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Post by Pistol on Dec 8, 2007 20:31:03 GMT
After months of making my mind up, I finally decided that the bike for me was a Yeti AS-X (following the demise of my old DH frame) in size medium. After doing a lot of research, I realised that buy purchasing this frame from the USA, I could import the bike myself into the UK for a total of £850 including import tax, customs and VAT. Great I thought, however it seems that Yeti do not allow there frames to be bought from the USA by UK customers. I think this seems very unfair, and is typical of UK bikers being penalised with vastly inflated prices. Something is wrong with this, either the UK bike companies are making too much money on Yeti sales, or Yeti are price-fixing in the UK market, and preventing any sort of price competition through freedom of trading.
I've said my piece, hopefully I can now source my AS-X frame at the right price!! Anybody else got any thoughts on this or advice?
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Post by tribegrandaddy on Dec 9, 2007 17:18:11 GMT
yeah sue for restrictive trade practices being fined a few millon dollars will make them sit up ask volkswagen and some of the big japenese car makers suggest you start at the dept, of trade
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yets
Call me Mr YETI
Posts: 30
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Post by yets on Dec 9, 2007 19:30:10 GMT
Hi. A friend has recently bought a 08 575 full carbon for £1100.Not as cheap as the US, but not bad for UK prices.
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Post by marmite71 on Dec 9, 2007 19:34:55 GMT
What a bummer. I bet if it was the other way round ,the uk brands would sell direct to our cousins around the world.even if it meant less profit. ....Problem is price fixings been going on since year dot. During the early 90's my brother worked for a bike shop selling kona bikes and they were told, no selling below there fixed RRP, if they were found to be selling below this they would lose there dealership ...who said the western world was a free market.
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Post by Andrew on Dec 9, 2007 20:40:12 GMT
OK, I understand your point, some dealers will sell to the UK, you just need to track them down.
the reason is this,
YETI is broken up into the following- YETI USA, they distribute the frames and build kits around the USA, and then there are the YETI Importers, such as FMF in France, Evolution in the UK, ACC in Spain etc etc, they are the SOLE Importer into that country, if any USA dealers were to sell to the UK, they would be stepping on the toes of the Importer, this is the reason that you can't buy from the YETI online store outside of the USA.
I don't think the USA has price fixing laws like us though! Thats a European Union thing, just like the Import tax you have to pay!
Remember to Import from the USA to the UK you need to add the following............
Price of item + shipping , then add Import duty to that, then once you have that figure, add VAT to that entire price, it can add a lot of money on.
Good look with your search!
I think AS-X Frames are £999 over here anyway? Seems like a lot of effort to save that ammount? The AS-X is a great frame, get one while they are still around!
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Post by ASR on Dec 9, 2007 23:02:43 GMT
That sounds like a good price for the 575 yets, Im thinking of getting one myself next year, where can you get one at that price?
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Post by Andrew on Dec 10, 2007 10:15:40 GMT
A friend has recently bought a 08 575 full carbon for £1100.Not as cheap as the US, but not bad for UK prices.
I agree that is a good price!
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yets
Call me Mr YETI
Posts: 30
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Post by yets on Dec 10, 2007 11:28:56 GMT
Sorry. but even after a few pints he would not say.
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Post by Eddy B on Dec 11, 2007 10:22:39 GMT
I can understand pistols frustration with the situation, but as a dealer we are not making vastly inflated profits on the yeti bikes, its fairly typical margins across the uk industry. the uk is an expensive place, but then that is not the fault of bike shops. the problem as I see it is finding a uk dealer with an ASX, I sold our last one last month for not much more than your US price so I wouldnt go claiming its a rip off in the uk. the other thing that has got me puzzled though is what a thingy Yets mate is, either that or what a pair of idiots. I mean yets has been interested in a 575 for months judging by all his posts, and for his mate to get one at £1100 without him telling his mate where he got it from, something dosent add up in my mind. I mean as a dealer if someone comes to me and wants one 575 then fair enough, but if two people want two then surely that gives you a lot more bargaining power, all I can conclude is that yets needs to get new friends if they treat him like that. or smarter ones.
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Post by Andrew on Dec 11, 2007 10:59:34 GMT
HI Eddyb
Are the 08's in the shops yet?
So far I've done about 10 rides on mine, and loving every second!
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Post by Eddy B on Dec 11, 2007 12:37:20 GMT
Andrew We got our first 575 last week, which came from Evolutions first delivery I think. Dont think there are many in the UK yet.
It looks fantastic, I am thinking of what to build a demo bike with, though looking at the dealer pack I think we can get pre-built bikes, though I need to confirm this.
now I have one in the flesh, I think 36's with XT, Ritchey (of course), Ti SDG, DT XR1540 wheels, Maxxis High Roller 2.3s, and CK.
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Post by jaccuse on Dec 11, 2007 14:06:31 GMT
I'm from the UK and live in Denmark, so I've had to import my yeti's from both the US and the UK in the last year to try and avoid the Danish 40% tax! Try living with that!
Either way I learned one thing, the US saved me money (Adrenaline - ASR) but it was shed loads less hassle and MUCH better service from (Evolution and Bromley Cycles - Arc and DJ), so in future I'm sticking to the good old £ and trying to stealth import without the Danish tax man spotting them!
Current project is building my new 08 DJ frame, anybody have any thoughts or bad experiences with Hope Pro2 on EX 5.1 rims. As this is purchase for the DJ, I think?
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Post by wpman on Dec 11, 2007 19:50:20 GMT
I live most of the time in colorado with a once year visit back to the u.k.. Over here you can buy a built bike for $2500 my suggestion to anyone wanting a bike use the difference in price to buy an airline ticket and have fantastic holiday here in colorado with a factory visit thrown in.Lots of shops in Denver area sell Yetis so come ride or ski.
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Post by jaccuse on Dec 11, 2007 20:57:08 GMT
I have to say sitting here in the rain and cold of Copenhagen, that's the best idea I've heard for months. I'm online booking tickets right now
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chilli
Call me Mr YETI
Posts: 41
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Post by chilli on Dec 11, 2007 21:31:07 GMT
I run hope pro 2's on dt 5.1's rims on my as-x,had em about a year they've been fantastic, nice n light but strong enough for me, they do scratch n chip quite easily but I'm well chuffed with em.
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