[Boyo]

Now I am all for Buying Irish when I can, keeping the money and jobs here BUT!
I am looking for new Rear Pads for my bike, times are hard for us all so I also need to get value for money, but in the interest of fairness I called Honda Ballymount for a price (€51.00) so I said that David Silver UK had them for €30(delivered) could they do anything on the price.
I really don’t care if they are 10-20% more expensive (Ireland is an expensive place) but 40% is a bit much and especially when you get the take it or leave it comment. Leave it is fine by me!
Now I have had many dealing with Honda in Ballymount and usually they would meet me halfway, this policy seems to have changed. The recession must be over for Honda. Good luck to them!

[jamesobrady]

I wont buy parts in Ireland if they are cheaper on the continent. I like the idea of keeping people in jobs, but from what I understand the importers/distributers here are the cause of the problem. I bought a helmet visor direct from a distributor last year...assuming skipping the shop would be cheaper..it was 5 euros cheaper, and still 25 euros more expensive than buying in the Uk online, and getting it shipped to my door. It also took a week from dublin as compared to the usual next day/3 days max from the uk, Funny thing was, both places get the parts from the same UK importer....In ireland you're usually paying a uk importer, an irish importer, and then the shop plus taxes etc. Order from the Uk(or germany) and skip the resellers.

I will pay for someones experience, professionalism, and for someone to take responsibility if they make a mistake/cause damage etc. That doesnt always happen without arguement either....

I do have to say though, after having tyres put on me bike in California...Ireland hasnt reached this stage yet:

"Your rear brake pads are fairly badly worn...do you want us to put in the spares you asked for today?"
" Eh...maybe...seeing as how you have the caliper off anyway......"
"yeah no problem, that'll be 15dollars extra."
" Sorry what? To put brake pads in when you have the caliper off anyway?"
"Yep."
" Ill do it meself back at the hotel thanks...."

Had a gander at them in the hotel parking lot....there was a few hundred miles of use left on em. Gimp.

This post has been edited by jamesobrady: 13 April 2011 - 11:28 PM

[Shinwacker]

Darkcloud, on 13 April 2011 - 08:01 AM, said:

Excellent post Greg.....Rip off Ireland has no place in today's Ireland...folk need to start voting with their feet and avoid anywhere that rips people off..
For example, I would NEVER buy ANYTHING in Spar on Dame Street...total rip off on all goods that all shops locally are cheaper for even another Spar around the corner...yet place is packed everyday...folk need to wise up...
Halfords?? Steer clear...go to your local motor factor..€12 bulb in Halford is only €4 in local shop.....wise up people...
The list is endless...........but it starts with us all here now....

I couldn't agree more DC, excellent post sums it al up really.

Shins

[Mihau]

2 sets of front pads for €35 at global in santry.

Only go to dealer when you don't find the part anywhere else.

This post has been edited by Mihau: 26 April 2011 - 11:02 AM

[oakers]

Went looking for a puncture repair kit in time or the rev up. The only place I could find that had one was Bikeworld who want €45 for one and Crossans will send it to my door for €28.50!

[Dub Duke]

So who shops at Bikeworld; does it just catch the new / unsuspecting bikers?

Haven't heard a good story yet about them.

[Hanna]

Dackody, on 12 April 2011 - 02:28 PM, said:

I wouldnt waste your energy on them lads, a couple of months ago I brought my Hornet in there to get some work done - was handing over 300 yoyos and yet they kept talking to my boyfriend about what needed to be done - to the point where he said to them 'its not my bike, speak to her' . First and last time I'd ever used them!

Itis a maaaaaaaaaaaaans woooohrld!

Shinwacker, on 12 April 2011 - 02:54 PM, said:

.....

Now the old excuse of being on an island is being used, the last time I checked the UK was also an island, so why are prices cheaper in the UK for the same part?
.....

Good point Shins!

[jamesobrady]

Dub Duke, on 26 April 2011 - 02:10 PM, said:

So who shops at Bikeworld; does it just catch the new / unsuspecting bikers?

Haven't heard a good story yet about them.

