tirerack - anybody used them?

[kj69]

A simple way tyre shops could combat this would be charge a higher fee for fitting tyres not purchased in Australia (proof of purchase required )
If they ALL got together and ALL agreed on a minimum price and NOT undercut each other on fitting of os tyres then this problem would be solved .im sure all tyre shops are in the same boat.

[xjrob]

I for one was happy to pay the extra and buy locally, however, after trying 4 different tire suppliers and told there would be a minimum 8 week wait, I looked overseas, bought my tires they were delivered within 2 weeks (10 days actually) and $90 per tire cheaper than I could buy locally.

Out of that $90 I paid fair price for fitting and balancing. Many tire shops have fitted, refitted and moved tires around for me, as I always buy 8 and rotate my camper tires with my vehicle tires, and as the camper has steel wheels and the vehicle alloys this means my local tire shop makes a fair bit from me just fitting and refitting and balancing tires. So no I don't feel guilty, if the tire importers were doing the right thing by their resellers, it would not be that attractive to look overseas. Buy the time my tires were fitted and balanced I would have happily paid that price locally, but did not want to wait 2 months for 265/75 x 16 a reasonably common tire size for 4wds. If they kept stock and did not try and make such a huge margin before the resellers even saw the tires. Lets face it, it is the resellers like BLU-125 who are offering the service not the importers, yet the importers seem to be making the lions share of the profit, without offering the service of at least having stock available. Don't get upset with those of us who shop OS, the resellers need to hold the importers to task.

[anthonygubbin]

I must agree with Rob when I needed tyres for the XJ Bridgstones told me 8-10 weeks for a common old set of Dueler ATs this was the same according to all the major resellers and unless a small store had them instock no one else could get them either. I had to get Maxxis ATs from Bob Janes as that was pretty much all I could get at the time apart from a couple of other generic choices or unsuitable ones.

regards A

[briteway]

Originally Posted by anthonygubbin

I must agree with Rob when I needed tyres for the XJ Bridgstones told me 8-10 weeks for a common old set of Dueler ATs this was the same according to all the major resellers and unless a small store had them instock no one else could get them either.

When I hear of such lead time, it sounds like the manufacturers themselves are waiting for an order to "cook up" a set of new tyres and are located on another planet for them to take so long to come.

I've been through similar myself. Wanted to buy a Maxxis tyre, can't remember which type though but due to a massive lead time ended settling with Coopers. I buy tyres from Bob Jane only because they are friendly before and after the sales and offer good after sale service. If that wasn't the case, then maybe even myself would be ordering from abroad like I do with dealer related stuff.

[Jeeps]

Originally Posted by kj69

If they ALL got together and ALL agreed on a minimum price and NOT undercut each other on fitting of os tyres then this problem would be solved .im sure all tyre shops are in the same boat.

The problem that they can't, that's price collusion and highly illegal

I get awesome service from my nearest Bob Jane

Cheers

[fester]

Originally Posted by Jeeps

I get awesome service from my nearest Bob Jane

Cheers

And again that's what a lot of it is all about. Blu you might be one of the rare ones to offer service and if so I feel for you to a degree. I buy all my tyres from the same local dealer cause I know they look after me on price locally even though I could get cheaper in Bris which is onyl 2 hrs away and no big deal as we are down there all the time. However they often swap tyres around for me cheap or free or are pulling a tyre off so I can paint or putting a tyre on so I can measure clearances etc or just changing rims for some reason. It balances out for both of us and I dont shop anywhere else. However they could not help me with any brands of rims that are suitable for the Grand so I started looking. Plenty in the US and cheap. Found 2 Aussie distributors for the wheel in question one on Gold Coast (3hrs) and one in Adelaide. 10 days later I'm still waiting on a response to my enquiry. Contacted the US seller last night that I got prices from 2 months ago to see what deal he could do on 5 as ebay listing was onyl for 4 with different finish. 2 more emails and deal is done this afternoon. Price about $1,200 delivered, closest price I've seen from online ad here for a 6 stud fitment of same rim (from one of the parties above) $1,800 for set of 4. Tell me again Blu the virtues of supporting local businesses like those. Far as I'm concerned they are not good businesses that are willing to give anything back to their customers so if they fold then they deserve it. Oh and I asked my local guys what they thouoght of me buying my rims overseas and they said yeah great price go for it.

Bought a good old Aussie Commodore from local Holden dealer couple of years ago. Swore they would look after me when they could not match the BRissie price by $500. So I thought well whats $500 extra to support local business who will in turn support me. Bullshit worst service department support I've ever got, no backup for warranty issues and never got the courtesy available etc etc. I think of how I could have spent that $500 elsewhere and still got the same follow up support.

Again if you are a good business I feel for you but if you are one of the multitude of whingers complaining about lack of local support when all you do is rape and pillage the consumer then tuff.

[bruggz351]

In my eyes, tyres are too risky to source OS. It may just be luck or I'm R.A.G. but I have, and do, use warranty on my tyres.
Who will warrant your OS tyre after a pothole hit and you get a side wall bulge? New tyre time man.... And where I live potholes are more plentiful than bitumen.

JMO

cheers