If you read my post above , i think our shops that sell just mini parts probably wouldnt sell enough parts to keep the doors open if they matched the Uk stores " im just guessing that " so anyone from any online store like to chime in ?
Also i'm guilty of shopping for cheap prices myself , as well as money concerns " i dont have any lol " i just wouldnt buy the exact same product from an aussie seller if it's a LOT cheaper with postage from the Uk just on principle.

Oh and if you read the shoddy parts thread perhaps good 2nd ebay ones are the go , ive bought quite a bit of ebay for my mini in the last 6 months and quite a bargain too ... some crazy prices like my 2nd hand full exhaust system for $1.25 cost me more in petrol lol or my drunken purchase of dashpot oil .

Cheers Bill

_________________
Project Pickles is ALIVE!!!!! Click Here!
Success is so much sweeter after the struggle

Buying from UK >2kg is really annoying. UK prices were okay years ago and really improved with the rise in the $AUD BUT annoyingly one particular parcel service recognised opportunity and increased their greedy grab and took the smile off our faces. Looking at the 'buy now' price on small items is ok (I'll get to that), but anything with weight...

That leads to quality. There are a lot of threads about how other than NOS doesnt fit, or doesnt last; and better to buy old second hand than new. When you buy local its a lot easier to communicate at the very least let alone the local suppliers have a level of service to uphold. Buy it from O/S and have a helluva time if its wrong.

Not all Mini/Moke owners have the skills to do the work and rely on the locals for working on the little darlings. We need to consider buying local to keep the service here and not get ripped badly by the parcel service.

And the 'local' service provider I frequent provides me and me mates around the south coast a high level of service, and the odd time postage, with a good deal of success for me - I think i can speak for all of us in respecting our local provider. And the knowledge - whew - that's another story. an interesting thread - whose next?

_________________
..still waiting for the Italian Job sequel to see if the bus went down

If you buy local and it is NBG (badly made, doesn't fit or whatever) you can speak with the proprietor (in most cases) and advise him of the problem.
If worth his salt he will shoot it back at the overseas vendor and hopefully get a resolution. As they usually buy squillions of these widgets the vendor is more likely to listen to them.
OTOH If you buy your widget from overseas and get a dud you can moan and weep to them via email, but you are just a lone voice crying in the wilderness.. so good luck with that.

_________________
DrMini- 1970 wasaMatic 1360, Mk1S crank, 86.6HP (ATW) =~125 @ crank, 45 Dellorto (38 chokes), RE282 sprint cam, 1.5 rockers, 11.0:1 C/R.

from a mini suppliers perspective and not having a whinge
retailers in oz are never going to win the price battle with uk unfortunately we have to pay gst,duty /customs brokerage/wharf charges etc etc if we bring in container loads of bits we then have to store it somewhere rent comes into play, those large quantities also mean more $$$$ in stock holdings,the dollar then plays a part in things each cent it goes up.
for some reason people also think that the overseas wholesalers of miniparts give great discounts when you buy in bulk(?ive seen posts previously that say negotiate a better deal,,im sure i can vouch for most specialists that this isnt the case,hence why most now buy from aussie wholesalers.
i dont know who youve bought the parts off that started this thread but perhaps a life moment has become this business,dont tarnish all businesses with this brush.
im sure there are many mini businesses/specialists that each time they see these post wonder why they still bother being in business, i'll tell you why its there love of the car and the majority of customers who appreciate there knowledge/guidance as too whats a quality part,friendship,etc etc
cheers josh
miniimports

"if you buy local and it is NBG (badly made, doesn't fit or whatever) you can speak with the proprietor (in most cases) and advise him of the problem.
If worth his salt he will shoot it back at the overseas vendor and hopefully get a resolution. As they usually buy squillions of these widgets the vendor is more likely to listen to them.
OTOH If you buy your widget from overseas and get a dud you can moan and weep to them via email, but you are just a lone voice crying in the wilderness.. so good luck with that."
as per bent layshafts from a Mini Spares supplier. Took six months for a replacement.

"im sure there are many mini businesses/specialists that each time they see these post wonder why they still bother being in business, i'll tell you why its there love of the car and the majority of customers who appreciate there knowledge/guidance as too whats a quality part,friendship,etc etc"
and the dosh. lol

and the dosh. lol
yeh we all got to feed the family

I have no envy of those that are in the business.

Be grateful there are a few helpful guys out there with the willingness to assist us when we are in need.

Like one in the business has said - don't paint them all with the same brush.

For mine - enough said for now...

_________________
..still waiting for the Italian Job sequel to see if the bus went down

Its a tough question philosophically, but at some point you will want a 998 block, or an old gear case or even a simple condenser and you won't be able to get one.

Not everything can be posted, and not everyone is prepared to stockpile old engine blocks if they don't sell enough of the consumable items to keep the lights on.

I keep this i mind when I make my decisions. If these blokes weren't there to sell me a set of cam bearings on a lonely saturday morning, a set of bearings I could easily get from the UK, I wouldn't be able to get a replacement australian door when I needed one either.

We've got to reach a balance somewhere, they are our virtual shed we stockpile our future spares in. I like to save money too, but sometimes we all know that we won't buy the cheapest if we get a little something else into the bargain, like an understanding or a good working relationship. Like a good butcher or baker for example. I like to try to keep a balance.

_________________
SooperDooperMiniCooperExpertEngineering

All garage work involves equal measures of enthusiasm, ingenuity and a fair degree of irresponsibility.

Josh , Wayne & Mick--> well said

_________________
No offence intended here but--> anyone writing a book about minis 30 years ago may not have experienced such worn or stuffed-with components as we are finding these days.

You should put your heart & soul into everything you do.

To me, this is the reason I support my local guy. I know that I can get anything from him.

_________________
Ryan Filippi
Minis In The Gong
[email protected]
www.minisinthegong.com.au

I was quite the opposite a few years ago, but have come to understand it as I have seen a few mini businesses fold. Northern mini parts (for good or for bad, and its just ONE example) had a couple of dozen sliding window doors hanging up upstairs. All gone now.

That along with the sea of individual and more everyday parts have gone for evermore. They may be on a farm in north east Melbourne somewhere, at least what has not gone to the scrap, but all the same I can't just role up at a moments notice any more to get myself out of a bind with a broken mini.









And Winabbey will know the feelings this conjours up...

_________________
SooperDooperMiniCooperExpertEngineering

All garage work involves equal measures of enthusiasm, ingenuity and a fair degree of irresponsibility.

_________________

"...you can moan and weep to them via email, but you are just a lone voice crying in the wilderness.."

Not if you pay by credit card - and refuse payment. The bank will listen to your complaint if the item is not serviceable/ not as described...

You need to time purchases so that you have time to check the goods before the bill is due...

it REALLY gets their attention when they find they won't be getting their money...

Cheers, Ian

Used Josh from Miniimports, good parts and fair price

Lindsay from Miniplus, great helpfull advise and parts ordered, in post pack by next day.

Will buy local till they let me down which hasn't happened yet.

Cheers Rob

_________________
Hopefully the front end always goes first. Rob

I agree, well said

It's the advice, knowledge, helpful tips and experience that is absolutely invaluable when dealing with my local parts supplier.

On two separate occasions recently when I have bought new rebuild kits he has disappeared out the back and returned with a small NOS component to use instead of part of the new kit, or demonstrated correct assembly.

_________________

68 Morris Cooper S Mk1 (*ex 78 1275 LS 4th last built, 70 Morris 1500 OHC & 70 MiniMatic)