Exorbitant cost of Hella spotlight spare part

One of the two adjusting bolts vibrated out of one of my Rallye 4000 (as they do). This caused the base mounting bracket to snap. Called Hella, got the part number and rang Coventrys.......$180 for a bleep y bit of cast alloy. Is this an absolute rip-off or am I living in the past? I think I'd rather bin it than pay that.
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Reply By: Tim - Tuesday, Mar 16, 2010 at 18:19

Tuesday, Mar 16, 2010 at 18:19
I've had the same thing happen. From memory they are and M6 x 20mm and maybe throw in some loc tite and you might even get change from a 10.
AnswerID: 409115

Follow Up By: Member - Warren R- Karratha - Tuesday, Mar 16, 2010 at 18:42

Tuesday, Mar 16, 2010 at 18:42
The bolts aren't a problem Tim, It's the base that bolts to the roobar that broke
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FollowupID: 679082

Reply By: Member - Warren R- Karratha - Tuesday, Mar 16, 2010 at 18:58

Tuesday, Mar 16, 2010 at 18:58
Here's a late update. Blackwoods have just come back to me with a price of $90 including tax and I've ordered it. Still relatively expensive bu I can live with $90...just. Don't know how Coventrys can justify such a big mark-up. Maybe I should charge them waiting time for standing at the counter, I reckon I would come out in front.
AnswerID: 409116

Follow Up By: Member - Willie , Sydney. - Tuesday, Mar 16, 2010 at 19:10

Tuesday, Mar 16, 2010 at 19:10
While your at it, buy some plastic bags to put over them during water crossings. They end up half full of water in seconds - at least my mates did and so did my Hella Predators.

Willie.
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FollowupID: 679084

Reply By: Member - Phil G (SA) - Tuesday, Mar 16, 2010 at 19:30

Tuesday, Mar 16, 2010 at 19:30
I recently went into Coventry's for six High Tensile bolts for recovery points. The price was $9 per bolt, which I paid but later found the same elsewhere for $4. I go elsewhere now.
AnswerID: 409120

Reply By: olcoolone - Tuesday, Mar 16, 2010 at 19:45

Tuesday, Mar 16, 2010 at 19:45
Over here in South Australia we have Motor Traders owned by Coventrys, we have a trade account and very rarely buy of them....why because they are double the price of every one else.

So before knocking Hella why don't you phone around and get a price.

Same goes for there bolts and nuts company Universal Fasteners, you pay 4 times the price of bolts and nuts that we get form United Fasteners....same brand, same quality.

We have bought this up with them a few times and seeing there staff moral is so low, all they say is why don't you go else where.

AnswerID: 409121

Follow Up By: Member - Warren R- Karratha - Tuesday, Mar 16, 2010 at 22:25

Tuesday, Mar 16, 2010 at 22:25
G'day. I actually wasn't out to hammer Hella, they were actually quite helpful,but they were the ones who directed me to Coventrys.

Regards

Waz
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FollowupID: 679111

Reply By: Chris11726 - Wednesday, Mar 17, 2010 at 17:34

Wednesday, Mar 17, 2010 at 17:34
I use to work in a marine store that sold Hella boat lights. We bought directly from Hella.

There spares (lenses, globes, bases etc.) were very very expensive in some cases it would work out to 80% of a complete new light.
AnswerID: 409247

Reply By: Member - Barnesy - Thursday, Mar 18, 2010 at 01:46

Thursday, Mar 18, 2010 at 01:46
Not trying to be a smart a..e, but isn't this a good reason to buy an Aussie made product in the first place? Lightforce are made right here in SA, I've never seen a better light and I'm pretty sure spares would be easier to get than something made in Germany (or wherever Hella are made).
AnswerID: 409299

Follow Up By: Member - Warren R- Karratha - Thursday, Mar 18, 2010 at 08:36

Thursday, Mar 18, 2010 at 08:36
G'day Barnesy. I couldn't agree more mate. I'm running 2 lightforce as well as the single hella which I've had for years, and I agree they are a superior light. To be honest, I didn't know lightforce were an Aussie company!
Cheers
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FollowupID: 679274

Follow Up By: Member - Barnesy - Thursday, Mar 18, 2010 at 11:49

Thursday, Mar 18, 2010 at 11:49
Lightforce were designed by a dentist in a farming town called Cleve on the Eyre peninsula, about 5 1/2 hours drive from Adelaide. He loved spotlighting and couldn't find a light he liked so designed his own. I think he then sold the patent to someone else who manufactures them in Adelaide.

From what I hear from locals who went to him this dentist should have stuck to designing lights! Pulling out teeth without any anaesthetic seemed to be his usual practice!

Barnesy
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FollowupID: 679288

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