Cheaper aluminum radiators
10-18-2011, 05:37 PM
#21
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St. Jude Donor '03 thru '24
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Current economy realities !
Tom,
I have both your radiator and your high capacity fans and love them both. But in this economy with $$$ being very tight and if I HAD to have a new radiator, I would be going with a less $$$ intensive solution. No offense to you, just a fact of life. I know the economy has had a major inpact on my business and the $$$$ that I have to spend. I suspect your business as well has seen some pinch though perhaps not as much as have others.
I have both your radiator and your high capacity fans and love them both. But in this economy with $$$ being very tight and if I HAD to have a new radiator, I would be going with a less $$$ intensive solution. No offense to you, just a fact of life. I know the economy has had a major inpact on my business and the $$$$ that I have to spend. I suspect your business as well has seen some pinch though perhaps not as much as have others.
This is absolute truth for today's economy. But Dewitt's products and the competition is very much like diamonds. You can buy quarts or man made substitutes, but in the end you get what you pay for. I put a Dewitt radiator in my 79 in 1998 and it's always been a solid unit. And I don't think changing a radiator every three years or buy one a it leaks on the first day you have it ! Who you gonna contact then, Beijing ? Dewitts are simply American made and they last forever. There's no price on Craftsmanship. 
10-18-2011, 05:53 PM
#22
Drifting
This is absolute truth for today's economy. But Dewitt's products and the competition is very much like diamonds. You can buy quarts or man made substitutes, but in the end you get what you pay for. I put a Dewitt radiator in my 79 in 1998 and it's always been a solid unit. And I don't think changing a radiator every three years or buy one a it leaks on the first day you have it ! Who you gonna contact then, Beijing ? Dewitts are simply American made and they last forever. There's no price on Craftsmanship. We're not talking about paying 15% more for "American Made" here. Price difference is huge. I'd feel better about the price difference if the Dewitt's had a diamond on it.
10-18-2011, 06:09 PM
#23
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Am I missing something, did someone buy the "cheaper" radiator and have a leak day 1? Who says the other radiator lasts for only 3 years? When did Chicago become Beijing?
We're not talking about paying 15% more for "American Made" here. Price difference is huge. I'd feel better about the price difference if the Dewitt's had a diamond on it.
We're not talking about paying 15% more for "American Made" here. Price difference is huge. I'd feel better about the price difference if the Dewitt's had a diamond on it.
PERFECT ending lol
Very good statement as well
10-18-2011, 07:35 PM
#24
Former Vendor
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I have nothing against anyone that wants to buy the ebay unit. If that's your price range, then buy it. The point of this thread was to inform people what's involved in manufacturing a quality radiator. I'll bet very few even read the link.
10-18-2011, 07:47 PM
#25
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Not quite. We have many competitors with similar prices to ours. Ron Davis, Be-Cool, and LG motorsports all sell a quality C5 radiator for $500-600. Our base model is $545, triple $220 is actually $660. These are premium products, made in usa and the ebay unit is not our competition.
I have nothing against anyone that wants to buy the ebay unit. If that's your price range, then buy it. The point of this thread was to inform people what's involved in manufacturing a quality radiator. I'll bet very few even read the link.
I have nothing against anyone that wants to buy the ebay unit. If that's your price range, then buy it. The point of this thread was to inform people what's involved in manufacturing a quality radiator. I'll bet very few even read the link.
Although your "base" is $545,that's manuals only, so the doesn't apply to all buyers. And the automatic C5's who want your radiator have to pay $620. Either way we'll see how the china ones turn out.
10-18-2011, 07:47 PM
#26
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Not quite. We have many competitors with similar prices to ours. Ron Davis, Be-Cool, and LG motorsports all sell a quality C5 radiator for $500-600. Our base model is $545, triple $220 is actually $660. These are premium products, made in usa and the ebay unit is not our competition.
I have nothing against anyone that wants to buy the ebay unit. If that's your price range, then buy it. The point of this thread was to inform people what's involved in manufacturing a quality radiator. I'll bet very few even read the link.
I have nothing against anyone that wants to buy the ebay unit. If that's your price range, then buy it. The point of this thread was to inform people what's involved in manufacturing a quality radiator. I'll bet very few even read the link.
