What the hell is going on at Mat Mladin Imports? - Page 3

thro · 27-08-2008, 03:47 PM

I think it all comes down to value-add.

To charge more, you need to provide something. Be it convenience, improved delivery time, or some other form of local support.

As cam said, customers don't care *why* the delay happened so much, its not our business. I know that I can't simply blame other people constantly if stuff doesn't get done where I work. If your suppliers suck, get new ones. If you can't get suppliers that don't suck, don't resell their product. Simple.

edit:
What i'm saying is, if your suppliers are fucking you around, and causing ill-will between you and your customers *and* you're not able to be price competitive at least, its not doing you any favours by reselling their shit locally. I'd much rather be told "sorry mate, we don't stock that, but you could get it from XXX and we'll fit it up for you, no worries" than "yeah sure, we'll get that in!" and then wait 3 months, when druu has had his stuff delivered within a week and fitted it all...

Its just going to piss people off. Sell what you *can* locally supply - even if the internet takes over parts supply (which it will, its inevitable, we can't compete with a few billion chinese working at third world labour rates doing order processing/dispatch, and won't be able to for the forseeable future, it's merely a matter of time) - local guys can supply labour, advice, etc. Which is worth real money if you provide good quality service.

Laika · 27-08-2008, 04:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thro

If your suppliers suck, get new ones. If you can't get suppliers that don't suck, don't resell their product. Simple.

Bingo!

nkb · 02-09-2008, 12:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by T_B R1

This guy had a major attitude problem. I'd never even heard of these guys before I jumped online and could quite possibly been a decent future customer if I got good service but I didn't. If you want to give people an incentive to buy local you have to give them good service. I'll spend a bit more if the service is good. But why should I spend more if the srvice is crap.

That being said, I've received awesome service from the local shops I've been to (except these guys) Gillies, causeways, savage, chapmans, all good.

i have started to buy stuff overseas, just got a puig screen, recently got a jacket // helmet.. saved hundreds... so im all for going for a bargain

but just another point of view, i work for a mobile phone store, you can purchasae the same mobile contract from the companys website and get a 50 dollar credit as well. alot of people will come to my store and explain to me that they bought it online, but want my help for whatever reason.

I tell them, you bought it online, your help is on line. bye.

ppl get upset. but what those ppl dont understand is that they are taking thier business elsewhere which eats into my sales for my store, and then they want me to help them.

technically i should help them. but im with most ppl, fuck em. i can not match the deal provided by the service provider on the website.

so by all means, by online. just dont expect help for the product from front line ppl in retail!

nkb · 02-09-2008, 12:25 PM

so even if the guy did help you T_B R1. There is a good chance he would still not come close to having the right price for you and you'll still buy online in the future...

australia is slow.

just my 2c

reddog · 03-09-2008, 12:51 PM

Why isn't there more importers of said part sin Australia? A mate of mine waited around 7 months for Mat Mladin imports to deliver a hotbodiez tail tidy to a local reputable store down here.

I have also had issues and the inconvenience of dealing with Dirtworx and I was actually going to buy the pipe from them. After driving 250k's and finding them closed I left a message and received no reply = no business from me

I now buy most my gear online as I don't get ripped off and the shop will actually respond to email or tell me if something is delayed.

FireStorm · 03-09-2008, 01:05 PM

There are not more importers of said parts cause the current importers have an agreement with the manufacturer that they are the sole importers into Australia.

Best thing to do is take it up with the manufacturer in the form of an email. Let them know that thier importers aren't worth shit.

T_B R1 · 03-09-2008, 01:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nkb

so even if the guy did help you T_B R1. There is a good chance he would still not come close to having the right price for you and you'll still buy online in the future...

australia is slow.

just my 2c

it's a different situation. I didnt' want some free help like the people that come to you with a phone. I wanted to give the guy business. I wanted to put money in his till. I give money...You give product... Simple transaction. If I went in and was just after information or something for free then yeah, fair enough. But to turn someone away (and be very fuckin' rude about it) when they are about to buy something from you is just stupid.

I know what it's like to get time wasters ( I worked retail for 2 years and was a sales rep for 2.5yrs).

thro · 03-09-2008, 04:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nkb

I tell them, you bought it online, your help is on line. bye.

Well this is a bit different. They didn't get warranty from australia, so fair enough.

However, if you're willing to pay for parts or service, then i don't get the whole notion of sending people away simply out of spite. Charge them money for it if you like - make some $$ out of the sale you didn't get that way. if it's explained that "well, our labour rate is $x/hr, it will be y hours to fit/fix" then I have no problem with that.

What goes around comes around...

semi · 03-09-2008, 04:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nkb

i have started to buy stuff overseas, just got a puig screen, recently got a jacket // helmet.. saved hundreds... so im all for going for a bargain

but just another point of view, i work for a mobile phone store, you can purchasae the same mobile contract from the companys website and get a 50 dollar credit as well. alot of people will come to my store and explain to me that they bought it online, but want my help for whatever reason.

