Re: [DML] VB

[Ryan Wright <ryanpwright@xxxxxxxxx>]

[Moderator Note:  Unless someone has a constructive comment this topic is closed.  Feel free to discuss alternate sources of parts and labor for the DeLorean, but if you want to critique the practice of capitalism in American, please do it in an economics forum.  The subject is too weighty for the little old DML.  - Mike Substelny, DML moderator of the week]

Michael,

You speak of "alternative grey market sites"; do you realize Robert
himself is simply buying from these sites and reselling? They aren't
"alternative grey market", they're his suppliers, for crying out loud.
That's right - many of Robert's items (his LEDs, antennas, and radio
harness that I know of) are simply bought at retail on public web
sites and marked up significantly.

To give an example, he bought some power antennas on a public web site
for ~$17 and was selling them on the list for $99 (he has since
lowered his prices, but they're still quite expensive considering how
he gets them). Now, don't misunderstand - I don't have a problem with
people making a profit. However, this is akin to John Hervey buying
alternators from Schuck's for $100 that any of us can buy and selling
them for $500, and yes, I would call him out on it just the same. Why,
because it's opportunistic and immoral within the context of our
little community.

Now, I want to be perfectly fair to Robert: He does include
DeLorean-specific instructions for the products (although you can find
instructions free in the community) and supports his customers. He has
also manufacturered some of his own products (such as that shifter
decal), which I think is good for the community. So he's not a bad
person. If he bought his items wholesale like a real business does and
priced them fairly, even if they were a bit more expensive, nobody
would have these problems with him.

Tom said, 

>> I think Bob deserves some space to post here without being dumped 
>> on every time he does.  It's not fair.

There are others on the list who don't think it's fair to sell things
in the manner he does. Last year, when I was a new DeLorean owner, I
asked about power antennas on the list. Robert responded with a link
to his web site so I paid him $70 for one because I didn't know any
better. I wish somebody would have told me, "He just buys them from
this web site for $17. You can, too."

DeLorean parts are expensive enough as it is; we don't need common,
inexpensive cross-reference parts being jacked up and sold based on
common misconceptions about price & availability. So that is why, when
some of us see Robert advertising, we respond and post the truth. He's
not being "dumped on", and it's not personal; I'd do the same for
anyone who sold parts like this.

-Ryan

On 5/5/05, Michael Paine <mpaine@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> Would you start posting an alternative grey market site if DMCH or PJ Grady or
> some other long known vendor posted a mention of a part they offered citing it
> was cheaper?  Be fair people, we need the vendors... without them we are alone
> with cars needing parts we can't get.
> 
> M Paine
> vin 6067
> 
> Quoting Tom Watkins <outatime81@xxxxxxxxx>:
> 
> > It is my opinion that Bob has done a great job at keeping himself low-key on
> > this list for quite some time.  I think it's bad form to start negative posts
> > just because he posts something.  If you want to write Bob do it personally,
> > he will respond.  Let's not start trashing him once again.  I haven't alway
> > seen eye to eye with Bob but I feel that he has taken steps to be more a part
> > of this community.   It's getting pretty old people.   I think Bob deserves
> > some space to post here without being dumped on every time he does.  It's not
> > fair.
> >




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