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SIDE ISSUE:
I find it funny when a product like this selling for ~$140 is called Corvette Tax! I often address young folks who granulate from a 2 year welding school, many of whom want to start their own business! I encourage them to take a course in finance as many small business start-ups go broke because they don't understand costs and pricing!
I usually see your comments and learn...but this is one I can't agree with. If identical products (let's go with tape here) are sold on the public market - where one says "made special for your Corvette" at $25.00 and the other is "not special" but identical at $10.00 ... what is there to understand about costs and pricing? That finance course you're talking about should have addressed "markup" as well to keep those start-ups in business. Here's my $10.00 solution...doesn't look any different from the $140.00 solution. I just wish Corvette had not added the braces (regardless of what throwback there is).
^^^ Did not mean if you could apply properly and were pleased with tape, black liquid plastic coating or black paint, that this molded part is not significantly more money. I was referring to thinking that for what you are getting the price is too high.
I like low cost solutions such as my cup holder mod that costs some glue and felt pads, my gas bib cut from some reinforced rubber etc. Guess I should have made that clear.
I also emphasize to young welding folks they must have a unique product or service (or patent) or someone will have the same offering at a lower price. In this case the low cost tape, painting or liquid plastic are low cost alternatives and IMO why volumes of this new molded product will be limited! No way could this molded plastic product be sold at the ~$25 price point. Therefore for the expected volumes need to have the price high enough to make a profit.
In this case the low cost tape, painting or liquid plastic are low cost alternatives and IMO why volumes of this new molded product will be limited! No way could this molded plastic product be sold at the ~$25 price point. Therefore for the expected volumes need to have the price high enough to make a profit.
Well, again, we disagree. I'll bet an enterprising person can CAD, 3D print and sell these pieces for less than $25.00. Although it would be foolish to do so when so many Corvette owners are more than happy to part with their Corvette Tax. All we're doing is covering up crap plastic with more crap (plastic, tape, wood two-by-fours...). At least it's covered.
Well, again, we disagree. I'll bet an enterprising person can CAD, 3D print and sell these pieces for less than $25.00. Although it would be foolish to do so when so many Corvette owners are more than happy to part with their Corvette Tax. All we're doing is covering up crap plastic with more crap (plastic, tape, wood two-by-fours...). At least it's covered.
Could be right! I am thinking of the Heliarc and Plasma cutting torches we molded! Scrapped the first few that came out of the mold! And they used expensive metal molds! Modern technics could produce that chrome cover much cheaper and JIT!
That is something to consider when starting a business, get started and someone undercuts your product! We always were more on the edge of welding/cutting technology and sold product to early adopters who would pay the price! When the volume got significant our main competitor was a low cost producer and took over! We were ready with a new product and with Plasma cutting had very solid patents on the consumable (wear) parts were we could make a very good profit! My old boss invented that process!
SIDE ISSUE:
I find it funny when a product like this selling for ~$140 is called Corvette Tax! I often address young folks who granulate from a 2 year welding school, many of whom want to start their own business! I encourage them to take a course in finance as many small business start-ups go broke because they don't understand costs and pricing!
For the volumes of an item like this that will be sold, the costs of prototypes to get the product right, the cost of molds and the first parts out of a cold mold being scraped at every production run- $140 is not a bad price!
PS: If you expect to sell through vendors, they also must cover their operating costs, carrying costs for inventory etc and a profit. Selling directly to the public at Vendor cost will loss them!
I tend to agree with you, $140 is not that bad, and it looks like it came that way. I tried the tape, and it just doesn't work all that well, at least for me... and it's more reasonalbe than some are changing for the rear diffuser fins, like 300-400 bucks for two fins... Speaking of which, looks like you got the C7 Carbon rear diffuser... how do you like it???
I tend to agree with you, $140 is not that bad, and it looks like it came that way. I tried the tape, and it just doesn't work all that well, at least for me... and it's more reasonalbe than some are changing for the rear diffuser fins, like 300-400 bucks for two fins... Speaking of which, looks like you got the C7 Carbon rear diffuser... how do you like it???
Been looking for those fins (or properly called fences) since I had my 2014 Z51. The simple Add Fins cost a lot for wht you get and as soon as I saw this C7 Carbon diffuser ordered it. It is carbon fiber and you can get visible CF or as I did for $100 less painted carbon flash that matches the lower bumper.
I am very happy, fit and finish are great. No sure how much extra dowhforce but since I don't Track not looking for that.
I bought an overlay sticker kit but that didn't go as planned, I wasn't all that thrilled about a sticker on my Vette anyway.
I would rather not change the grille if I can avoid it so I was considering one of these from RPI. Does anyone have any comments good or bad about this product?
I know a lot of guys have different solutions and I appreciate someones opinion but I am really just curious about this specific product.
i have a ‘14 2LT. Covered the chrome with a good grade black electrical tape. Very easy to do. Nice flat black finish. Tucked the edges using a table knife. It took about 10 minutes. I figure it cost less than 10 cents. That was four years ago and it still looks great. Don’t mess with stickers, etc.
To OP: I agree with you. This cover is exactly what I'm looking for. I will order one today. No way am I going to use electrical tape. That kind of "fix" is for hondas and hyundais.
FWIW, I had an OEM visible carbon fiber roof, purchased CF side skirts, a CF splitter and CF hood vent. After that investment no way would I use tape to cover the chrome grill!
I bought this real carbon fiber cover for my 2014 C7. If you don't have CF then suggest you get the one you found that was recently advertised. It is in two pieces as was mine! It costs much less!
Several vendors offering what you found for the same price. You spent ~$60,000 on a car - do it right!
Did you consider the Z06 grill at all? I was going to go that route
I bought an overlay from a vendor and it did not go well for me either. I wound up having my tint guy cover them when I had the tint done. You would never know there is vinyl covering the chrome.
I bought an overlay sticker kit but that didn't go as planned, I wasn't all that thrilled about a sticker on my Vette anyway.
I would rather not change the grille if I can avoid it so I was considering one of these from RPI. Does anyone have any comments good or bad about this product?
I know a lot of guys have different solutions and I appreciate someones opinion but I am really just curious about this specific product.
keep an eye on eBay for a Z06 OEM grille. I picked one up for just over $200 with shipping and it looks fantastic and allows more airflow. Little frustrating to put on but nothing you can’t figure out with the help from YouTube.
I bought an overlay sticker kit but that didn't go as planned, I wasn't all that thrilled about a sticker on my Vette anyway.
I would rather not change the grille if I can avoid it so I was considering one of these from RPI. Does anyone have any comments good or bad about this product?
I know a lot of guys have different solutions and I appreciate someones opinion but I am really just curious about this specific product.
FWIW, I had an OEM visible carbon fiber roof, purchased CF side skirts, a CF splitter and CF hood vent. After that investment no way would I use tape to cover the chrome grill!
I bought this real carbon fiber cover for my 2014 C7. If you don't have CF then suggest you get the one you found that was recently advertised. It is in two pieces as was mine! It costs much less!
Several vendors offering what you found for the same price. You spent ~$60,000 on a car - do it right!
04-24-2018, 12:06 PM
Did not mean if you could apply properly and were pleased with tape, black liquid plastic coating or black paint, that this molded part is not significantly more money. I was referring to thinking that for what you are getting the price is too high.
