David Silver Spares Service

[Redeye]

Does anyone know the real story behind this post.
Has David Silver actually given a reason or is this all conjecture and rumor?

[jp]

Does anyone know the real story behind this post.
Has David Silver actually given a reason or is this all conjecture and rumor?

If it is down to mr honda  then David Silver is putting a very polite spin on it: from the website banner --

'From 1st June'11 we will only sell parts for any Hondas which were sold before 2002. This will allow us to provide a better service for the market that we specialise in.'

[S Barker]

Does anyone know the real story behind this post.
Has David Silver actually given a reason or is this all conjecture and rumor?

Legal action by Honda as per my earlier note i.e.  "suppression of free trade" under the guise of Trade Marks & Copyright infringement.

http://www.lawdit.co.uk/reading_room/room/view_article.asp?name=../articles/4317-honda-v-david-silver.htm

If it is down to mr honda  then David Silver is putting a very polite spin on it: from the website banner --

They've been battered in court by a large corporation, if they want to retain any business with Honda they don't have a choice.

[jp]

They've been battered in court by a large corporation, if they want to retain any business with Honda they don't have a choice.

guess so... then  I suppose option (c) is out. But on the bright side that puts anyone who can find a way to get one over on honda on the moral high ground, gazing down at the villainous corporation and its toadying lawyers, and the air is so much fresher up there.

just as an opener here's my first entry. No idea if its viable. could be a complete financial non starter, and it's not for any one that wants to stay friends with honda, if there is anybody, apart from those that have to to stay in business.


(this is not a new idea, someone?s done it somewhere).
Buy up surplus stock of Varaderos  from around the world, as cheaply as possible (old models, bankrupt stock etc), break them and sell the parts on-line/by post/carrier.
What you need is some capital; not much, one could start small with one bike  and grow.

?   Be open about where the parts come from, they are tested and that they work. ?Grade A1 parts tested then carefully removed from brand new running machines? ( a brief video of each machine before dismantling being ridden round a tidy car park by a tidy rider?)
?   remind the customers they?re being taken advantage of otherwise. ?pay half the price others want to rip you off for? state prices that are charged by the honda dealers.
?   explain you know what you?re doing. ? Bikes tested and dismantled by experienced engineers.? (Tastefully  posed pictures of mature chap in clean overall, like a consultant surgeon in his own theatre. )
?   make it a one stop shop ?Extensive range of alternative replacement parts? ie alternators, reg/recs,  fuel pumps, suspension parts, fork seals, bearings. You don?t need a large stock, or any stock of these, they?re quickly available.
?   Offer advice on fitment ?Talk to our chief technician if you have questions about fitting your parts? and/or give video guides to buying customers. (but make sure this added value goes to your customers, ie manage rights)
?   Offer discounts to forum members in exchange for a place on the page.
?   Get everything translated into at least French and German, post anywhere.

The pricing would evolve (market forces). Try offering some of the parts in ebay auctions, as you?ll have small numbers of parts available initially.
Build customer confidence by  delivering what you promise and putting right any cock-ups, ie  do it professionally from the start so as not to be seen as just another greasy cowboy in his shed fobbing people off with inferior, stolen or worn out junk. I?m not saying there are a lot of people doing that, it?s just what we?re all paranoid about, and as this business will be seen as on the margins of respectability,  ie a jumped up scrap merchant (I like scrap yards, some are fascinating places, when they?re not filed with nearly new cars. I used to work in one in the Welsh boonies and spent my breaks exploring the less frequented corners.)

n.b. it's not going to affect me as I have no intention of changing my vara for a new one.

[S Barker]

Sony thought they were pretty cute when they won a court case over someone who hacked a PS3.

Not sure their PR people, or more importantly the stockholders, see it in the same light now !

[Redeye]

..... break them and sell the parts on-line/by post/carrier.

Isn't that what bike breakers have been doing for decades?

[jp]

I hadn't noticed them selling any new parts, but then I haven't looked. If they do then I presume this restriction on David silver selling cheap parts will increase business for them. So which breakers are selling these new bike parts?

[S Barker]

Response from Honda's PR dept (who were obviously trained at the Ryan Giggs school of good publicity).



"With regards to your comment about David Silver and discontent from your forum users, we can only assume that their complaints have been prompted by David Silver's voluntary decision to stop selling parts for Honda models which are less than 10 years old."

"I'm also happy to provide you this the following official statement from Honda (UK) about this, which I hope goes some way to helping  your forum users and club members to understand the situation and therefore not think badly towards Honda."

"Honda has not forced nor asked David Silver to stop providing a postal spares service.  However, we believe that David Silver has been parallel importing Honda parts from outside of the EU without Honda's consent, in breach of European trade mark law. It is this illegal parallel importing which Honda is seeking to prevent.  It is not Honda's intention to otherwise stop David Silver from carrying out its business, but rather to ensure the satisfaction of our customers and protection of our dealers".

[The Prodded Dog]

And what is David Silvers response?

TPD

[varonda]

 Well I'm a Honda customer and I'm definitely NOT satisfied, and what by the way  am I being protected from?
Are Honda saying that they apply various  quality standards to parts depending  on which country is being
supplied ? So the Honda bag/box and part number don't mean a great deal --we might just as well
buy pattern parts!! and the big H knows what it can do.  :mellow:

[Cible]

Come on boyz, we all know what Mr Honda wants is profit. :mellow:

Start doing trips into Europe, :applause: :forgiveme: make a few friends out there and shop about as parts can still be had leaving "Honda U.K." squirming at the loss of trade in this country and then hey presto-they may have to think again.

P.S. Your all on the internet and parts are easy from abroad-especially Guernsey if you can make an aquaintance there.

[bristolsaint]

Until Honda can match the service and prices offered by David Silver they will continue to look foolish.

If Honda was that good there would be no need for David Silver. Honda is still miles behind