Wilbers Suspension Systems in USA

[jdiaz]

Its a non-issue for me. I wouldn't send the shock back to Germany for service.....certainly Klaus would not turn down the opportunity to service a Wilbers shock, regardless of where one bought it.

And if Klaus did not want to service it (again, unlikely), then certainly Aftershocks, Traxxion, or any of the other high-end suspension shops in the US could handle it.

Jon

[bsquared]

Originally Posted by jdiaz

Its a non-issue for me. I wouldn't send the shock back to Germany for service.....certainly Klaus would not turn down the opportunity to service a Wilbers shock, regardless of where one bought it.

And if Klaus did not want to service it (again, unlikely), then certainly Aftershocks, Traxxion, or any of the other high-end suspension shops in the US could handle it.

Jon

I would double check both of your statements before you buy!

[jdiaz]

I guess I'll have to. I just sent an email to Klaus.

[Dirk@Wilbers]

Wow, a lot of posts on friday .

@all: I did not see any necessity for telling everybody that they should contact Klaus, although, if you'd take a look at our website (www.wilbers.de/usa) under service-points, you will find Klaus Hueneckens name, his e-mail address and his telephone number. Klaus is the licensed service-point dealer for us in the USA and that for I guess 5 years or so.
If you are wondering if he would provide servicing for the shocks, he has to do due to our contractual relationship. Klaus is selling Wilbers shocks from NJ, but keep in mind that we are the manufactuerer.
I cannot even guess what Klaus told you so misteriously, but maybe you can enlighten me?!?

Well, I also would like to know what the problem is... Klaus knows that Wilbers wants to promote its products in the USA via our online shop and that we now would like to sell directly to the end customer. If there will be more Wilbers shocks in the USA, that would be something we all would profit from: Wilbers, you (because you can compare prices) and Klaus as well, because he will do the servicing and maintenance.
That is why our prices might differ from his, we are selling to the end-customer while Klaus has to calculate differently.

If I did not know him better, I would think Klaus is trying to unsettle you. What would be a shame, in my opinion.

If you'd decide on buying at Klaus place there is nothing I can do about it, but I want to tell you that the shocks you'll get were all built in the same factory, namely directly here in Germany. I'm sure that Klaus won't disavow that.

So, if you would be so kind and tell mw your worries, it seems a little unfair to just tell everyone to contact Klaus without telling me (who provided you with the group-buy opportunity in the first place) why, now isn't it?

Thank you all for your interest and I would suggest that you ramain cool, because there is nothing misterious or illigal going on here .

Have a great week and take care

Dirk

[SQD8R]

Thx for the clarification Dirk.

I see you manufacture a replacement shock for the HP2. Very nice. Is this a direct bolt on replacement?

[Dirk@Wilbers]

Thank you, Black Knight, after reading your posts I assumed that your picture resembles your personality .

If I did not misunderstand (what, from time to time I do given the fact that I'm no native speaker) you are referring to the 642 type shock absorber, right?

Here comes the short description:
Type 642 Competition Ø 46 mm

with piggyback reservoir
The ultimate mono-shock absorber! A milled upper cast serves as attachment to the piggyback reservoir. It includes the adjustment knobs for high-speed and low-speed compression settings. Each can be manipulated separately by 22 clicks. An over-pressure-safety valve protects the shock from blocking hydraulically at maximum compression speed. Even the rebound is alterable on a large scale using the practical open bleed system. It can be adjusted externally by 22 clicks. Last but not least the preload is continuously adjustable.

[Dirk@Wilbers]

Thank you SQD8R, when I read your posts I assumed that your picture resembles your personality .

If I did not misunderstand (what, from time to time I do, given the fact that I'm not a native-speaker) you refer to the shock absorber type 642, right?

Here come the description:
Type 642 Competition Ø 46 mm

with piggyback reservoir
The ultimate mono-shock absorber! A milled upper cast serves as attachment to the piggyback reservoir. It includes the adjustment knobs for high-speed and low-speed compression settings. Each can be manipulated separately by 22 clicks. An over-pressure-safety valve protects the shock from blocking hydraulically at maximum compression speed. Even the rebound is alterable on a large scale using the practical open bleed system. It can be adjusted externally by 22 clicks. Last but not least the preload is continuously adjustable.

