Grey imports

[widget]

I am wondering on what grounds they could confiscate the wheels.?

If they are imported legally (even if they are grey) and all taxes / Vat requirements etc are paid' date=' they are the property of CWC, nobody can confiscate them.

 

If they are counterfeit Mavic products, then thats another thing all together.  

 

[/quote']

Thats what i'm thinking as well Widget, i surley dont think CWC would be party to any couterfeit products.

 

No, I would not think so Scotty, it wouldnt be worth the risk.

 

The whole thing sounds a bit "suspect" to me, nothing like a bit of gossip to get the pot stirring I think.

 

 

[Andrew Steer]

If they are counterfeit Mavic products' date=' then thats another thing all together.   

[/quote']

Thats what i'm thinking as well Widget, i surley dont think CWC would be party to any couterfeit products.

My concern is CWC's silence on this, they are on here a lot? I can live with Grey imports, but sub-standard stuff(which would explain the removal of serials) ain't cool. But this is quite possibly all bollox

Jnr are you on here, can you clear this up?

[Canaris]

CWC, can I apply for the job of proof reader before HR is called for the interview?

[dirtrider]

Ek dink julle ouens weet seker dat CWC niks verder sal wil se oor die saak in 'n publieke forum nie !

[Norris]

Ons verstaan!!!

 

Chris... my mavic's is nog kwaai lappies

[bruce]

At the risk of making myself very unpopular with you lot, I personally am opposed to parallel imports, grey imports, or whatever you want to call them.

 

Generally, acquiring the distribution rights for a product in a territory requires significant investment.  The product manufacturer would often require the following:

- specific training of the distributors staff - be it sales or technical training.  This is funded by the distributor.

- Marketing and sales investments.  Advertising the product etc to create brand awareness and market penetration.

- Significant investment is stock and spare parts to ensure the availability of the product.

- Support for warranty replacements, etc.

 

So, along comes a guy who hasn't had to fund any of the above.  Buys the product through a parallel channels and significantly under-prices the official distributor.  As a consumer, that's great!  You get your cool product at a much cheaper rate. 

 

Unfortunately that parallel importer has no liability to the product manufacturer.  Doesn't really care if the product's good name get's tarnished because he may not honour the manufacturers warranties, carry the appropriate spare parts etc.  If the product's names get's trashed, next week he'll be selling some other product, no skin off his nose, but he'll leverage the financial commitment that the official distributor has make in sales and marketing - for free.

 

As consumers you lot all pat yourselves on the back and congratulate yourselves on fighting the good fight.  But then you complain as soon as a certain part isn't immediately available.  Well, why should the distributors fund a stock room full of spare parts when everybody is just going to by the stuff online anyway?  Why should they pay to have their staff trained on the product?

 

I'm sure you guys will flame me plenty, but I really think there is another side to this story!

[dirtrider]

Bruce I agree with you , but lets not jump the gun .

[Willehond]

Bruce,

 

I have bought lots of stuff from CWC and got IMMEDIATE replacement/repair of the item, which is better than the official supplier!  Lots of people have complained about mavic and the middlemen in SA are not the quickest in getting spareparts available.  They are their own worst enemies.

[BigGuy]

Chris Willemses' store has been raided and all grey import Mavic Wheelsets from which the serial numbers have been removed were confiscated.

This was done to protect the public from buying Mavic wheelsets which are brought into the country in an illict manner.

 

Riding with wheels like these will not only void the warranty but may expose the cyclist to a wide range of liability issues.

 

Mavic takes quality and service very seriously and will do anything in their power to protect the public from pirated products.

 

 Boy am i glad i got mine from a reputable dealer -  they have changed my cycling experience

 

This is an exact copy of the Mavic ad in most cycling magazines.

[TheLegend]

 

Hallo Puzler [ seker my ou opposisie en ek sien 1ste post ]. Aan al my ondersteuners. Hier is die waarheid.

Ja ek het n besoek gehad vanaf die SAPS en n prokureur en ja hulle het 10 stelle wiele geneem vir bewaring. Die rede is omdat daar nie serail nommers op die wiele is nie.

Ek neem aan julle sal verstaan dat ek nie verder hierop kan uitbrei nie' date=' maar sal julle op hoogte hou!!

