38 Quid right???.... yeah but it`s also 95 quid postage.

Often the price of a particular part from England "sounds" cheap
but then it`s for an English car & doesn't fit an Aussie car
& the freight cost is often left out of the conversation ,
just to make it sound like you got a bargain.

wake up Australia,,, it`ll be no good when all the Aussie mini spare parts & repairs places close down
& you have no one to turn too for local parts supply, advice & quality workmanship.

Oh!!!!,,, so that turns that 38Quid part into a $280-ish part landed here
Plus the GST will be placed upon that soon too.

work it out before you stuff it for everyone.

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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.

"wake up Australia,,, it`ll be no good when all the Aussie mini spare parts & repairs places close down"

Matt, how many minis and mokes have you sent overseas?

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The bitterness of poor quality (or Crappy Workmanship) remains LONG AFTER the Sweet Taste of Low Price is forgotten.

So explain this for me Matt. The local "distributor" for certain items that I wanted to fit to my Mini is still to call me about a price, even after I'd given up waiting, and ordered and received them from the UK. He must have enough business without mine. My purchases arrived in three and a half days elapsed time from the order being accepted.
I have a good local supplier (local to me) who can furnish almost everything that I need, and I patronise him to the extent that I am able. He calls me back, he gets the parts to me, and is just thoroughly co-operative, and competitive.

I do agree with you, we need local shops, and some of them are pretty competitive on prices, and are very helpful to talk to and get advice from. Karcraft these days with the exchange rate is normally pretty close to shipping stuff from the UK, so I use them whenever I can. If you have a problem and need things exchanged or returned it's easy to get sorted. I have no problem spending money locally if I'm getting good service and a reasonable price. We understand it costs money to have a shop here and keep stock on call. Local shops who are putting in the effort to make and reproduce and improve parts for our market also deserve a big thanks.

But sometimes shops here are just taking the mickey.. I added some items to my order the other day:
UK price: £2.20 or $4.55
Price at one Aussie shop: $17.95, and chances are it'll turn up in the same bag. (and probably been on a big trip from China to the UK and back here)

The most recent order I did was $510 from the UK, or $780 from one shop here, or about $670 from a different shop (all prices inc. postage). Although I'm sure once GST is added to all online purchases more people will be shopping domestically.

Sure I'd love to be able to take my car to the local British car workshop and get them to do all the work on it, and order me all the parts and give them a blank cheque for their trouble. Unfortunately being a side hobby for me and having a mortgage means I have to work on my car myself and shop around to get a good price.

Do Aussie shops need to have better quality websites/online stores? I know it's easier for me to get online and put together an order whatever time of the day I have free. If people knew about all the unique and Australian made parts at local shops would that give them an incentive to buy locally? Even a simple website with the services they offer?

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Started writing a response to this but sense it is sensitive topic and decided not to, but then that is providing no feedback so below are some of my thoughts........?

In my opinion it's been difficult since the mid to late nineties in Australia to manufacture and or supply certain products, government doesn't help, very few tax breaks or subsidies and product under $1000 tax free (really, that is mad) as a country we create very little now apart from IP, the rest is sold off for foreign investment to create product and or revenue from. Anyway off topic a bit I guess.

I'd be lying if I said for various reasons I have never ordered from UK, but what I have never done and never will do is suck local knowledge out of a local supplier relating to Australian build details and then shaft them over a 10-15% saving. With so much Sh1t product around now if I feel I get trust worthy and friendly advice, good product quality and service I am happy to pay extra for that.

Unfortunately I too have been left waiting to be called back or sent and debited for over the phone orders that never eventuate from some local suppliers which is a shame and it doesn't help, but it's because they have their ring hanging out trying to remain competitive

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1968 Morris Mini Deluxe - members gallery
1970 Morris Cooper S - members gallery
Mini's I grew up with
Slot car couch

Probably. Yep, its a tough world out there now for local suppliers due to the internet in all areas. Its just to easy for some to sit in front of the computer and order on-line.

But it works both ways. I recently sent an inquiry to an overseas supplier (locals didn't have what i needed in stock) and.....no response, nothing - not even a 'we'll get back to you'. So its not just locals that let themselves down.

I have and always will support the local people even with a 10-15% difference. I have always found that if you form a decent relationship with the suppliers and service/repairs people and even drop in to have a chat (if local) you don't get forgotten and always get your needs looked after. After the order arrives or the work is done call them or drop them a line with feedback. I would much rather go to the shop and 'look the person in the eye' that's supplying the parts or repairs. Or at least call them in daytime and not at 2am in the morning.

When all the 'local distributors/shops' close down i bet the service you get from overseas companies will not be as good as it is now. They will not have any local competition.

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ex 1976 Mini 'S'
ex 70 Morris Cooper S Mk2 - ex Police
ex 68 Morris Cooper S Mk1
ex 70 Morris Cooper S Mk2
1970 Morris Cooper S Mk2 - '73 Bathurst replica
70 Morris Cooper S Mk2 - under resto

"Yep, its a tough world out there now for local suppliers due to the internet in all areas. "

Agreed. I remember paying more than $50 each for baulk rings, over $500 for pistons etc etc back in 1985. That is big money for those times. Along came the internet along with competition.
I do get 'free' advice from my trusted local guy but I would never ask for such without have already spent a motza there.

The truth is that there just isn't that many minis left on the road, only a few daily drivers around, and the internet helps us fix own cars.

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The bitterness of poor quality (or Crappy Workmanship) remains LONG AFTER the Sweet Taste of Low Price is forgotten.