Few years ago I wanted to get a new set of Lookwell textiles. Emailed Lookwell dealer in Holland about shipping to Ireland. Got a reply saying that bikeworld was the Irish importer of lookwell gear and that I could contact them. My reply was that I had dealt with bikeworld before and had some not so good experiences. That dealer obviously forwarded the mail onto bikeworld and I got an email from the manager asking if I was interested in detailing my experiences for him. So i did. The reply was apologetic for my poor experiences, pointed out that i didnt complain at the time-so did not give the management the opportunity to rectify the situation(a fair point), that staff had been changed since the last time I was there, and to contact a specific lady upstairs if i was interested in buying clothing.

I was impressed with the effort the guy went to, so I popped in one day with matt and oisin expecting nothing but poor service. And left wiht 600eur of new dainese gear as the service from that one lady was so good...she spent at least an hour with me going through all the stuff they had that suited my needs-all brands, and it just happened that the dainese stuff was my choice. Wasnt sorry either, still have it 3 years later and its totally waterproof, in good condition,...and well tested.

I bought a set of motocross armour there too a few months later, and they did their best to match the UK price on it...and then also gave me the mag discount on top of it. They do stock items no other shops in the country do...if thats what you're looking for at the time then it a good port of call for fitting and asking for discounts...you may or may not get them, but its no harm no foul. I still wouldnt bring my bike there to get serviced, but at the same time-i've no personal experience with their service dept.

Not sure if that counts as a good story...but there ya go. The name of the lady...can't remember for the life of me(debbie?), but she's well known for her excellent manner.

oakers, on 26 April 2011 - 11:11 AM, said:

Went looking for a puncture repair kit in time or the rev up. The only place I could find that had one was Bikeworld who want €45 for one and Crossans will send it to my door for €28.50!

Exact same item ?

[oakers]

jamesobrady, on 26 April 2011 - 06:00 PM, said:

Exact same item ?

Now I can't guarantee it's 100% identical (Branding etc) but I went through what's in the kit and they're the same.

[nab301]

jamesobrady, on 26 April 2011 - 06:00 PM, said:

, still have it 3 years later
can't remember for the life of me(debbie?), but she's well known for her excellent manner.



Exact same item ?

Tut Tut James 4 yrs, and Helen , is her name , not sure if she's still there tho..


http://www.irishbike...d-good-service/

[petecourtney]

Dub Duke, on 26 April 2011 - 02:10 PM, said:

So who shops at Bikeworld; does it just catch the new / unsuspecting bikers?

Haven't heard a good story yet about them.

I've shopped there a few times, never had a bad experience.

[RobtQ]

Yeah, slightly off-topic here..... but here's another one....

Being a musician, I wanted to buy something, and checked thomann.de and saw what I wanted for €37....... called X-music at the Red Cow, and was quoted €60!! When I told them about thomann.de I was told they wouldn't match it..... take it or leave it....... I'd have gone a bit more then €37 to support an Irish Co., but €23 more....?

Well, guess where I bought it....?

[Tripleman]

Popped into Halfords a couple of weeks back and came across a road atlas of France in their 'Bargain Bin'. It was priced 12.99 sterling so I took it to the till to get the price in euros. So what do you reckon?

€18.99!!

But says I it was in your rather imaginatively labelled 'Bargain Bin'.

So off she trots to talk to the boss; back she trots to inform met that they'd knock a whole 15% off, just as a favour like.

Taking a deep breath I patiently explained that they had already put a near on 50% mark up on it so chipping 15% off was hardly the deal of the century they fondly believed it to be.

The deep breath having expired by this time I managed to walk out before doing violent damage to the store or melting through the floor.

This post has been edited by Tripleman: 11 September 2011 - 10:31 PM

[petecourtney]

Tripleman, on 11 September 2011 - 10:27 PM, said:

Popped into Halfords a couple of weeks back...

I've yet to find a motor factors/accessories/parts shop that's dearer than Halfords.

[spirit]

petecourtney, on 11 September 2011 - 10:46 PM, said:

I've yet to find a motor factors/accessories/parts shop that's dearer than Halfords.

Ah! Don't be too hard on Halfords... Their Pro Tools range (socket sets, ratchet spanners..) are terrific and often discounted ... and they do the Axa Card discount if you have one.
I use Crossans and MandP for other stuff these days