I tell them, you bought it online, your help is on line. bye.

ppl get upset. but what those ppl dont understand is that they are taking thier business elsewhere which eats into my sales for my store, and then they want me to help them.

technically i should help them. but im with most ppl, fuck em. i can not match the deal provided by the service provider on the website.

so by all means, by online. just dont expect help for the product from front line ppl in retail!

do you work for a phone company store like the three stores or do you work for an independant? If you work for three for example and refuse to help people with their network and their phones with their problems that's BS mate. Its part of your job

thro · 03-09-2008, 04:49 PM

^^ at the end of the day, australian businesses are going to have to shift to a service-oriented business model sooner or later.

They might last 2 years continuing to sell stuff for 2-3x online price, they might last 5 years... but eventually they're going to be priced out of the market.

If you think parts are cheap from the US, just wait until china steps up with improved production quality, bulk buying power for other goods (as their economy continues to strengthen), and online retailing.

Speed Demon · 04-09-2008, 04:51 AM

After all the negative feedback about mat mladins i feel sorry for any one who trys to purchase the new tinted rear ends avaliable for there K8 busa' s.

TORQ · 04-09-2008, 05:59 AM

Dodgey, much ?

Original Article

Mladin disqualified from VIR results

AMA Pro Racing has disqualified Mat Mladin from the Aug. 16-17 AMA Superbike races at Virginia International Raceway.

Mladin, who was named the provisional winner of both races at the Alton, Virginia circuit, will be stripped of the two victories and any championship points he would have earned.

With Mladin’s disqualification, all other racers moved up a spot in the results for both races. Mladin’s teammate and chief rival, Ben Spies, will be recognized as the official winner of both races while fellow Rockstar Makita Suzuki racer Tommy Hayden will be credited with a pair of second-place finishes. Factory Yamaha racer Eric Bostrom, who was fourth in the provisional results for both races, moves up to complete the two podiums.

A post-race technical inspection determined that the crankshaft from Mladin’s Rockstar Makita Suzuki GSX-R1000 did not comply with the AMA Superbike Championship’s homologation rules.

Section 2.4 of the 2008 AMA Superbike Championship Rulebook states:
Only the homologated crankshaft is permitted with the following modifications:

Bearing surfaces may be polished or surface treated.
Balancing is permitted only by the same method used by the OEM. For example, heavy metal (i.e. Mallory metal) inserts are not permitted unless they were originally specified by the OEM.
Attachment of aftermarket ignition components or sensors is permitted.
Primary gears can not be changed or modified.

Mladin's 2008 AMA Superbike championship hopes may hinge on the results of his appeal.

Following the second race at VIR, AMA inspectors examined Mladin’s motorcycle and determined that further examination was required. AMA Pro Racing requested additional samples from Suzuki for further comparisons. On Aug. 20, Rockstar Makita Suzuki was informed of AMA Pro Racing’s findings.

Rockstar Makita Suzuki has announced that they will appeal the decision to disqualify Mladin.

Should the appeal be denied, Mladin will have little hope of overtaking Spies for the season championship. Spies holds a 102 point lead over Mladin with three races remaining. In the event of a tie in the final points race, the championship will go to the racer with the most race victories.

With the two wins at VIR, Spies holds the advantage over Mladin by a 9-7 margin.

If Mladin were to win the remaining races and receive all the point bonuses for earning the pole position and leading the most laps in each race, Mladin will finish with 562 points. Spies has 551 points and can clinch the championship with a 20th-place finish in the series’ next race at Road Atlanta in Braselton, Ga. on Aug. 30.

El Loco · 04-09-2008, 06:03 AM

After having a negative experience dealing with a suspension mob in Melbourne - Slow responce, No responce and just plain robbery on pricing, I went to a company in the UK, I got the same products, great service, 7 - 10 days delivery and I saved a whole heap.

www. rules!

Cam · 04-09-2008, 06:04 AM

I have thought long and hard about fuckhead distributors here in Australia trying to corner a market and then bash the hell out of it.

I've decided to say "Fuck you guys", and anything I am bullied into purchasing from a single Australian source, I will be ordering from the states to be delivered to my family in Canada, where it will be forwarded on to me through customs as a gift.

Fuck you single-supplier idiots. If you don't want to play fair in a free market, neither do I.

**edit: The full-blown bells and whistles Scorpio alarm I ordered myself has already left the USA, I wonder if it'll be on my doorstep before a local supplier could have had it to me?

Rhino · 04-09-2008, 06:44 AM

Last night a bought some Vortex rear sets. Clicking on the [international] button on the Vortex site tells you to contact Mat Mladdin Imports to order.

So I promptly typed in

Code:

www.ebay.com

Not only should these rants go to Mat Mladdin, they should go to Vortex. They need to know that their international suppliers aren't doing their job.

