We've actually been having fun with this. But anyways.

This will be my last post in this topic unless i see necessary. [ie comments directed towards myself asking me to provide more information or pointing out the fact that i need my daddy to make sure i don't get bullied on the internet... right.] [=

Oh, and if anyone wants to let their cars speak, just LMK when you'll be at a track day and i'll gladly entertain your offer.

 

^
Have you ever run a group buy for anything?
Do you have any idea of how much time and effort goes into making sure everyone gets what they paid for?
Spend 1 day with Soul and you'll see how often his phone goes off with people asking for product, have it delivered, meet to go get money, how they install something or they screwed something up and need help fixing it, etc, etc, etc.
That's extra work that doesn't get seen by anyone unless they know what they're talking about.
Caseinpoint, if someone was to make a small profit for actual work they do to ensure everyone is happy with their purchase, I don't see the problem. How much money would you have spent to bring it to someone who else who could fix the problem?
It's not like things just magically happen and fall into place.
Grow up and learn about how the world works.

 

I don't know about that. Looks like daddy does all the dirty work for him..hahaha..

 

So you think 750 dollars is a rip off for the Winter force tires which includes 16 inch rims and the install?

That was a rip off?

you know what was a real rip off..... When the majority of people didnt really understand that the supply of tires in the GTA was already low. when they ran out... people had to buy very very expensive tires for 1000 dollars plus+

so how do you value that?

I am not sure I understand what your getting at? the tire price quoted was very good, matter a fact that was well bellow what the market offers?

 

I'm still pissed i bought the dealer winters for $950. Everywhere else told me nada. Grrrrr.

 

Yes i have, many times, and for multiple clubs.

Again, helping each other out is part of what a club is all about. Sounds like the Lancer crowd just doesn't get that.

Im not sure if soul actually drive around delivering stuff, but Soul shouldn't be delivering anything, but rather hold little meets for everyone to go pick up their stuff. ie, meet at the warehouse where all the parts are, then cruse out to dinner.

If The Seller told all the members from the very first post that he was going to take a cut off the top, i wouldn't see a problem with it either.

Soul Helping other fix things is first off, not really his responsibility, and should be doing it because he wants to help out his fellow members.

And lastly, LOL. Thanks, i'll come out of my cave some day...
Oh That's right, i already know how it works, i guess i'll go back into my cave now... you know, with the 2 cars that have both been completely paid off, one of which making 460awhp.

 

I'd like to comment on the above. I'm not taking sides but some of this logic puzzles me.
Have you ever run a group buy for anything?
Do you have any idea of how much time and effort goes into making sure everyone gets what they paid for?
I have some what of an idea of what goes on. Not directly with this club/board but I am the administrator of another dsm board. We have about 50 members so might compare to here in numbers, might not.
Anyway I would agree, hours and hours of my time does get invested behind the scenes. Creating the vbulleting skin, updates, addons ect.. I also have done a bit of graphic design for the company who the board is for, again hours and hours of work. Also obviously running and setting up events, and group buys does take time, but its done for the members, willing by myself.
All in all regardless of the scenario at no point have I asked for a cut, or monetary value for my work or effort. If so it would be in the thousands for sure with the amount of time/work invested. Regardless its my decision to invest that time work in the board/club so why should the members pay for it.

Spend 1 day with Soul and you'll see how often his phone goes off with people asking for product, have it delivered, meet to go get money, how they install something or they screwed something up and need help fixing it, etc, etc, etc.
That's extra work that doesn't get seen by anyone unless they know what they're talking about.

