Why are Aussies getting a raw deal on pricing?

[Ozram]

<rant>

Priced up a Carbonio CAI off the APR US site and also from a US company called DBCPerformance. They go on various US VW forums to promote things. IN STOCK: DBC Tuning-Wholelsale Pricing On OEM VW/AUDI Parts

When I checked with them they will not ship to Australia because we have an APR dealer network here too. Fine, I'm all for supporting local businesses and getting local support if I need it.

Fast forward to the Australian APR site to check availability and pricing. APR - High Performance Development for Audi, VW and Porsche Vehicles.

Are you guys seriously telling me we should be paying $255 in freight costs and "overheads" to sell this in Australia?

US$269.10 + freight versus AU$525 + freight.

Confused of Sydney

<end rant>

[team_v]

This has been covered many times on the forum.

In Australia we have to cover a lot more business costs (such as paying staff minimum wage/super/and the economy of scale is smaller so prices are higher.)

If you search i believe this exactl question was asked probably no more than 5 months ago.

[Ozram]

In Australia we have to cover a lot more business costs (such as paying staff minimum wage/super/and the economy of scale is smaller so prices are higher.)

Understood. But double the price?????

That's BS.

[Bug_racer]

Understood. But double the price?????

That's BS.

Go open a legitimate small business from a warehouse with full insurance (public liability ) and get back to us . Also factor in making an actual profit and not just breaking even ...

[LunchboxVRS]

Also add in that a company would buy more then one pushing the cost over $1000 and therefore having to pay duty and customs.

[Ozram]

Meh,

I'll happily pay over the odds for something. But there is a difference between that and getting reamed.

Sorry guys, lost sale.

[Umai Naa!!]

You've got to admit that Australia doesn't lend itself well to being competitive on a global scale in this regard.

However, you have to hand it to the US APR dealer in question for not undercutting their Australian counterparts.

[brimway]

Agree with posts above plus buying overseas can end badly e.g. TM Tuning. At the end of the day, there are far better CAI than Carbonio. I had one on a MKV GTI and all it did was look pretty.

[Scuby_snax84]

It happens with everything. I own a 4wd and have been looking at buying a Diff locker for the front. ARB who is an Australian company makes them, and ships them all around the world. Silly part is, I can buy an Australian made product delivered from the US cheaper then I can buy it here in Australia. Where is the logic in that? If I buy it from the states it has been freighted to the US and back here and still cheaper then sourcing locally.

All I can put it down to be they must sell a heap of them in the US and buy them for peanuts from ARB.

In saying this, I have bought all of my major car parts for my vw from Australia just incase something goes a stray I know have a local distributor and local warranty to sort me out.

[cktsi]

Hey Ozram, I'm annoyed at the big price differences too. APR Stage 1 in the US is on sale for my car for $300, but the sale price here works out to be around $1135. Having said that, I've noticed in Australia they try to make up for it by offering all options on ECU which takes the sting out - so it's not a direct apples for apples comparison.

As for hardware, Scuby's experience is a sad case where the US market's larger scale allows them the power to buy & sell Australian products cheaper.