Fixed price on Smarty

[DieselFiend]

Can someone explain to me why all the smarty's are fixed at the same price? Since they are all priced the same, there's really no good reason to get it from one place over another. Free shipping might be the only benefit to one place over another. Just curious. Thanks!

 

[Rockcrawler]

A) margin is low

B) min selling price is becoming more mainstream as garage guys dump stuff on ebay and are gone tomorrow cause their "biz" tanked

c) some customers want service and shop where they get it- meaning service in many forms

d) I like a lot about the smarty but from what the site says it's still kinda old school with regards to a human watching the gages and lifting vs systems that back down as the ecu picks up on certain parameters- everyone likes something different

 

[Diesel Nut]

The prices are set so as to keep dealers from undercutting each other like the Edge mess. It forces dealers to sell service as well as product. We are going to see alot more of this soon. Edge is going to be doing the same thing.

 

[RobertP]

The prices are set so as to keep dealers from undercutting each other like the Edge mess. It forces dealers to sell service as well as product. We are going to see alot more of this soon. Edge is going to be doing the same thing.

thats exactly right. it is to make everything fair again. that way you choose your performance company for there customer service and not just lowest price.



Robert

 

[DieselFiend]

I see your point but price fixing may work a whole lot better for people that physically walk in to the shop for performance upgrades. Thats if the price was fixed just below what you could get it and have it shipped for over the internet.

For all of us that are no where near your performance outlets, we rely on fair pricing over the internet since we'll be getting most of our stuff by mail. So here's the real question. NGM and Bob, maybe you can answer this. You both will be able to send me a smarty shipped at $685. You both will provide me with the access I need to get latest updates for the programmer. You both will be able to provide me answers to questions. With out being in your neighborhood to stop by to have performance problems addressed, what reason would I have to buy from one of you or the other? I guess I'd just have to pick the nicest guy or who had the most coolest web site. Can you see where this doesn't make any sense. It's almost a little bit socialistic if you ask me. Making sure the dirt bag stays in business by being fair.

 

[Bob4x4]

It's almost a little bit socialistic if you ask me. Making sure the dirt bag stays in business by being fair.

Translation please... ... ... ... ...



Bob

 

[DieselFiend]

This country was based on a survival of the fittest business philosophy. Capitol Darwinism if you will. The business that can provide the best product at the best price wins. We already know that the smarty is a superior product so now it comes down to the best price. It seems that the smarty distributor has fixed the price so that every one must sell at the same price for some reason or risk having their supply of smartys restricted or pulled (I'm only assuming thats the consequence for selling at a cheaper price). So if the bargaining chip is customer service and I've already got access to the Madselectronics web site and Marco over TDR, what reason do I have to buy from one vendor or another? Since I'm not geographically located close to any diesel performance shop selling smartys, I'll never see the inside of anyones shop that I buy from. So what does it matt if I buy from a mediocre diesel performance shop or a good one. I'm getting the same thing at the same price anyway. Does that make sense Bob? Socialistic means that everyone gets a fair shot even if they have a mediocre performance shop. And I don't agree with that. I think if you're good then people will buy from you. And if people buy from you, then you lower your prices to attract even more people.

 

[TDRadmin]

Vendors - Stay Away

Vendors, I've already shut one thread down about Smarty pricing because of vendor bashing and bickering. Keep it professional. DO NOT comment on your competition. ONLY comment on the product or process. Question or concerns, email or PM me directly.



Robin

TDR Admin

 

[CDonaldson]

I can see where 'price fixing', if you want to call it that, is a good thing. Since without it, the rules of 'supply and demand' could actually make it more expensive. As a self-employed business person I think that a 'one price is it' IS good for everyone. Many time the smaller business owner cannot buy in volume, cash flow dictates the purchasing power. Now the little guy cannot even begin to compete with the big guy, so how does that truly affect his business, it leaves him out of the picture entirely. You might think that getting a better price or a great price is a good thing because you are looking at your wallet and you can make your dollars go further, but, truly examine what the real costs might be when buying from just the warehouse middleman. When it comes to this type of equipment I would rather get a live body that speaks understandable english, possibly drives this equipment down the road, and can help me from first-hand experience. Internet sales also brings e-mail tag into play, difficulties in resolving your issues, a sometimes unfriendly consumer environment. You are right about it leveling the playing field when choosing who you buy from, maybe getting free shipping, maybe not getting anything - just the piece of equipment that is worth the asking price.



