling hardware and bicycles for that matter on a website?

[Red Zone]

You mean you cant buy cycling stuff on www.cwcycles.co.za ?

[widget]

I cannot speak for coolheat, but manufacturers are very aware that people who buy their products today are mobile, they move around between countries and continants and I have never heard of a manufacturer refusing a valid claim because of location.

 

The issue is always 100% with the countries local importer and retail structures.

Mostly its just been small minded and not seeing the bigger picture, I own the rights to an international brand (not cycling related) and my company has distributed it in Africa for 18 years, the manufacturer couldnt care less where the product came from and neither can I - I support the brand irrespective of the country of purchase, just today we have in our workshop product from a film crew of "fear factor" - they didnt buy the products locally, but they have a warranty issue, and asked me to help, which I am quite happy to do.

 

Cycling is unfortunately a small sport run by a few importers who make decisions which are rather odd to say the least.

 

  

[Cornelis]

I must say Chris Willemse has kept up, I first visited his store in late 1980's when he was oppsite the Telkom tower in downtown Bellville.

Problem with the online retail you are pointing out is that there is no advantage in using it, I might as well go to my lbs, and get the gear the same day, rather than hoping the post office delivers in 5 days.

The true online version is similar to Amazon, there is no physical shop, a warehouse somewhere in the industrial area houses the gear, hence no shop rentals, overheads and staff.... savings..... passed on to end consumer.

CWonline XTR 960 R3500 / Chainreactioncycles XTR 960 R2700

Shipping exactly the same 4 working days.

[Red Zone]

I agree there is normally no substantial saving by buying from a SA online retailer. I think that this should come right when more online retailers enter the marketplace

[markStockton]

 

I have been cautioned by friends in the industry that Cool Heat will not honor warranties on "grey" or "parallel" import items. This they claim includes Solomons trading and CRC,  not sure about CWC.

 

However I have never put this to the test, and as they are in the industry, their opinions may not be entirely unbiased.

 

I would love to see some sort of official response from Coolheat.

 

I think I should add that I bought my groupset at Solomons Trading as they where local, second on my list was CWC and third Chain Reaction. I'm sorry but their pricing is far to good to ignore and the LBS where not even in the same league.

 

markStockton2008-09-16 07:39:57

[Guest Big H]

I must say Chris Willemse has kept up' date=' I first visited his store in late 1980's when he was oppsite the Telkom tower in downtown Bellville.

Problem with the online retail you are pointing out is that there is no advantage in using it, I might as well go to my lbs, and get the gear the same day, rather than hoping the post office delivers in 5 days.

The true online version is similar to Amazon, there is no physical shop, a warehouse somewhere in the industrial area houses the gear, hence no shop rentals, overheads and staff.... savings..... passed on to end consumer.

CWonline XTR 960 R3500 / Chainreactioncycles XTR 960 R2700

Shipping exactly the same 4 working days.

[/quote']

 

When 14% VAT is added it is R3078-00, you must then still add shipping charges. The ZAR?GBP exchange rate is too high now to give you any discounts. I get paid in US$ so still a bargain for me.

[AndreZA]

SA online store will never be competative with overseas shop if they are not the agent aswell. As long as the middle man is involved in SA, we will always be ripped off.

 

Just look at the prices that Tokenfreak and Kiwi offer. They are the agents and dealers and that is why it's so cheap.

 

 

[markStockton]

 

SA online store will never be competative with overseas shop if they are not the agent aswell. As long as the middle man is involved in SA' date=' we will always be ripped off.

 

Just look at the prices that Tokenfreak and Kiwi offer. They are the agents and dealers and that is why it's so cheap.

 

 

[/quote']

 

I must mention that Solomons where very keen to match and even beat any other price I had been offered. I went into their store with a spreadsheet including their online price, CWC's and Chain Reactions price (with 15% added for VAT and duties) and they either matched or bettered the price I had, including beating themselves on one part. 

 

[Guest Big H]

SA online store will never be competative with overseas shop if they are not the agent aswell. As long as the middle man is involved in SA' date=' we will always be ripped off.

 

Just look at the prices that Tokenfreak and Kiwi offer. They are the agents and dealers and that is why it's so cheap.

 

 

[/quote']

I must mention that Solomons where very keen to match and even beat any other price I had been offered. I went into their store with a spreadsheet including their online price, CWC's and Chain Reactions price (with 15% added for VAT and duties) and they either matched or bettered the price I had, including beating themselves on one part. 

 

Did you make sure the parts were new?????? Cajees tried to sell me secondhand 105 STI's and Solomons tried to sell me a Gary Fischer with non standard wheels and a used suspension fork.

[AndreZA]

I must mention that Solomons where very keen to match and even beat any other price I had been offered. I went into their store with a spreadsheet including their online price' date=' CWC's and Chain Reactions price (with 15% added for VAT and duties) and they either matched or bettered the price I had, including beating themselves on one part. 
[/quote']

 

I did the same last month at Westdene. I took the printout from CRC, added the VAT (shipping was free) and they matched the price. They even had to order in one part they did not have so one can not even say it was old stock they were sitting with.

 

 

[Derek20]

Man nothing like taking the food of the local bike shops table.

[markStockton]

 

 

Did you make sure the parts were new?????? Cajees tried to sell me secondhand 105 STI's and Solomons tried to sell me a Gary Fischer with non standard wheels and a used suspension fork.

 

Every part, still sealed in it's packaging.

 

[markStockton]

 

Man nothing like taking the food of the local bike shops table.

 

If it makes you feel better, I took everything to my LBS for assembly.

 

[Cornelis]

No one is taking anything from the local shop owner, reality is we can buy stuff overseas, we all know poeple that jet in and out weekly, you don't even get taxed on sporting goods new or used.

The reality is we aren't exactly spoilt for choice, and definitely not spoilt for price, wait till we find a bikeshop in Singapore willing to sell and ship!!!!

[Derek20]

why dont you phone the factory directly and get it from them?