Oz price gouging again...

rick

Just a different player this time, Makita.

The Dolly/Mak HD 957-173-400 filter kit for the PS/DCS64-7900 goes for around US$70 in the US.

Guess what the retail price is in Australia ?
A$253.06, (A$230.05 excl GST) or US$233.21/211.97.

I was quoted A$235 (incl GST) + freight. Duty and tariffs are little to nothing here, we probably have the most level playing field when it comes to trade of the free world countries.

Friggin un-bel-iev-able.

WTF is going on in corporate Oz ?

a_lopa

Thats insane but they will justify it by saying"Its a small market"Assholes!!

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Drouin Tree Services and Excavator Hire | Excavator Hire - Drouin and SE Gippsland

rick

Yep, I'll be getting mine from the US when I eventually order it, even though it's the wrong colour.

It makes a bloody good saw even better, or at least saves me having to do filter swaps in the field.

Eric Frei

We are being financially raped.

Telstra who turned up some huge $4billion profit cannot even put broadband facilities into their exchanges for new estates. People are on waiting lists.

What happens when a govt owned entity that owuld turn profits back into services turns them over to shareholders.

Woolworths made a huge $1.84 billion which was a 13% increase supposedly in the worst economic times for 50 years.

All a con, the corporates are out of control.

Who pushes a trolley around the supermarket? If you do then you'd know of the near weekly price increases. Just notices Cheesels which were $1.89 for a feew months jump to $2.19, what about the size of packets going down for chips while prices went up. Bought cheese lately?

Corporations out of control, want to see what happens long term?

Look at America.

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windthrown

Well, some of us trusty Grey Marketeers up here in the states can help y'all get some saws and parts for less. Though I have no access to Dolmar parts or saws here. Sorry.

rick

That's OK Windy, I use Kyle at Edge & Engine or Scott and Steve at The Cutting Edge. Kyle's pricing is very good, as is his service.
Even Amicks or Bailey's ship here with Dolmar/Makita parts.

Just thought I'd throw this up to show that the gouging isn't limited to the big two, although Makita saw prices are much more competitive here, but that's only down to discounting by dealers well below RRP and some of their parts are quite reasonably priced, particularly compared to the big two, but in this case it's the reverse.

The other downside with Makita here is that anyone with a Makita account can sell a saw, even if they don't know a chain from a bar, which is really sad and a little scary.

You can pick up a new 7901 for under A$1000 here incl GST and the 7301 for right on $900.
Drop the 10% GST off A$991 (claimable back every quarter as a business expense) and that's A$901 = US$832 so they are a lot more price competitive than either Husky or Stihl.

rick

FWIW I just mailed this off to a contact at Makita OPE Australia.
What odds on a reply ?

"Hi ####,
I've just priced up the 957-173-400 HD filter kit for the DCS7901 chainsaw and was quoted $235 incl. (rec. retail is $253.06 incl)
Apparently you have one kit in stock.

I must say I'm a little shocked. The same kit retails in the US for US$70. (A$75.70 at current ex rate)
I can actually land one here for under A$100. Your RRP on this air filter kit is 1/4 the price of a complete DCS7901 saw from some dealers here, or 1/3 the cost of a complete DCS6401 saw.
<edited, links to online dealers in the US to substantiate price>

I wish you luck selling them in Australia at that price. I understand that prices do vary from country to country and region to region, due in part to various external and market influences.
Makita dealers are generally quite willing to discount and so make saw pricing in Australia quite comparable to US pricing, and far and away better than Stihl or Husqvarna here. Some of your saw spare parts pricing is quite acceptable too, I've bought quite a few consumable items from my nearest (Dolmar) dealer at RRP but I can't even contemplate ordering this kit from a dealer here at the current price.

If your buy in price is such that your dealer cost and as a consequence RRP is so high I'd be having words with Germany, if not, I'd suggest a re-think on your wholesale and RRP as you will dramatically lose parts sales from anyone that has 'net access. Unlike electric power tools, there are many consumable items in OPE and pro's turn over equipment every few years so it pays to keep servicing costs reasonable to garner repeat sales.

regards,"

Eric Frei

Good on you.

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MCW

Yeah Rick you know my view on this. Hence my purchase of the HD filter kits and Dolmars from the states. I'd rather import from the states than buy from the local hardware store who didn't even know Makita made chainsaws till they looked in their catalogue. The same peanuts who have Talon chainsaws on their shelves and think 38cc and a 16" bar with 3/8"LP is a "big" saw.

For what it's worth I've posted some photos below of the HD filter kit after a workout on dead Pinkgum (similar filter penetrating attributes to Redgum). I was cutting with my right hand, catching everything out the chip guide with my left hand, then pouring it into the intake. I did this for nearly a tank until the saw stalled and wouldn't restart. No visible dust got through and I actually wiped some of your typical oily residue out of the inlet tract and wiped it on some white paper. Clean as a whistle!
These filters are right up there with the best




Blocked solid...

Despite some dust being present this dropped off the filter when I removed it...