CD

 

[DMcPherson]

I bought nime from another vendor because it was a little more convenient, and Bob Wagner still supported it! I really wanted to buy it from him, because he has been a great guy, but I diddnt and he still offered help, how does that happen. now the next things I buy will be from him. as a matter of fact I may be ordering a third gen one very soon for a friend

 

[DieselFiend]

I can see where 'price fixing', if you want to call it that, is a good thing. Since without it, the rules of 'supply and demand' could actually make it more expensive. As a self-employed business person I think that a 'one price is it' IS good for everyone. Many time the smaller business owner cannot buy in volume, cash flow dictates the purchasing power. Now the little guy cannot even begin to compete with the big guy, so how does that truly affect his business, it leaves him out of the picture entirely. You might think that getting a better price or a great price is a good thing because you are looking at your wallet and you can make your dollars go further, but, truly examine what the real costs might be when buying from just the warehouse middleman. When it comes to this type of equipment I would rather get a live body that speaks understandable english, possibly drives this equipment down the road, and can help me from first-hand experience. Internet sales also brings e-mail tag into play, difficulties in resolving your issues, a sometimes unfriendly consumer environment. You are right about it leveling the playing field when choosing who you buy from, maybe getting free shipping, maybe not getting anything - just the piece of equipment that is worth the asking price.



CD

I see your point but I'm like most people looking at my wallett. I want a good product at a competative price. Unless I step foot in a shop with a real person, I'm likely to look for the best price for the product I'm after. While I sympathize with the "little guy" to an extent, when all is said it comes down the the best price.

 

[GregSmith]

As the owner of an auto parts business, I can give you another reason for the "fixed prices". Many of the E-bay businesses are all price and no service. They can't, or won't, offer any customer help or tech support. All too often, customers will come to my store, or call my techs, and talk for hours, gathering information and getting tech help for a particular product--then go on-line and buy from some faceless outfit. Net result--I pay for all the tech and sales support, but don't get the sale. Set pricing ensures that I won't go broke offering the service the manufacturers demand, but the "fly-by-nights" won't give.

 

[DMcPherson]

As the owner of an auto parts business, I can give you another reason for the "fixed prices". Many of the E-bay businesses are all price and no service. They can't, or won't, offer any customer help or tech support. All too often, customers will come to my store, or call my techs, and talk for hours, gathering information and getting tech help for a particular product--then go on-line and buy from some faceless outfit. Net result--I pay for all the tech and sales support, but don't get the sale. Set pricing ensures that I won't go broke offering the service the manufacturers demand, but the "fly-by-nights" won't give.

I had the same issue working in small parts/performance stores. lots of bs and no buisiness. let the next guy with 0 profit help him out, i dont think so

 

[DieselFiend]

I believe price fixing is only going to work if customer service/tech support is a necessity or if everyone was within the geographical area of the dealer. I don't have the luxory of walking in to your shop and asking you a question and getting the tech support benefit. If I did have that luxory, you bet, I'd pay a higher price the smarty.

 

[Bekim]

Look how well collusion and price fixing have benefitted the oil companies! Need I say more?

Mike
###

 

[CBradford]

guess you'll just have to wait until someone in CHINA learns how to build a smarty before it'll be in your price range..... i think the smarty is great bang for the buck and it is very competitively priced within it's market... ... . just wait until you get burned by a no count internet based business... ... . it sucks..... you get what you pay for with the smarty

I see your point but I'm like most people looking at my wallett. I want a good product at a competative price. Unless I step foot in a shop with a real person, I'm likely to look for the best price for the product I'm after. While I sympathize with the "little guy" to an extent, when all is said it comes down the the best price.

