Discussion: AUSTRALIAN GUZZISTI!

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Guzzista	AUSTRALIAN GUZZISTI! Feb 1 2008, 6:15 AM EST Reply to this thread to fully express your opinion regarding the official importer! Post reply 5 out of 5 found this valuable. Do you find this valuable? Do you?
Sapper	RE: AUSTRALIAN GUZZISTI! Feb 1 2008, 9:02 PM EST There is a user group called AIGOR (Australian Internet Guzzi Owners Register) that may be worth hitting for their opinions. Personally, my local dealer is family, but the John Sample Group as importers seem just too damn casual, lotsa glossy pics in MC Mags, but little contact with owners/enthusiasts. Cheers for a good idea, Post reply 1 out of 1 found this valuable. Do you find this valuable? Do you?
Guzzista	RE: AUSTRALIAN GUZZISTI! Feb 2 2008, 3:59 AM EST Thank you Sapper, I will definitely check with AIGOR, plus a few other organisations that have been referred to me by Ozzie Guzzisti! Post reply 2 out of 2 found this valuable. Do you find this valuable? Do you?
Precis Precis	RE: AUSTRALIAN GUZZISTI! Feb 3 2008, 6:55 PM EST Firstly, I hope this isn't a cynical effort to harvest live e-mails? I've had at least one Guzzi for over 30 years over 3 continents, currently we have six V-twins from 1975 to 1998; I used to work as a National Sales Manager for one importer (now defunct, far away and long ago). I think it's fair to say that few riders have dealings with the importer - mostly they talk to their dealer, and it's this localised presence upon which much of the marque's reputation rests. However, the dealer is front-line and can only sell what the importer provides. In Perth, anecdotally, I believe Guzzi has a knowledgeable, helpful, accomodating dealer in Mario from Thunderbikes, while in Brisbane, there are varying reports about the abilities of Don Newell to fix problems in the earlier fuel-injected bikes. In Sydney, I understand the dealer is wildly enthusiastic and learning about Guzzi day by day. Here in Melbourne there are two mainstream dealers, both split with other brands; one has BMW and replaced Ducati with Guzzi/Aprilia (moto1). The other (A1) is more of a supermarket operation, with dozens of bikes but seems to have Guzzi/Aprilia and Husqvarna, plus various Chinese pit-bikes and a horde of cheap Japan-sourced used imports. Because Guzzis are so long-living, it's probably fair to suggest that a dealer will live or die by his spare-parts & workshop operation - and here the Australian importer fails dismally. I generally use overseas dealers for my parts (mostly Teo Lamers in Holland) and the BMW dealer still imports direct from Italy, so he's good too, but the "supermarket" operation has ALWAYS failed to have in stock parts I need. For one Aprilia project, I waited 9 months for a commonly crash-damaged part - and sold the bike before it arrived - if indeed it ever did. I feel it is simplistic to ask consumers about importers - rating their dealers would be more beneficial. Regards Steve Post reply 3 out of 4 found this valuable. Do you find this valuable? Do you?
Guzzista	RE: AUSTRALIAN GUZZISTI! Feb 3 2008, 7:46 PM EST Thank you Steve for your comments, especially when one considers the depth of your involvement with Moto Guzzi over the years. I'll take the opoortunity initially to re-assure you regarding the e-mails. Your e-mail address is yours and is not published anywhere on this site. You will have used an e-mil address to sign up but you have control over whether that is displayed within the settings of your profile. I agree about the issue regarding the supply of parts/spares and this seems to be one that rears its head on a regular basis. I hope that this commentary may expand to include dealers in due course but I have to say, generally speaking, the feedback on that front has been positive. It is on the subject of the importer that I have found such disparity. Whether this is because their role is not fully understood or for other reasons I don't know, maybe that will be highlighted as we go, and if only that one thing is achieved from this I think it would have been a positive one. Thank you again. Joe Post reply 2 out of 2 found this valuable. Do you find this valuable? Do you?
Precis Precis	RE: AUSTRALIAN GUZZISTI! Feb 3 2008, 8:12 PM EST Hi Joe My earlier discourse may have appeared perfunctory - sadly, I ran into the content limit! As a journo, I tend to think with my fingers on the keys, but I feel that this survey might more usefully be split into rating dealers' parts & workshops, getting some input from importers, rather than holding up a magnifying glass on an importer who is at least one step removed from us humble consumers. I think you'll find some dealers have better workshops than others - A1 for example, had a deadful reputation and I vowed never to return, but their very engaging salesman Ian persauded me to give it another go and I was generally satisfied with the result - although they still have lousy parts back-up. Steve Post reply 3 out of 3 found this valuable. Do you find this valuable? Do you?