I just purchased a repro cooper S speedometer and temperature gauge from Minisport S.A,
Sure i paid a little bit more and the 2 major mini companies in the UK are having a sale but i couldn't be happier purchasing locally.

Thanks for the fast dispatch, Andrew!

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http://www.flickr.com/by_dan
Current: 1970 Mini K 2014 Focus ST
Past: 93 Rover, 64 850, 97 Rover, 66 Deluxe, 66 Moke
81 Austin Estate, 2006 R53MCS, 66 Deluxe, 1978 Clubbie
2014 Land Rover Defender 90

Lets see when gst is charged on orders over $1000 it should be the first 1 cent like we pay normally in a shop but time will tell if it gets lowered or not

Unfortunately 95% of the parts in the aus shops comes from the UK just look at the wooden creates out front of karcraft and mg spares


I cant stand places selling second hand gear at more than new prices cause they think you cant get them any where else new

I've always got parts here cause if something goes wrong the warranty is with the shop here not the uk shop which I'm responsible for paying the postage back to the uk shop that's left to the shop here in aus and there's also stronger laws regarding refunding here as well

and if I lived in Qld miniman would have got my business he sound like he knows minis like john at mko

Unfortunately the mini places in nsw did not have stock / don't carry the 2 items i am after or else i would of gone there first.

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http://www.flickr.com/by_dan
Current: 1970 Mini K 2014 Focus ST
Past: 93 Rover, 64 850, 97 Rover, 66 Deluxe, 66 Moke
81 Austin Estate, 2006 R53MCS, 66 Deluxe, 1978 Clubbie
2014 Land Rover Defender 90

Danny, I would sit it on its bum overnight in a capful of gear oil before fitting. The spindle bush in these aftermarket (not Smiths made now) ones is crap now. My local speedo guru says they don't hold oil properly.
You and I have already shagged 2 of these speedos at low mileage, mine wore out fast and yours seized up. Both apparently due to lack of lube.
My son just bought a new one too, it will get this treatment.

(edit) I buy all stuff local now if possible. If it's nfg it's easier to get replaced.

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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.

i will remove it tonight and put some oil in the cap and squeeze it back on.

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http://www.flickr.com/by_dan
Current: 1970 Mini K 2014 Focus ST
Past: 93 Rover, 64 850, 97 Rover, 66 Deluxe, 66 Moke
81 Austin Estate, 2006 R53MCS, 66 Deluxe, 1978 Clubbie
2014 Land Rover Defender 90

Don't overdo it, you don't want to force oil up into its innards. I'd just sit it in a milk bottle cap or similar.

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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.

It's like going to you favourite hairdresser, get a good one and stick to it. Or your favourite beer, you stick to it.

It's the same as parts, patronise the locals, call into their shops, get to know them, you get good service, can ring them for advise anytime, can return parts pretty easily, and the price is in the ballpark. In fact, service is on top of my list, friendly and interested people next, price is not so important. And if you do get to know them, it's easy to tell them it's too pricey. They know they would be out of business if the price was not right. No use having a huge amount of stock and having no turnover.

I have a speedo shop that stocks Caerbont/ Smiths Instruments from the Uk so hopefully I can offer an informed opinion on this part of the topic.
They are still made in the old smiths factory in Swansea in Wales and Caerbont has the rights to the Smiths name and tooling etc.
the speedos are different to the Nemag speedo made in the 60's.
As a distributor of the product I would be happy to see the faulty units and report back to the manufacturer for you even though it is likely you did not buy them from me. It's part of the service we offer.
Bear in mind that oil is a main shafts worst enemy. It should be disassembled and greased.
I try to be reasonable with my pricing and if you look at our website we have individual product pages for the full range of smiths items rather than cherry picking just a few items. No one else in the world including the manufacturer does this.
We stock about $50000 worth of Smiths stock which we have paid duty , gst and stocking costs to hold in advance. Then we pay tax at the end of the financial year if it is in stock on June 30.
That's fine we operate a business employ people and live here in Australia enjoying all of the benefits that living in Australia affords us.
The mini shops in the uk have a narrow range of smiths items on sale because the manufacturer has had a soft year in their original equipment supply and need the turnover to survive.
Unfortunately I haven't been offered the same deals but I did plan to ask when I place my next order on Monday.
I had an Internet customer on Wednesday that wanted 3 magnolia gauges volts ammeter and oil. Unfortunately I did not have the ammeter as I hadn't sold a magnolia ammeter in 10 years
I lost the sale to the Uk because it was to take 8 weeks for me to get it. The manufacturer does not keep stock of ANYTHING all of their products are made to order.
What you will also notice is that you can only buy a new Smiths mini speedo in one ratio but as a local specialist I can calibrate speedos. This is my point of difference
The problem is that most automotive businesses need a mix of sales and labour to survive. Many businesses are not getting that mix right in the Internet era forcing them to downsize or diversify.
In my case we not only sell and repair mini gauges we also develop safety systems for forklifts among other things. If we had to base our business on competing for sales alone we would not have a business and we would no longer be providing the broad range of services we do.
Nietch marketing is where we all need to go to survive in this global marketplace.
Each day when I go to work I face an interesting challenge and that keeps me coming back
I did not expect the Chairman of Linfox to walk through the door yesterday afternoon and not only chat to me about the Bentley headlight switch I was doing for him but also the forklift project I was working on as well as our kids and a range of other topics for 45 minutes.You don't get that on a computer screen at 2am...

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1960 Morris Mini Minor