Sorry, but office ours are nearly over (it's 10 past 5 p.m. here in Germany) so I'll be back tomorrow.

Until tomorrow
Dirk

[SQD8R]

Originally Posted by Dirk@Wilbers

Thank you, Black Knight, after reading your posts I assumed that your picture resembles your personality .

If I did not misunderstand (what, from time to time I do given the fact that I'm no native speaker) you are referring to the 642 type shock absorber, right?

Here comes the short description:
Type 642 Competition Ø 46 mm

with piggyback reservoir
The ultimate mono-shock absorber! A milled upper cast serves as attachment to the piggyback reservoir. It includes the adjustment knobs for high-speed and low-speed compression settings. Each can be manipulated separately by 22 clicks. An over-pressure-safety valve protects the shock from blocking hydraulically at maximum compression speed. Even the rebound is alterable on a large scale using the practical open bleed system. It can be adjusted externally by 22 clicks. Last but not least the preload is continuously adjustable.

Very nice, thx.

[westnash]

Klaus, why would any manufacturer not support a dealer network by insuring the pricing is the same across the board and that Klaus gets the credit he deserves while the consumer gets the best prices...If Klaus is not doing the job fire him and replace him but your company looks like sneaks or rank amatuers by having a situation where you are spending time on a web site and call that servicing the customer while basically cutting out a dealer. Are you paid on comission on what is sold you you have no incentive to work with Klaus? Is it a Wilbers free for all? That works in some businesses but usually not for high priced products like yours which rely on perfect fit and much rebuild and adjustment.

I don't know you or Klaus and don't own your shocks but this kind of mickey mouse just helps Ohlins.

[718Rider]

Originally Posted by westnash

Klaus, why would any manufacturer not support a dealer network by insuring the pricing is the same across the board and that Klaus gets the credit he deserves while the consumer gets the best prices...If Klaus is not doing the job fire him and replace him but your company looks like sneaks or rank amatuers by having a situation where you are spending time on a web site and call that servicing the customer while basically cutting out a dealer. Are you paid on comission on what is sold you you have no incentive to work with Klaus? Is it a Wilbers free for all? That works in some businesses but usually not for high priced products like yours which rely on perfect fit and much rebuild and adjustment.

I don't know you or Klaus and don't own your shocks but this kind of mickey mouse just helps Ohlins.

+1 if this is the maufacture trying to screw over their dealers who's took the risk to try and build share in the first place.

[jdiaz]

I would love to see this cleared up this week. Dirk is committing two-week delivery and 10% off going into the German summer holiday period, and if the window is missed, then no one's going to get anything until September.

I asked Klaus about it, and he replied that he would be checking into things. I'm hoping things will be resolved shortly.

Jon

[SQD8R]

Originally Posted by 718Rider

+1 if this is the maufacture trying to screw over their dealers who's took the risk to try and build share in the first place.

I would think if the manufacturer was trying to screw over the dealer wouldn't they just stop supplying them? I agree the issue - if there is even one, and I'm not sure there is since all we've had up until now is innnuendo and nothing concrete from the interested parties, needs to be resolved ASAP. There's a taint attached to this thread that has already turned away prospective buyers of a quality product.

[monkeyman]

Originally Posted by Dirk@Wilbers

If I did not know him better, I would think Klaus is trying to unsettle you. What would be a shame, in my opinion.

Klaus has told us nothing with regards to this dual sales channel into the US. Everything I've heard about him has shown him to be totally professional.

As others have pointed out, having an official US sales rep and selling direct from Germany - at different prices - is what's unsettling us. This is not something that Klaus has done, this is something that you have done, apparently without even telling your US sales channel.

What is most unsettling is that if Klaus does not have the full backing of the Wilbers factory, will he be able to stay in business and able to service shocks sold in the US? Buying shocks isn't like buying toasters, they need regular maintenance.

As a company Ohlins isn't looking too good right now because they can't even begin to give a delivery date (for F650 shocks, anyway), but monkeying with the sales channel makes Wilbers look even worse. Maybe I will go with a Hagon after all.

[spagthorpe]

Wasn't Klaus recently undercutting Andrew at Adventurers Workshop on a group buy, when Andrew was getting them from Klaus? Or am I not remembering that right?

[Thisguy]