Guzzeye	RE: AUSTRALIAN GUZZISTI! Feb 4 2008, 5:28 AM EST There is definitely a difference between the dealers and the the importer, certainly here in Melbourne. Ian at A1 (Ringwood) is a long time Guzzi fan and goes out of his way to inform and help while not being pushy. The guys at A1 Brighton are pretty helpful also but I can't help but feel they are somewhat restricted from further up the chain somewhere. Or they don't get much support. For example, on the importers website there is a range of clothing from MG. At last look A1 in Ringwood had a T shirt and a beanie in a glass case which was considerably more than the retail price on the importers website. The other 3 dealers have nothing. Perhaps they undercut the dealer, or give them no discount. I have had fast response from the importer when i asked for a T shirt that was on the MG Italia site and they offered to get it in for me...at $75. I wasn't sure whether to laugh or cry. At the last Motorcycle show John Sample had (don't quote me) perhaps 4 bikes, no clothing or accessories and a video. And little else. On the other hand Ducati had every bike they imported, a full range of clothing and accessories etc etc. It was worlds apart. Yet on the other hand I spoke to a "head office" guy who was really knowledgeable and helpful about the Cali (which is what I was looking at). To sum up, from the outside it appears they don't support the dealers and I really think their marketing (& that includes dealer support by way of product and display materials) sucks. Post reply 5 out of 5 found this valuable. Do you find this valuable? Do you?
Guzzista	RE: AUSTRALIAN GUZZISTI! Feb 4 2008, 6:16 AM EST So to what do we attribute this to then? What are the boundaries of the importer's responsibility? I mean, are they kinda "Guzzi Australia" involved in marketing, direction, policy etc? or are they simply an enterprise who have taken this on as a business decision so they can then sell bikes on to the dealers who are the ones with individual responsibility for their own promotion? 'cause I think that would be a hard burden for a dealer. If in a nation such as yours with great distances between the marketplace a non-unified marketing approach wouldn't really make sense. Just going back to your point Guzzieye, Ducati and Guzzi are worlds apart, unfortunately, how does their importr approach things? Post reply 2 out of 2 found this valuable. Do you find this valuable? Do you?
Guzzeye	RE: AUSTRALIAN GUZZISTI! Feb 4 2008, 3:11 PM EST I would have t do some more research but Ducati are bought in by a company that deals in motorcycles(duc, Cagiva and a couple of others) and accessories only and the John Sample Group do MG, Aprilia and an "Industrial Systems" division who are in the field of Centralised Lubrication and Material Dispensing. I don't know what the margins are in motorbikes but I would imagine it would not be a sustainable business model if each dealer is supposed to buy all marketing materials and buy all the bikes and accessories just to have them on display. . I hope that we can put all this to the importer soon Joe as they have declined to reply to my email. Post reply 1 out of 1 found this valuable. Do you find this valuable? Do you?
Guzzista	RE: AUSTRALIAN GUZZISTI! Feb 5 2008, 8:39 PM EST You mean they actually "declined" a response? ...or have they just ignored it? ...that sems to be a common trait..the factory do that too! Post reply 1 out of 1 found this valuable. Do you find this valuable? Do you?
Guzzeye	RE: AUSTRALIAN GUZZISTI! Feb 7 2008, 4:30 AM EST Sorry. When I said "delined" I really meant "chosen to completely ignore". Maybe it's part of the policy handed down by the factory. When your customers contact you about your product just lay low and hide and maybe they will go away. Seems to have worked! Post reply 2 out of 2 found this valuable. Do you find this valuable? Do you?
Sapper	RE: AUSTRALIAN GUZZISTI! Feb 20 2008, 8:50 AM EST Here's the go Joe.... Bellagio as an example: UK Price 6,999 Pounds Oz Price 17,900 Oz Dollar Yet a conversion quickly shows that 6,999 quid is 14,889.34 Oz Dollar, say 15,000, I'm just a generous bast*d eh? So who is into the Guzzi Buyer in Oz for THREE bloody GRAND!! You wink, and I'll point..... Post reply Do you find this valuable?*
Sapper	RE: AUSTRALIAN GUZZISTI! Feb 20 2008, 9:11 AM EST Here's another go Joe.... 1200 Sport...: UK Price 7,749 Pounds Oz Price 21,990 Oz Dollar Yet a conversion quickly shows that 7,749 quid is 16,449 Oz Dollar, say 16,500, I'm still a generous bastd eh? So who is into the Guzzi Buyer in Oz for FIVE AND A HALF bloody GRAND!! JSG are greedy bastds eh? Sure, getting a bike to Oz is more expensive than to the UK, but I can get a container out of Italy for five grand to Oz, and I'm well sure I could fit a dozen bikes in one. So that is only hundreds of dollars each price difference. In Oz to own a guzzi, you've relly got to WANT one..... Post reply Do you find this valuable?