Nice Lee.

Gonz1 · 26-10-2008, 11:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rhino

Last night a bought some Vortex rear sets. Clicking on the [international] button on the Vortex site tells you to contact Mat Mladdin Imports to order.

So I promptly typed in

Code:

www.ebay.com

Not only should these rants go to Mat Mladdin, they should go to Vortex. They need to know that their international suppliers aren't doing their job.

Nice Lee.

Funny you should mention that, i too was looking at Vortex sprockets just now and i also found the Mat Mladdin Imports as a supplier, and the best thing is that i googled Mladdins and it came up and four rows down was a link to this thread...GOLD!!

Below are the details...i tried to "print screen" but i dont know how to get it up in here, anyways se for yourselves...

"
Page by Mojotown.com + Michael Aron + Klaus Larsen E-mail: mmi@mojotown.com Web: mojotown a multi media agency located in Mill Valley, CA. 415-717-6996 Studio: 415.381.3029.
www.matmladinimports.com.au/mojotown.html - 1k - Cached - Similar pages
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ASC Race Report From Mat Mladin Imports Development Team ... The Mat Mladin Imports Development Team would like to thank Mat Mladin Imports, Joe Rocket, ...
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Discussion Response. Submitted by .....--... Race Report Mat Mladin Imports Development Team on 16/10 at 03:11 AM. Comment Title: Message Content:
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looks like ill be going to world Ebay too now as i dont want to wait 6 months for shit because it aint big enough to fill a sea container, i was even going to send an email with a query...shame, because i would realy love to support local retailers, and in the past i was also all for paying the extra more so due to my lack of knowledge and trust of buying from overseas but im getting better as my wife buys stuff from the states all the time, infact, she ordered some baby stuff from Sydney who had it in stock and ordered some other stuff from the US the very same day, 5 working days later a parcell arrives, it was the one from the US, it was another 2 weeks before the one from Sydney arrived.

i feel for them(local retailers) that they are bound by these fuckers, it only a matter of time before your taken out back to check out their stock so that the WA rep doesnt see it!!

so how long before PSB fill a container or part of someone elses, or would the container get slugged with custom tax's?

Gonz.

ps: good post Lee, oh!.. and long time no see!!

Rob · 27-10-2008, 05:16 AM

heh, gold

Ells · 27-10-2008, 08:13 AM

I know Mat Mladin claims to have exclusive rights to sell Pazzo and other products to Australia but I've found US Suppliers can be convinced to send stuff to you direct. They just ask that you don't tell anyone or publicise the details of who the retailer is in such a way as to get them in trouble.

I've also heard of a US based company that supplies US postage boxes that you can buy / rent and get your products sent there so it is a US domestic purchase as far as the retailer is concerned. This company then resends the product on to you in Australia. A lot of US retailers offer free postage within the US so the first postage is free and then you just pay to get it resent to Australia. I think from memory Hewie had a thread about it somewhere if people are interested.

Otherwise just talk to the US retailer directly and some CAN be convinced to send to you. Mladin can go get f#cked - they don't even answer emails when you asks questions about their pricing, I tried to find out if they were ripping me off or if the manufacturers were selling the items to them at inflated prices that forced them to hand on the costs. Guess what - NO REPLY! So I sent them an email saying thanks for being rude pricks and not responding and informing them I would buy direct from the US, then they respond to say I can't as they have an exclusive right and I'd be breaching their rights and they'd pursue the matter - I told them its not me breaching their agreement but the seller who I buy from and I'd probably forget their name anyway so they should worry about improving their service not trying to intimidate customers.

Their arseholes and tend to be representative of way to may online sellers in Australia so now I go straight to US and UK sellers who are faster and cheaper - the consumer (me) wins and they the retailer wins through increased sales. If local businesses don't want to lose their share of the market they need to improve their game and become competitive because at the moment they are driving us away in HUGE numbers.

rgvlee · 27-10-2008, 08:19 AM

Well an update from me...

the rear sprocket arrived about a month ago. the front had not arrived. Superbike supply gave me a JT to get me going. Cool.

The front sprocket arrived last friday (24 Oct 2008).

For a comparison, I ordered a set from the US about a month ago as I was getting fed up. Took less than 2 weeks.

As much as I'd love to shop locally for consumables like this, next time I will head to the states for sprockets.

I never heard back from MM imports. Since they don't have the courtesy to reply I'll be sending all this off to vortex in the states.

Cheers

L

rgvlee · 27-10-2008, 08:27 AM

and it's sent to vortex US

Quote:

Hey

Just a heads up. You might want to take a look at how your australian distributor of vortex sprockets is performing. Not very well unfortunately! Nearly 5 months to fill an order of 2 sprockets for an 01 YZF R6! Crazy! I went direct to the states after 4 months of waiting and got them within 2 weeks.

http://www.perthstreetbikes.com/foru...imports-63482/

Regards

Lee