Hi
They (not just you Les) go to all of the trouble (and large investment) to put an incomplete product to the market.
I applaud whoever made this investment. But I am criticising that the finer point has been missed.
It means critical points deducted if your car is a show pony.
If your car isn't then you should be able to just buy them, bolt them on and have them look accurate especially at a $400.00 current sell price. Paying that much you shouldn't be expected to hassle around find someone capable of doing the accurate finish.
It would appear that the person/Co who initiated the production of this item may not have been able (or bothered) to make sure the paint could be done. Then decided to throw it to the market at a premium price anyway. When Holden's comissioned their manufacture the contractor made sure they were as required. if the weren't they would have been bluntly cut off and Holdens LTD. would have contracted another supplier.
Also, we all get carried away with the word quality which is different to accuracy. What we all want as mere punters is for repro bits to be accurate. If they are then the quality takes care of itself. Mass produced diesast components are never considered high quality. It is just a cheap and easy way of mass producing a part.
The bottom line is that we all worship these cars which were just average good quality and trusty cars for the masses. They were made using tried and proven techniques which by then had been used for more than half a century in that industry. These tail light frames are just diecast chrome plated items. Probably a buck or two each when they come out of the dies. Plenty of stuff happens between then and when you pay $400 bucks for 'em. But there are one or two entities which do very well out of them when they apply their margin and based on this I say there is room for a bit of time and effort in finding a source for this final and most important touch.
You're nearly there Les. I've been told that they are pretty good. Even if it adds a whole dollar/unit to your cost base you could add two bucks to you sell price (making 100% GP to that component of your cost price). The punters would happily pay two bucks extra for yours and you would help your brand gain a better reputation.
So go on Les,get on the phone to Mr Kung-Fu (or Phil, or whoever it is), send him an original.....you know these little guys can do anything....especially for one buck.
I know how hard it is to get things right in business and I understand your position. But don't just throw stuff at the market and expect your potential customers to blindly run into your shops. They're savvy these days.
Look at your friendly colleagues who specialize in high quality (read accuracy lol) repro GT stuff. Many winning cars at the GT Nationals have repro bits and they win because the quality repro bits contribute to the overall presentation of the car and as such not drawing attention.
Many of your bits are great and I have them in my cars, both Holden and Ford.
Do it right. Do it once.
I'm not trying to be a smartar$$e to you. I am just a bloke with a broad and varied background as a buyer/seller/business owner operator just like you who is really interested in having cars which actually look accurate using some repro bits. That's all.
We as customers need you and we need you more when your bits are accurate.
When you have guys like Ben, Warren or Byron Judging, your bits need to be good.
Nick Moran.
Yamba.
NSW.
Edited by user Thursday, 26 January 2012 3:33:54 AM(UTC)
| Reason: Not specified