Guzzeye	RE: AUSTRALIAN GUZZISTI! Feb 21 2008, 4:03 PM EST Pretty obvious Sapper, that the extra goes into the huge marketing campaigns. You know, the full range of bikes and promo stuff in the dealers showrooms,the magazine ads, the national roadshows and demo days. Oh, and I forgot to mention the suburb displays at the Melbourne and Sydney Motorcycle shows. Where have you been?! Post reply Do you find this valuable?
Sapper	RE: AUSTRALIAN GUZZISTI! Feb 21 2008, 7:25 PM EST Oh yea, right, where they take a demo from an agents floor and polish it an make it one of the four bikes on display on the show floor? Right! Of course, the Poms don't promote their brand do they? The machines just sell themselves, and of course, all the mechanic training they do too in Oz? Right! Now it all becomes clearer, like a tsunami of mud... Post reply Do you find this valuable?
Guzzista	RE: AUSTRALIAN GUZZISTI! Feb 22 2008, 7:54 PM EST Jeeeeez, that is some flipping difference in prices!!! Post reply Do you find this valuable?
Sapper	RE: AUSTRALIAN GUZZISTI! Feb 22 2008, 9:48 PM EST Another price comparo, Canada... Breva 750 in Canada $CA10,995 which converts to $AU11,802 Breva 750 in Oz $AU12,995 which converts to $CA12.105 It does not cost more than $1000 extra to get ONE macine in a bul container to Oz, for the Customs and homologation requirements must be about the same. Still a riup off for Oz!! Post reply Do you find this valuable?
Excellon	RE: AUSTRALIAN GUZZISTI! Feb 22 2008, 11:05 PM EST Funny thing the value and price of Guzzi's in Australia. No then I was reading Road Rider (an Australian m/c magazine) where it indicated that there still was a potential for Guzzi's to be purchased direct from the factory - as per the old 1970's schemes though the impression was not so favourable comparing tax advantages and Australian Design Regulations (ie pulling an Australian ADR spec guzzi out of the line) which has implications regarding registration and warranty. One bottom line in this thread seems that a healthy profit margin is being made - fine if Guzzi importers want an exclusive set of riders and not interested in volume sales (this statement is not that unrealistic in the world today). An acceptable business strategy can be to increase the price on an item justified by the branding or trade marking. Like some vehicles high performance and high cost research/development and material cost - in comparison some good marketing and really they all do the same thing just good old fashioned capitalism. The other factor from the importer may be a case of limited supply available from production runs destined for Australia (due to ADR) = if you want one hand over the folding stuff. I want to buy a new V7 classic ASAP - maybe I'll just book some long service and purchase in Holland - prices in Europe are all over too. cheers Excellon Post reply 2 out of 2 found this valuable. Do you find this valuable? Do you?
Guzzista	RE: AUSTRALIAN GUZZISTI! Feb 23 2008, 3:58 AM EST I can understand that on the one hane there are differing regulations in different parts of the world but surely that doesn't amount to such a price difference. And looking at things perhaps a little simplistically I would imagine the costo to ship to Oz from Italy would be higher but surely not by the margins that Sapper is outlining. I wonder whether there would be scope for a local manufacturer to obtain a licence to build out there...it's been done in the past...in Europe, for instance, Seat used to be a state owned spanish manufacturer that used to build Fiats under licence but with a seat badge. That would be cool, a local Australian manufacturer building Guzzis locally, under licence from the factory! Post reply Do you find this valuable?
Guzzeye	RE: AUSTRALIAN GUZZISTI! Feb 24 2008, 12:06 AM EST They would be going for exclusivity; 2004 sales of Guzzi in Australia was 144. Compared to: 1. Honda 25,498 2. Yamaha 22,742 3. Suzuki 11,393 4. Kawasaki 7,103 5. KTM 4,596 6. Harley Davidson 3,712 7. Triumph 1,678 ... Moto Guzzi was number 27. Source is the Australian Bureau of Statistics. Unfortunately I can't find anything more recent but you could probably assume its more or less the same. Perhaps even more exclusive! Post reply 2 out of 2 found this valuable. Do you find this valuable? Do you?

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