I agree that ms aus need to make a profit but some things they really do just tear the ass out of. $4.95 each for standard wheel nuts, $80 for a set of 16 plus postage give me a break!

I only use them if I am desperate for a part the next day, I refuse to buy anything from the only mini supplier in Perth

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1965 Riley Elf
1974 Ex Army Moke
1997 Rover Cooper
2002 JCW Cooper
2003 JCW Cooper S

Over here in perth we dont have the luxury if strolling down to karcraft or one of many mini stores. We have 1 mini store that is about 45 mins drive from me and the 5 or so times I have gone there for that "emergency" part on a saturday morning they are closed. Even tho their website says open in saturdays.

I would love to support a local business but if they are not open I cant.

Rodney

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The best part of fixing your mini is the test drive

Minis..

1976 van daily drive
1975 van
1968 deluxe in the shed
1967 deluxe high strung 1310
1959 austin healey sprite

I would prefer to buy locally and don't mind paying a little extra. The advice and friendly face is worth that.

But I agree on the wheel and tyre issue. Why is it so expensive here? Do the local guys move on the RRP?

Surely this has been discussed a million times before- not just mini bits but everything in this country - is more expensive than overseas because costs here are more expensive compared to over there. Plus they move in pure numbers which doesn't happen here.

They also provide some of the best/most reliable service and after sales service.

As mick said, it's all about balance. Don't let the local guys go out of business

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

I agree entirely. I bought some stuff last Wednesday, and it arrive on my doorstep on Friday morning - in Tasmania! Yes, you do need to be specific on what you buy there, as a lot of their stock was probably bought before the exchange rate changed so suddenly a couple years ago.

Most small parts I buy from my local mini mechanic. Sometimes it's cheaper than ordering it in (especially with postage), sometimes it's more expensive, and they have a good range of second hand parts too.

No doubt that their service is fantastic and if you need that part in a hurry they are invaluable. Unfortunately there is no happy face at the local mini shop in Perth and I am sick of being made to feel like I am a time waster when I walk in with a bundle of cash in my pocket, or being refused when I want to speak to the guy working on my car or waiting up to 2 months to book in for repairs. For those reasons I stopped going there years ago and started learning how to do things myself.

It is a hard thing for MS Aus to lower prices I can see, there are lots of fees that go on behind the scenes of running a successful business that often the consumer doesnt see. Yes they would get a cheap rate for buying in bulk but then they have import duty and all sorts of other stupid fees they need to pass on.

All that being said if they were slightly cheaper Im sure they would sell more. Maybe they are doing perfectly fine as they are and have no need to adjust their business model. Personally I have spent close to $20K with overseas suppliers in the last 12 months. As much as I would like to give Aus businesses more of my custom my spend would be over $30K at local prices.

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1965 Riley Elf
1974 Ex Army Moke
1997 Rover Cooper
2002 JCW Cooper
2003 JCW Cooper S

Have to agree about the standards of customer service generally here, it can be pretty abysmal in many (but not all) cases. Courteousness towards customers seems to be a thing of the past, replaced with indifference and a 'take it or leave it' type of attitude.

You really notice the difference when overseas, especially in the US, but then the workers get paid less and have to rely on customer tips to make a decent wage. Bottom line is if you don't deliver exemplary service, you don't receive an exemplary tip in return.

I buy about 80% from overseas these days for my fleet of Brit cars, mostly from the UK of course but also sometimes from US vendors too. Land Rover parts are outrageously priced here.

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Slide
1965 Mini Van (1360)
1970 Mk2 Cooper S (1310)
1978 Rover SD1 V8 (4.6)
1996 Land Rover Discovery V8 (4.0)

Well im a convert i was ordering a lot of parts from the UK due to prices here when Doc Mini put me on to karcraft and ive been ordering from them since , great prices fast posting and very helpful on the phone , plus ive bought some parts from kind members here......... so buy from an aussie buisness unless the price is ridiculous.

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

I would buy more from KC if they had a website as good as the UK suppliers with prices! I am not interested in sending off an enquiry!

I agree with Monaco, Minis are a fun hobby for me and I enjoy window shopping on a good online store, also I'm not always sure what the part is based solely on a text description, I like to browse through and enjoy my buying experience


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it is good service considering how far away they are

Almost got caught out the other day, was about 2 seconds away from ordering -

http://www.minispares.com/product/Class ... assic/door catch.aspx|Back to search

I thought i'd quickly check with Greig at Mini Classic before ordering and he showed me an 850 door with the lock on the outside and the screws passing through it(how the one in the link above fits) and explained that this part would have been pretty much useless for my application (wind up window doors, screws hold onto the lock itself)

Then straight after that, in typical Greig fashion "you could probably get bigger screws / tap it and make it work though" ... lol

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1968 Mini-matic - 1340cc, 45 weber - 92hpatw, 14.5 @91mph, GrandmaSpec