TAKE NOTE. Only wheels without the serail number has been taken away. We have many other wheels in our shop with serail numbers on it.

Now the good news for all the cyclists and my supporters out there.

You guys have never seen a prices like the ones you are going to see soon. I will also make sure that you will get the best prices on wheels as well as on other stuff that we import direct.

Watch our specials next week. Hier kom GROOT Chrismas specials!!!

Remember that we do garuntee all the stock that we sell.

Thanks for your support!

Chris Willemse Jnr

[/quote']

 

so, why, why do you stock wheels without serial numbers at all?

 

[Andrew Steer]

Fair point Bruce, I'm actually with you on this one.

[bruce]

Bruce' date='

 

I have bought lots of stuff from CWC and got IMMEDIATE replacement/repair of the item, which is better than the official supplier!  Lots of people have complained about mavic and the middlemen in SA are not the quickest in getting spareparts available.  They are their own worst enemies.

[/quote']

 

I'm speaking about the principle.

[BigGuy]

...The product manufacturer would often require the following:

- specific training of the distributors staff - be it sales or technical training.  This is funded by the distributor.

- Marketing and sales investments.  Advertising the product etc to create brand awareness and market penetration.

- Significant investment is stock and spare parts to ensure the availability of the product.

- Support for warranty replacements' date=' etc.

 

[/quote']

 

Bruce, I agree with what you are stating, but is the legitimate Mavic distributor coming to the party with above requirements?

[shadowchaser-d]

At the risk of making myself very unpopular with you lot' date=' I personally am opposed to parallel imports, grey imports, or whatever you want to call them.

 

Generally, acquiring the distribution rights for a product in a territory requires significant investment.  The product manufacturer would often require the following:

- specific training of the distributors staff - be it sales or technical training.  This is funded by the distributor.

- Marketing and sales investments.  Advertising the product etc to create brand awareness and market penetration.

- Significant investment is stock and spare parts to ensure the availability of the product.

- Support for warranty replacements, etc.

 

So, along comes a guy who hasn't had to fund any of the above.  Buys the product through a parallel channels and significantly under-prices the official distributor.  As a consumer, that's great!  You get your cool product at a much cheaper rate. 

 

Unfortunately that parallel importer has no liability to the product manufacturer.  Doesn't really care if the product's good name get's tarnished because he may not honour the manufacturers warranties, carry the appropriate spare parts etc.  If the product's names get's trashed, next week he'll be selling some other product, no skin off his nose, but he'll leverage the financial commitment that the official distributor has make in sales and marketing - for free.

 

As consumers you lot all pat yourselves on the back and congratulate yourselves on fighting the good fight.  But then you complain as soon as a certain part isn't immediately available.  Well, why should the distributors fund a stock room full of spare parts when everybody is just going to by the stuff online anyway?  Why should they pay to have their staff trained on the product?

 

I'm sure you guys will flame me plenty, but I really think there is another side to this story!

[/quote']

 

Well said Bruce

[Willehond]

Bruce' date='

 

I have bought lots of stuff from CWC and got IMMEDIATE replacement/repair of the item, which is better than the official supplier!  Lots of people have complained about mavic and the middlemen in SA are not the quickest in getting spareparts available.  They are their own worst enemies.

[/quote']

 

I'm speaking about the principle.

 

I personally have no problem with parallel imports.  It keeps the middlemen honest.

 

My problem with this is the missing serial numbers.  That is a serious concern.

[mallo]

CWC is following the legal channels and not wanting to cause further problems with their wholesale chain, once a case is registered the SAPS has to follow-up and investigate. Why does Puzzler not say how many wheel-sets were opened and un boxed to find only 10 sets without serials on them which duly had to be taken in for evidence seeing that a case was registered.

 

 

 

There was and is ongoing visits to other online shops as well from SARS, DTI officials, customs inspectorate etc checking on paper work and legality of said businesses which proves someone or somebody not happy with the loss of trade to said shops.(or is the efficiency of said departments improving)

 

Two cycle shops on the West Rand of Gauteng actually had guys taking down prices/part numbers/models of certain items in store and when questioned were told it is for comparison yet one could see these youngsters were drilled to look for certain numbers etc.

 

 

 

What will happen next year when all the Ibis and Kona products flood our shores?