I read the link and did alot of research on many different manufactures. I bought the Dewitts. All good so far.
10-18-2011, 07:58 PM
#27
Former Vendor
Thread Starter
Yes, you are. This ebay seller may or may not make these radiators. Just because they ship to you from Chicago says nothing about the origin of the manufacturer or where the cores come from.
You guys probably think I'm arguing this issue to gain more business but I'm not. I'm just trying to give you accurate facts and details based on years of experience in this field. My own experience in trying to use China as a source for cores was not good. The quality was poor and they would often fail within 2-3 years. If I was a C5 owner and was planning on moving the car down the road I might put a cheapo in there too (probably not) but I understand that logic.
You guys probably think I'm arguing this issue to gain more business but I'm not. I'm just trying to give you accurate facts and details based on years of experience in this field. My own experience in trying to use China as a source for cores was not good. The quality was poor and they would often fail within 2-3 years. If I was a C5 owner and was planning on moving the car down the road I might put a cheapo in there too (probably not) but I understand that logic.
10-18-2011, 08:05 PM
#28
Former Vendor
Thread Starter
Good luck with the other radiator, I hope it works out well for you
Last edited by Tom@Dewitt; 10-18-2011 at 08:11 PM.
10-19-2011, 09:42 AM
#34
Former Vendor
Thread Starter
I do have one sale a year (January) but I have to limit it to one.
We have dealers that sell our product and they offer sales on the CF. If we did that too we would be competing with our own dealer. So if you can wait a couple months it will be 10% and free shipping.
To those calling our pricing a Corvette Tax, I don't see how that applies here. A Corvette tax is when someone sells the same thing for a different car for less money. If you look at Be-cool all their Direct Fit aluminum radiators are priced the same (over $500) for Mustang, Chevelle, Mopar, Camero, etc. I picked becool because we don't make all the other models.
10-19-2011, 09:50 AM
#35
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St. Jude Donor '12-'13-'14
Tom, I can't believe all the negative in this tread, Don't let them get to you.
I know quality when I see it.
Thanks for your great product.
Mr.Bill
I know quality when I see it.
Thanks for your great product.
Mr.Bill
10-19-2011, 10:26 AM
#36
Drifting
Some see an aluminum radiator and think they all are the same. They assume the expensive one is somehow price gouging, so people think it is across the board...
Sadly, there are examples of overpriced items all over. Some because of cheap labor rates overseas, some because of cheap components, many due to inferior design/workmanship and yes some due to the "corvette tax". It can make people jaded....
I have a DeWitts radiator and the C5 fan kit. I installed them myself and can vouch they are both quality pieces. Well worth the money in my opinion.
I can understand people having their income stretched to the limit. If they need, or want, to buy a cheaper, offshore radiator, that's their choice.
But to say it's the same as a DeWitts (or Ron Davis)... they are just fooling themselves
Last edited by hattitude; 10-19-2011 at 10:30 AM.
10-19-2011, 11:22 AM
#37
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living in Arizona I dont skimp on cooling system parts. I would only have myself to blame for engine damage,towing,etc. Would I have saved a few bucks? Dont think so! There is no substitute for quality! BUY AMERICAN!!!
10-19-2011, 11:22 AM
#38
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10-19-2011, 11:30 AM
#39
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There is an article I bookmarked a couple of years ago that I think is relevant to this discussion. Here is an excerpt from it.
Some economists have noticed manufacturing losses, but because the negative long-term ramifications have not become fully manifest in the economy, people are willing to turn a blind eye. Over the short term, companies have become richer through outsourcing, and consumers are happy because they have cheaper toys. But this will not last forever. At some point, manufacturing job losses will mean Americans will not be able to afford toys at all.
Here is a link to the article. http://www.thetrumpet.com/?page=article&id=1955
Some economists have noticed manufacturing losses, but because the negative long-term ramifications have not become fully manifest in the economy, people are willing to turn a blind eye. Over the short term, companies have become richer through outsourcing, and consumers are happy because they have cheaper toys. But this will not last forever. At some point, manufacturing job losses will mean Americans will not be able to afford toys at all.
Here is a link to the article. http://www.thetrumpet.com/?page=article&id=1955
10-19-2011, 11:41 AM
#40
Former Vendor
Thread Starter