Random Thoughts - Part Deux [NO POLITICS]

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by Sarlacc

I recently decided I wanted to replace 5 lugnuts, so I asked TireRack for a quote (since they came with the wheels I bought from them)

This is what they sent me
Qty Item Number Description/Comment Price
5 N5 NC12X1.25 34UL 35TL 19H CLSD $ .75 Ea.

Mds Total $ 3.75 US$
Ship Total $86.29
Total Due $90.04

On top of that I would have to pay 25% import tax, so the grand total would be US$112.55

Fortunately, I found a local source for lugnuts.

The weird part is, buying 4 wheels with mounted and balanced tires from TireRack was cheaper than buying locally, even when including shipping and taxes.

Ya you have to love the addition of taxes on the shipping cost.

[Sarlacc]

Originally Posted by Tcoat

Ya you have to love the addition of taxes on the shipping cost.

Or even worse, tax on tax.
Here in Norway, we pay road tax $0.78 per liter.
Then there's 25% VAT added on top; so at $1.75/liter, 65% of our pump price is just taxes.

[cjd]

Originally Posted by Sarlacc

Or even worse, tax on tax.
Here in Norway, we pay road tax $0.78 per liter.
Then there's 25% VAT added on top; so at $1.75/liter, 65% of our pump price is just taxes.

I'm not entirely sure why, but this strikes me as amazingly awesome. I mean, it sucks how much it adds to the cost of *everything* but... well, I'd like to price some of these drivers out of the game... It drove me crazy that people were allowed to drive 6 ton Excursions and Hummers on roads rated to not exceed 5 tons...

[Spuds]

Originally Posted by Sarlacc

I recently decided I wanted to replace 5 lugnuts, so I asked TireRack for a quote (since they came with the wheels I bought from them)

This is what they sent me
Qty Item Number Description/Comment Price
5 N5 NC12X1.25 34UL 35TL 19H CLSD $ .75 Ea.

Mds Total $ 3.75 US$
Ship Total $86.29
Total Due $90.04

On top of that I would have to pay 25% import tax, so the grand total would be US$112.55

Fortunately, I found a local source for lugnuts.

The weird part is, buying 4 wheels with mounted and balanced tires from TireRack was cheaper than buying locally, even when including shipping and taxes.

.

WTF is up with that shipping price!?!? What is it that makes shipping so expensive?

Edit, just saw the Norway reference. I guess TR doesn't have a local distribution center. Shipping costs makes slightly less non-sense now.

[Sarlacc]

Originally Posted by Spuds

.

WTF is up with that shipping price!?!? What is it that makes shipping so expensive?

Edit, just saw the Norway reference. I guess TR doesn't have a local distribution center. Shipping costs makes slightly less non-sense now.

I asked them:
"86 dollars shipping for five lugnuts... *eye roll*
Could you please check if it's possible to mail them? Good old US postal service or something?"

And the reply was:
"I totally understand! However/Unfortunately, we do not have a full blown export department here at the Tire Rack so we depend on the shipping companies like DHL, UPS, and Federal Express to handle the export paperwork for us. As a result, the cost for shipping products internationally reflect the services they provide. So unfortunately, the cost to ship a small/low cost package is often higher than the cost of the items ordered. Is there anyone here in the US (friend, relative, or a business associate) that we could send them to and they in turn could forward them to you as you put it - via the Good Old US Postal Service. If so, I would be glad to send them to a US destination to you free of charge. Please advise!"

So, fair enough. And their customer service dept. is awesome. European companies have something to learn there!
I would have asked for help in here, btw, if it was something I couldn't just as easily buy at the hardware store.

[Cole]

Originally Posted by finch1750

Once you know its shipped share for everyone else lol. Not sure on CAD but you can find the HKS for under $1000 USD from time to time brand new. Dont know if people just dont follow MAP or what

It's the UEL with the flash editor. Even in US money it's closer to 17-1800

[Dadhawk]

Originally Posted by cjd

I'm not entirely sure why, but this strikes me as amazingly awesome. I mean, it sucks how much it adds to the cost of *everything* but... well, I'd like to price some of these drivers out of the game... It drove me crazy that people were allowed to drive 6 ton Excursions and Hummers on roads rated to not exceed 5 tons...

While not as high as other countries, we do pay our fair share of taxes on fuel (see chart below by state). Overall, the government make more revenue off a gallon of fuel than does the local retailer (who averages about 1 to 2% profit after expenses).

None of that is going to keep someone from driving their large SUV if that is what they need. I have a Suburban, and I drive it just as much when the fuel is $5.00 a gallon as I do when it is $2.50.

[Spuds]

Originally Posted by Dadhawk

Woot! High score! Too bad that doesn't translate to good roads in PA...

[cjd]

Originally Posted by Dadhawk

None of that is going to keep someone from driving their large SUV if that is what they need. I have a Suburban, and I drive I just as much when the fuel is $5.00 a gallon as I do when it is $2.50.

Yeah... Though few of these people needed such vehicles, they just wanted them. Only one family actually towed, and they had new vehicles for everyone every year or two.. Crazy stuff. Suburbans aren't as heavy either...

Of course, they only push 7k pounds, not 5 tons, so my whining is off too.

I drive to/from autocross events, no more... So I don't need a car either...

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by cjd

Yeah... Though few of these people needed such vehicles, they just wanted them. Only one family actually towed, and they had new vehicles for everyone every year or two.. Crazy stuff. Suburbans aren't as heavy either...

Of course, they only push 7k pounds, not 5 tons, so my whining is off too.

I drive to/from autocross events, no more... So I don't need a car either...

It took me 3 new vehicles to wean the wife off bigish 7 seat SUVs (Outlanders) that she spent 99.9999% of the time driving all by herself. Started with going to a smaller engine in the same thing, then to the smaller Sport then finally talked her into the compact car. The savings have been huge.

[Ultramaroon]

SUV

[Dadhawk]

Originally Posted by cjd

Yeah... Though few of these people needed such vehicles, they just wanted them. Only one family actually towed, and they had new vehicles for everyone every year or two.. Crazy stuff. Suburbans aren't as heavy either...

Of course, they only push 7k pounds, not 5 tons, so my whining is off too.

I drive to/from autocross events, no more... So I don't need a car either...

Well, need is relative (as you imply in your last sentence).

There are a handful of times a year I need the Suburban to meet the mission at hand (usually vacation trips with most or all of the family) and about 4 times a month where its more convenient then the FR-S but I could get by with something else.

Therefore, if I could only afford one car, I'd own the Suburban or something similar (my last two daily drivers were Chevy Astros) because I "need" it frequently enough I'm not going to rent when I need it.

[krayzie]

RIP Honda

[Sarlacc]

Originally Posted by Dadhawk

Well, need is relative (as you imply in your last sentence).

There are a handful of times a year I need the Suburban to meet the mission at hand (usually vacation trips with most or all of the family) and about 4 times a month where its more convenient then the FR-S but I could get by with something else.

Therefore, if I could only afford one car, I'd own the Suburban or something similar (my last two daily drivers were Chevy Astros) because I "need" it frequently enough I'm not going to rent when I need it.

Relative, indeed.
I could get by with no car at all, it'd just be inconvenient.
If I could have only one car it would have to be an AWD station wagon. For transporting people, furniture and shit in Norwegian winter.
Fortunately, the mrs. is fine with shopping in a Subaru Legacy, so those needs are met and I'm free to have the impractical GT86.
Which is so impractical I had to get a truck as a third car.
After all, this just wouldn't fly with the GT86.



-Now all I really need is a tractor. But I will get by without one.