I suppose thats the name of the game. If your going to be the top dog running the show, you better be prepared to run it like one. If people need stuff, ship it, if they dont want to ship, they get it at the next meet unless they want to drive to your place to pick it up. Soul isn't a delivery man lol. Then there's the point about installation. This is simple, if you buy something, you DYI.. if you **** it up, your problem. Pay Will or someone who knows something or two to do it right. (used Will since I see him at every meet installing something lol)
If you have a problem with the part, then contact the seller, but again thats the name of the game being the seller. If you want it installed by someone or if the seller offers it as and extra fee up front then its your choice to go ahead with that. All issues where hidden fees should not exist.
Unfortunately with a group buy being the seller or rather the distributor, since its not a product your manufacturing or getting a whole sale pricing per say, dealing with these extra issues can be a lot of work. However its something they you know ahead of time going in but your doing it to help out the club. Not to score a free part from the markup made in the group buy or use it on other stuff.

Group buys are indeed to get the part cheaper then buying it individually and if the distributor/seller wishes to make a profit from it, I think it should be disclosed before hand and listed as to what that mark up is being used toward.

On all other forms where this mark up does occur, its announced ahead of time to make everyone aware. (2$ from this sale will go to the board fees) or (3$ toward shirts or decals) ect ect ect... if prople don't want to do this then thats their own prerogative, but at least its been put upfront so nothing "shady"~WoW 2009 is going on behind the scene.

Dont take any of this the wrong way, I'm not saying there are hidden fees or it happens like any of what people are saying, Nothing has been documented so there isn't any proof, its all more or less hearsay.
I have no clue really since I've never participated in a group buy here. I have herd other comments though from other guys around who are not happy. I'm just voicing my thoughts on the matter as I have quite a bit of experience at the same level.

Soul

Lips cost 300 dollars each.

to ship one lip in a box costs about 500 to 800 dollars. why? Volumetric weight.
to ship 10 lips the cost comes in at about 1100 - 1400 dollars. Now how would you suggest one solve this equation. Since of course it doesnt take into consideration customs and duty, cost of inspection, insurance?


Answer is, maybe its time to stop buying overseas. You pretty well summed it up right there its not remotely worth it. I spoke with you before, I have contacts in ontario who can build/manufacture whatever we need. Exhausts, intakes, headers hoods, body kits, ect.whatever.... I personally have no money to invest in this matter, as its going to my major project but I'm sure many other guys on the board wouldn't mind. Prices are in Canadian, no duty, shipping or insurance BS to worry about. Plus were helping our local economy. Since I haven't herd anything from you about this, Pm me and will discuss your concerns you may have, I would really like to get a thread going where members can benefit from this. Until then I feel sorry for the guys getting robbed paying $500 if not more for just a intake.

 

Yes, regardless of the Market Price for the tires, if YOU were able to source them for less then $750 (Which you did therefore alowing you to do a muti-tiered price) then the MEMBERS should have been allowed to buy them off you for what you sourced them for.

When I organized the Group buy between three forums this winter, i did not take a cut off the top (as i had everyone pick up the tires from the warehouse, and members even drove other people's tires home just to save them a trip, see what they did there? They were acting like a club, helping each other out) and we were getting 18" WinterSport3Ds for ~800 depending on the width, and 17" WinterSport17s for ~700, again, depending on the width.

 

^dam... and here everyone was saying 18" winter tires are going to cost me millions.

 

Of course, i hate cleaning the house...

 

My set of 235/40/18 WinterSport3D came to about ~840 after taxes, thanks to the Group buy and my Toyo Tire sponsorship (not that i would really call it a sponsorship, more of a racer's discount)

I could have easily take a cut off the top of the sales, i mean, i would have had another set of R-comps to be running my soloSprints on...

 

1) Wow you mean all this time, all I have been missing is a warehouse... WOW!!! what an idea.. That would be a great idea for those times when people DONT COME TO THE MEET, and i have to hold stuff. wow lol

And let me get this straight, you wouldnt see a problem with a seller taking a cut off the top? Maybe I should have done that. lol since its ok by your standards.

So to full wrap my head around something...

way back when i tried a Two tiered tire buy. Charging people one time.. a fee which was reinvested into making the next group buy cheaper = BAD

Seller charging a fee on every transaction future or past???? = GOOD?
I love the logic!

