Do we get ripped off?

Totally agree!!! (with your last sentence)....
Perfect example is the recent "hot debate" (or should that be mass-debate???)
about a certain brand of air compressor....
(what should be) a $50 item retailing for $400, & when people get them for $300 or less, they think they "done good".... (Don't wish to offend anyone, but that's my view)...
Many, many other examples abound in the "spare parts & accessories dept."...
I was quoted over $100 recently for a "Genuine Nissan" oil filter (GU 4.2, they have 2 different filters.. the other was $20-odd)... Told them to keep it (or words to that effect), I'll stick with the Ryco's, Thank You Very Much!!!

Have you had a look 'round a "camping store" lately??

I could go on, but I'd better leave it at that......

Regards, Ed. C.

G'day Brett,
I,m with you 110% on this one mate. I shopped around for a suspension upgrade for my Troopy last year - tried ARB, TJM etc and was quoted the usual 'stick it up the poor bloody motorist' prices. A mate put me on to NT Spring Works who did a pretty good deal on h/d springs, OME shocks and damper, greaseable shackles plus fitting at half the price of the major players. The only thing I didn't get in the deal was an ARB or TJM sticker on the back window.

How many people out there are being ripped off by the 'big name' companies because they believe it is the only way to go.

It really pays to shop around - I saved more than $1500 on the suspension upgrade.

Diesel 1

Truck parts are traditionally cheaper.

The local tuck spare parts did an exercise comparing a full brake overhaul/rebuild between a late model Falcon and a single steer, bogey drive International Truck.
The Falcon was $80 more expensive.

Makes you wonder doesn't it??

I was also talking to Truckline and they told me that they are often very very price competitive in suspension. The fellow mentioned that as they buy a lot of springs for trucks and trailers from Carrolls the 4x4 springs are able to be sold at a better price than the 4by stores.

I , however did not ask for a price.

I hope you are not all assuming that when you purchase your new pride and joy the manufacturer is charging the lowest $$$$$ they can! Everything is sold at the highest price someone is willing to pay, no sales, price goes down, lots of sales, price goes up, simple economics supply and demand
rolande

Yes, we are being ripped off. But we do ask for it don't we ;)

ARB is listed on the Australian Stock Exchange. The prosecution rests it case, m'lud.

Bilbo

"Price gouging or have we just been carefully trained to pay through the nose??"

Probably the oldest rule in business applies here.
"Supply and demand"

Quite simple really...

If you were the suspension mobs, would you drop your prices from $1600 to $148 with people happy to pay $1600??

No, neither would I.

Next time I see a 20 tonne crane doing 120km/h on some of Australias worst corrugations and handling perfectly I will check what brand of springs. Do the OME springs do the job? Have you seen anything that rides and handles better?

Forgot to ask, when you hire your crane do you charge it out at the cheapest possible price you can (just above cost?), or do you try and get the highest rate the market will bear and then some if possible. How do you like operators that buy cheap bleep crane and under cut and work for just wages and then go broke after a couple of years. Hopefully you provide a quality product and service and charge market rate.

Franna are made in QLD... Correct me if i am wrong.....So did you buy direct????
I rekon if we could buy the shocks direct and pay what the 4x4 shops pay we would get a huge shock.... (pardon the pun) shock... hehehehe.......