Group ARB bull bar buy for US Pacific NW-ers

[IdahoDoug]

I don't know what options a seller would put up with. I was thinking of the factory pickup as a way to avoid $75-$125 worth of shipping but it may be that the vendor I find will be indifferent to whether they are shipped to some of us and picked up by others. As long as there are no payment hassles this may well be true.

This thread's going to get bumped out of here in a couple days, so if you're interested now's the time to speak up and I'll get back to each of you individually. Thanks in advance.

DougM

 

[alaskacruiser]

Hi Doug- I might be interested in the non-winch bar if it can be shipped to SoCal. Thanks!

 

[LandyLover]

Like others Im interested in a winch model ARB, but for the right savings.

Id be willing to PU in Renton. For those of you in southern BC Id even be willing to pick up yours for you as well if you cover my costs to PU (like duty, gas).

I'd love to know what the unit price would break down to, before taxes of course.

Later.

 

[IdahoDoug]

For you Canadian guys, install it in the parking lot and drive back across with a little dirt and some bugs on it. What duty?

DougM

 

[e9999]

Doug, buddy!
you have to come on down South for a little visit. Got some friendly folks out here. Just get a trailer, bring down a few bars, make a nice holiday out of it and the are on us!
Think about all that good Karma you'd accumulate!

added: heck, bring 'em down in a 101 and leave it with me!

 

[motherhucker]

I may be in to this prolly the non winch as I plan on a front back reciever winch setup. Price is what it is really about.

I am about 10-15 minutes from renton (as long as I am not out of town for business) everyone is welcome to install at my place with air tools and beer. My neighbor’s will love it!

Using a out of state dealer is the way to go to save tax, I spoke to a little known vendor in Golden Colorado about doing the same thing for an ome lift.

Jim

 

[speyrod]

I'm interested in the non and can pick up...if I don't go to a 100 by then.

 

[Urrrk]

I'm in the Seattle area and would be in for a winch bar, pending actual cost saving over standard purchase price. I mean I was suppose to replace the springs first, right? Anyway, I'm in.

-EL

 

[AnnoymousUser]

Did the OME ever follow through mother...? If OME can get on as a group buy too I would love to get in on it.

 

[motherhucker]

Did the OME ever follow through mother...? If OME can get on as a group buy too I would love to get in on it.

I have not done it yet. I was more referring to the out of state dealer no tax then pickup at ARB for no shipping. If ARB is willing to deal on a bumper group buy they should on a lift group buy too.

 

[barrypt5]

Doug,
I was wondering if you have gotten any price quotes for the bumper yet...I know when a group buy went through a few years back or so they were not allowed to post the quotes. If they could give you a ballpark (ie 5 for this price, 10 for this price and so on...) figure maybe people on the fence with the idea (like me) may get comitted...also why not just have one of the guys from Oregon buy all the bumpers and everyone pay him that way you can get around the whole tax thing

...wonder if you could get this thread to be a sticky for a couple of weeks or so....

just my $.02

Barrypt5

 

[MTNRAT]

Group buys are fine and all for those parts that are not carried by our faithful sponsor venders. However I feel that bypassing those who day in day out give us Free comments and advise is unfriendly. If the savings were huge that would mean the retailers are charging too much. That is not usually the case. They are making a small profit on each piece. How about a group buy from one of our faithful venders?
Flame away,
Cheers,
Sean

 

[KliersLC]

I think Doug's plan was to go to Seattle to have a family trip and avoid paying shipping, the title of thread says that this is for the PNW. If it was for the midwest, west, SW, south or east, and there was a friendly mud vendor in the area, then that would almost certainly be what we would do. However, it doesn't make sense to drive to CO from northern Idaho in order to try to save on shipping. It does make sense to drive to Seattle--About 4-5 hours.
You bring up a good point, but I think you may have missed Doug's
Dan

 

[sleeoffroad]

Just a couple of words on this. Thanks Sean, we always appreciate the loyalty from people. I am all for savings on the consumer end, but I also want to point out the vendor side of this.

I am not a big fan of group buys since it always turns into a mess. In this case, the price that Doug is shooting for is pretty low and does not leave much profit. So the admin for a group buy sometimes outweigh the profit.

Also, Doug wants non-winch bumpers. ARB does not stock a lot of them. So right now, it is virtually impossible to predict if they will have them at the end of Oct in Seattle. Unless a ARB vendor puts an order in for the parts to lock down the bumpers even before they arrive, there is no guarantee to getting the product.

Add to this, if people want it shipped, that makes it even more difficult to manage this group buy, since each person would have to be quoted on an individual basis. If shipped from ARB, then drop ship fees would apply as well.

So as you can see, the motivation to sell parts close to cost, even if it is in quantity might not always be there. It is one thing if it is small items, easy to ship etc or if they are all picked up at will-call.

 

[sleeoffroad]

Also, we do arrange will-calls for customers that can pick up the parts in Seattle. That saves them in shipping and taxes. Although the taxes are debatable since you are supposed to pay it when you declare your income tax. Loophole in the tax system.

However the group buy thing adds another dimension as does the parts availability. Right now I know that ARB does not have any in stock. They will get more at the end of Sep, but unless they are ordered now by a vendor they go to first come to first serve. Also, even if we buy 10 at a time, we do not get a break on price.

 

[Brentbba]

Although the taxes are debatable since you are supposed to pay it when you declare your income tax. Loophole in the tax system.
QUOTE]

This is the exact reason why state's income is down and there has been 'talk' of a federal sales tax (very little talk however - don't get your panties in a bunch).

Some major internet sellers, like Dell, charge sales tax regardless of whether they have sufficient nexus in a state to require them to do so. Nexus is a term used to describe whether a company has sufficient cause or presence in a state to be required by law to collect and remit sales tax for those of you who haven't filed sales and use tax returns in over 35 states.

Most out of state internet firms do not collect sales tax as they don't have to and because it's an administrative hassle.

As Christo accurately points out, law abiding citizens report these out of state purchases to their state and self impose the use (sales) tax appropriately. Do you? I'm taking the fifth.

 

[IdahoDoug]

I'm confident we'll be able to manage this process with the variables involved, including winch/non winch and whether you need it shipped or not. I'll be right up front with the vendor that these variables exist and they can let me know how they want to handle it. Also, member vendors are in my focus and I expect that's where the business will go as I agree they should take priority. Understand that I'd like to accomplish two objectives: lowest price for the group, and use a member vendor. I don't think these are mutually exclusive.

This thread will be moved at the end of the day tomorrow (Sat) though a link will still exist. I'll be cutting off the interest level this weekend and moving forward on obtaining pricing. Those who expressed interest will be contacted directly via PM when I get the pricing, so no posting of the price - I think that's an admirable comment that makes sense to repeat.

Regards,

DougM

 

[JB80]

I'm interested in non-winch, but not committed. Depending on the price I may jump in. I am in Boise and have a brother in Hauser Lake (North Idaho) that comes down on a regular basis, but that leaves a gap from Seattle to North Idaho, so I'd be looking at shipping.

Thanks,
Justin Borg

 

[sea2skydad]

I'm interested in a winch bar. When you get a price, I'll pass it on to head office to determine my level of commitment. Cheers, Greg.

 

[KliersLC]

Interested also in the non winch bar, wife has final approval authority depending on price.
thanks,
Dan