2) The fact that your bragging about living in a cool cave, and you drive 2 cars that are paid off does little to nothing to add credibility to your posts or your original post. I am willing to admit to alot of my mistakes and that of the car club. But the car club is not about a for profit model at this point. We are getting there ,but thats not the goal. Goal is, have local meets, do a group buy when possible.

I dont think once I have ever mentioned what I do in my regular life or how successful or unsuccessful i am. Its not relavant. When you come to a car club you are a Lancer / EVO owner or enthusiast. its all about the cars, not the people. When we meet at a meet, people dont say, wow look at that rich guy, or poor guy, how tall you are or anything about what class you are. The point common point of reference is your love or hate for the Mitsubishi Lancer / EVO That it.

If your going to come here and make a weak argument that the club is ripping people off, I suggest you go elsewhere. If it sounds like a harsh thing to say to anyone. But my point is, if your going to raise a valid point, or something maybe went wrong on a deal then thats something i can work with...

But when you drag my name into it, you better bet your @ss I am going to respond to it in kind. You may be the richest Cave boy in Toronto, but it just honestly doesnt matter nore should it even be brought up. Raise a point of reference that makes sense and that we can have an honest debate about. Just save the smack talk, and the accusations of fraud. No one forces anyone to buy anything. If you dont like it, or you think you can get something else cheaper. by all means. the club isnt about taken hostages.

I am open to critism, and if anything thinks i am not, please say so. My Inbox is open (unless its full) and you can always post.

But making a one liner without backing it up, just doesnt fly. If you had been in a group buy, and your just not happy, then say so.. i and everyone else would want to hear about it.

460 WHP eh? wow!!!!!!!!!!, that sounds fast lol

 

See how, here is an example of constructive criticism or feedback.

Answer: I agree, i would love to buy Canada or North American... Unfortunately, all the lip kits are owned by HOS automotive, at least the ones I have looked at and use personally. Unfortunately they currently dont have a north american distributor. To simply copy the kit is illegal. (dont get me started on what happend ummm recently with something similar, lol that was funny)

But staying on point. i have started a dialog with certain local parties that may be interested in trying to bridge the gap. Input in massive bulk, and sell for much less. That would be an ideal situation, an even better one is, to convince the manufacturer to produces these kits right here in Canada. Unfortunately, once you make it in Canada, shipping to the USA is a problem since its cheaper to import from USA to Canada vs. Canada to the USA. So the manufacturer wouldnt do that cause it doesnt make sense to them.

Its very complicated

lol you shot yourself in the foot right there on two fronts. My tire buy actually has nothing to do with me. Everything done was actually done thru dealerships. The sourcing of the tires and the install. 750 dollars I fail to see what the problem is. This way, the responsibility of the group buy is shifted to the dealer... not me. I am not interested in being the middle man because real life is different. People have problems, people want to back out, people arent happy with the tire, they want to return the tire. This way, The dealer is happy for moving tires, the buyers are happy for getting good tires installed. Also besides one set of tires of one brand. Multiple tires were sourced from different brands. Given everyone more choice. So many its safe to say then this isnt your type of group buy. why dont we leave it at that.

2nd point. lol You failed to put the dunlop part back into your tires you quoted. That said, I personally wouldnt offer a dunlop product just because these tires have burned alot of us in the past and present because of the ultra poor performance / durability of the SP5000 series. (tread depth, tread life, and that famous pull to the left is strongly suspected being the fault of these tires)

Sponsorship eh? I would say thats a pretty good advantage.

Didnt take a cut of the sales? how noble of you... but remember, I dont take a cut either. Actually I dont really take a penny of anything. Everything is all the clubs funds.

But you know... you make it sound all so easy, I wish as good as you. (i am taking notes)

 

what the **** does your money or what you drive have to do with this topic ? what point are you trying to get across by this statement ? wow you have to cars paid off good for you , want a ****ing cookie or somethin

 

sounds like a kid who needs takes their car to the shop so some one can change the tires for them =P bcuz they dont know how hah