Internet not always the cheapest!!

Internet not always the cheapest!!

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Discussion

powerstans

Original Poster:

353 posts

196 months

Tuesday 21st February 2017
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Has anyone else been falsely lured into thinking the internet will always bring the best price, only to discover the local option was better!

Needed a new gasket and clutch slave repair kit for the Vstrom, went on line and ordered the parts, now awaiting delivery.

Then not feeling great yesterday I decided to work from home and on a break decided to check the main local dealer for the parts as their website has been slightly improved.

Very surprised (and annoyed with my self) as the gasket was pence different and the slave cylinder repair bits were a few pounds cheaper. To make matters worse I could have picked up the parts and done the work tomorrow eve instead of waiting for the vagaries of the various postal services.

supercommuter

2,169 posts

101 months

Tuesday 21st February 2017
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I needed some front pads for my commuter the other day. Could not wait so went to fowlers. £30...only a few pound more than online. Done and dusted.

trickywoo

11,701 posts

229 months

Tuesday 21st February 2017
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I get chain lube from my local garage cheaper than anywhere I can find on line and by a couple of quid on an £8 can too.

Biker 1

7,690 posts

118 months

Tuesday 21st February 2017
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I agree.
Even if parts/clothing/lids/etc are a few quid more, it can often be quicker to obtain what you need & hopefully is good for local business. The problem of course is stock level.

Mr2Mike

20,143 posts

254 months

Tuesday 21st February 2017
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Needed a few parts for the OH's Smart recently and amazingly the local Mercedes dealer were about 2/3rds the price of anything I could fine online. Also new stuff Ebay is very often more expensive than other online retailers.

podman

8,849 posts

239 months

Tuesday 21st February 2017
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Hell yes..I prefer to use my local dealer so always ask them for a quote but as you say, Fowlers and people like Robinsons Suzuki are brilliant.

Some of the RD parts on the likes of eBay are advertised as new old stock to help justify their high price, when in fact they are not new old stock at all.

In recent weeks ive bought an oil cap, side stand spring, fuel hose and a seat lock trim from Fowlers, total cost of £34.

On ebay, total cost would have been £101...Biggest difference being the seat lock trim (£3.84 Fowlers), £23 online..

RemaL

24,967 posts

233 months

Tuesday 21st February 2017
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agree online is not always the cheapest but FOWLERS!!! good cafe, expensive i have found in the past and most of the bike sales people are shall we say not interested when your looking at a bike. Or doing any deal to get your custom

bimsb6

8,031 posts

220 months

Tuesday 21st February 2017
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So you say internet not always cheapest then found the items you wanted cheaper on a web page ?

itcaptainslow

3,694 posts

135 months

Tuesday 21st February 2017
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I'm coming round rather quickly to this way of thinking with buying riding kit. The internet may sometimes be 5%-10% cheaper but by the time you've fannied about sending stuff back when it doesn't fit, it's far easier to go to a proper bike shop and get fitted up properly. Bought my latest lid from Bike Stop (an even better decision when I found they give 15% off to IAM members!) and I'd have happily paid more than the internet price for the attentive service I received. It so happens, I paid less and got it the same day-win/win!

powerstans

Original Poster:

353 posts

196 months

Wednesday 22nd February 2017
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It was indeed Fowlers I was referring to. Shop guys can be a bit useless (some don't seem to know what a motor bike is) and bike sales staff vary greatly (Direct you to one or to main sales guys who are good but the juniors can be a bit clueless), but the parts guy has always been friendly and efficient and the parts well priced.

Now all I need to do is remind myself before I go on line!!!!!