Grey imports

[Canaris]

From the consumers side (that is the most of us, and not all those guys who either have retail, distribution or import interests), the idea of a distributer is to make access to the market (that is us again) EASIER for the manufacturer.  That means actually have stock available, maintaining a stock of spares, honouring immediate warrentee issues.  IT also means handing the brands IMAGE in the designated country. 

From the consumer's point of view dealing with the official distributor should be more convinient, less risky and even "GASP" cheaper than other means of acquisition.

 

At this stage it seems that distributors in RSA think that they have a monopoly (pucker Paul Kruger style) and the consumer should be very very grateful for this, and pay extra for the inconvienience.

 

I don't know, but if shimano, SRAM, Campy compare their market share and turnover of stock for RSA vs say EU, whether they will be asking their distributors for an explination.

[Ox_Wagon]

Wow' date=' serial numbers! What will they think of next!<?: prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />

 

Bummer, I cant find any serial numbers on any of the wheels I own, they must be all pirated!

 

Maybe we should get JB to give us some info on the serial numbers on hubs and rims of all the wheels he has build.  I personally have not seen any serial numbers on the shimano/campy hubs and the assortment of rims that I own.

 

  

[/quote']

 

I scratch my serial numbers onto the rim under the rim tape, using a scribe. I keep a record of when the wheel was built, to whom it was sold and if there were any anomolies in the build. Sometimes I even note some experimental twists and tricks.

 

Anyone who can forge my scratchy writing is welcome to pirate my wheels. Hubs and rims don't come with serial numbers but I do know that the complete Mavic wheels have serial numbers. I saw it only recently with the famous Mavic debate.

 

 

Thanks for the info, it makes sence.

 

 

 

 

[jabbathemutt007]

 

 

Well stated Hog. Service' date=' people, it is about service. When will they ever learn?

[/quote']

 

So if someone's servicing your misses better than you, is that fine?

It's also about loyalty mate!

Loyalty?!

 

GET A DOG!

 

As a replacement for the misses (sic) ?

 

[Canaris]

 

Well stated Hog. Service' date=' people, it is about service. When will they ever learn?

[/quote']

 

So if someone's servicing your misses better than you, is that fine?

It's also about loyalty mate!

  

 

I did not marry my bike, and I don't have sex with my bike either.  Wierdo.

[Willehond]

So if someone's servicing your misses better than you' date=' is that fine?

It's also about loyalty mate!

 

[/quote'] Another thing:  If you kept her happy, were servicing her properly, and made sure she fealt valued, she wouldn't have to look online for something cheap and nasty!Willehond2008-10-16 08:08:00

[Andrew Steer]

 

Well stated Hog. Service' date=' people, it is about service. When will they ever learn?

[/quote']

 

So if someone's servicing your misses better than you, is that fine?

It's also about loyalty mate!

  

 

I did not marry my bike, and I don't have sex with my bike either.  Wierdo.

 

I think this has maybe gone a little over your head.

And it's weirdo just for the record

[PPWTF]

 

 

 

 

 

Another thing:  If you kept her happy, were servicing her properly, and made sure she fealt valued, she wouldn't have to look online for something cheap and nasty!

 

very nicely put Willehond

[BigGuy]

 

 

Well stated Hog. Service' date=' people, it is about service. When will they ever learn?

[/quote']

 

So if someone's servicing your misses better than you, is that fine?

It's also about loyalty mate!

 

 

A very unlikely scenario, as BigGuy is in proportion all over!  All my missus' lady friends agree on this one.

BigGuy2008-10-16 08:09:31

[Andrew Steer]

So if someone's servicing your misses better than you' date=' is that fine?

It's also about loyalty mate!

 

[/quote'] If you kept her happy, were servicing her properly, and made sure she felt valued, she wouldn't have to look online for something cheap and nasty to give her what she thought she got when she fell for your promises in the beginning!

 

Precisely

[Canaris]

I quick look at chainreactioncycles.com is very informative.  They still see 8 speed as their biggest seller.

[Oldschool]

I see this thread is going south.

 

I have no problem with CWC importing their own goods, they have saved me some bucs in the past. If they can back up thir goods, good on you.

 

The Puzzler , glad to see that a regular(when did you sign this fake avatar up???) hubber like yourself tries to spread the good news on the hub, NOT.

 

I will still buy from CWC. Maybe the Puzzler is the Riddler from Batman, so your evil plan did not work.

 

What I like is people saying it as it is. But this guy is just a gossip. like a little girl

[jamis1]

Hmmmm Gray wheels that should go nicely with my Gray and white Giant maybe a white saddle I wander if CWC will have a white saddle I hope that gray wheels are not all sold out.

<?: prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />

 

[KlapperKnop]

I bought a set of Mavic ES's from Comobike in 2006. It had a serial number on it. I am sure Mavic uses serial numbers to trace the manufacturing date as well as to which Agent/Distributor/Shop they sold it to.

[Speed Devil]

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

 

Legally CWC are not allowed to divulge any info regarding this matter seeing as it is now under investigation.

So what puzzles me, is the fact that Puss(ler) knew that only the wheels without serial numbers were confiscated. The only way is if he was is an agent for Mavic and went snooping around CWC floor and looking for these abnomilies on the wheels.

He probably also stood over the road and watched the whole show going down and probably felt very warm inside by his actions.

Puzzler, wake up and smell the roses. You can't kill free trade.

I don't know what you were hoping to accomplish with this act, because CWC has always honoured their warranties.....TJOP!!!!

[Free]

If I buy Mavic wheels from CWC and they break a year down the line. How can I prove that I bought them from CWC if there is no serial number on the wheels? They could have come from anywere. The invoice will be void in such a case.

[Speed Devil]

I bought a set of Mavic ES's from Comobike in 2006. It had a serial number on it. I am sure Mavic uses serial numbers to trace the manufacturing date as well as to which Agent/Distributor/Shop they sold it to.

 

As JB said, only complete wheel sets have serial numbers on and not loose rims. Maybe the wheels that CWC brought in were built up in an LBS from loose components and then sold to CWC.