 

[Rockcrawler]

It's simple biz- if oem's can't have a system where dealers can afford to stay in biz then the dealers will either close or carry a competitors product. The OEM is then faced with selling their own product, without a competent network.



Some of the OEM's supporting our trucks fell into this trap and are trying to fix it. I've seen deals on ebay where I'd be at a loss or making less than one percent if I matched it.



I fully understand the concept of consumers wanting a deal, but there is a difference between a deal and a gift. Who can afford to be Santa Claus??

 

[DieselFiend]

I understand what you're saying from a business point of view but as a consumer, I'm going to bite on the best price for the specific product I'm looking for. If you're an average american on a budget do you buy gas from the mom and pop store around the corner for 35 cents more a gallon just because you feel they're not getting a fair shake? Nope, you'll find the cheapest gas you can. Just my opinion. I think I've made my point several times over so I'll put this post to rest but I will say this in closing. The cheapest bird with the worm I'm looking for gets the buck. Thank you for the great discussion on this! Very controversial topic!

 

[CDonaldson]

Think about this for a minute - Here we are, members of and posting on a website that we PAY to use, there are several other websites that we can post on and be members on for free. The sponsor of this website pays for server costs and produces a magazine for our INVESTMENT. So, I pay my dues AND I also patronize their business that underlies this webite. I am taking care of my own interests and also taking care of theirs. I also am on some of the other 'free' websites that also have an underlying business in stuff for my vehicle. I also purchase stuff from them, once again taking care of my own interests and also taking care of theirs. I try hard to evenly distribute my purchases from all of them, after all, I evenly distribute my use of the websites. Now I realize that's not how many people see things, but that is how I see them. I live in a one-horse twon with one gas station, one market, one of a few this and that - I am held captive to fuel prices UNLESS I want to drive quite a distance for a better price. I am also held captive on grocery prices, feed prices, hardware prices, etc. As I see it, all those who own the businesses in my town are part of my community, my extended family. I buy local, support my local community. I see purchasing from those who support my interests in the same manner, so I purchase stuff for my truck from those businesses that give me access to my extended truck family. I could go elsewhere, but what's the point, TIME is money too. I do not spend time running around looking for the best price and doing a lot of price comparisons, just the running around itself should be considered into the price of something, fuel is not cheap. I may or may not be an average american as far as my income is concerned, but I DO have only so much of it just like everyone else. Yes, I do like to get something extra now and then, save a little here and there now and then, but I am not motivated to buy stuff by the price alone. Each of us has our way of going in life because that is how WE do it.



ViperQA1, all I can say is watch the classifieds and you will surely get the deal you are seeking from someone, but it looks like it will not be from the Smarty distributors if they have integrity and live by their convictions and contracts. Suggested Retail Pricing has been around a long time, contracts regarding distributorships of products have also been around a long time, and so have the businesses that deal within the boundaries of this stuff. Cutting prices cuts profits and those with REAL OVERHEADS have bills to pay, they must earn the retail prices to keep their store fronts and business heads above water, and also have lives with income to meet their personal needs as they cannot only live to keep their business doors open with rediculous competitive prices. These same people pay double taxes, not just matching taxes like most do with regular employers who meet the taxes 50/50. They pay taxes on their business incomes and from whatever is left over the again pay taxes on that as income. I prefer to support those who are asking a fair price and deliver a fair service when I am in need of that service. When they cut their prices to be competitive, there is a loss somewhere downline. You can bet that loss is at the bottom in their homelife and family end. I agree very strongly with how Marco handled his products pricing. I am in hopes that at some point many more companies with a product conduct themselves in the same, ethical manner that Marco has, it is more than fair to all of those that represent his product.



CD

 

[DieselFiend]

CD, I can certainly respect your choice to buy products based on principle and philosophy. You pay more for it though. Suggested retail pricing is exactly what it is. Suggested. So, did you pay the suggested retail price for your mega cab? I certainly didn't pay MSRP for mine and there are a rare few who did. And there are a rare amount of dealers who would actually ask what they would really take for the truck. What if DC fixed the price of every truck to every dealer? You'd probably pick a dealer based on if they washed it before you picked it up or some other trivial reason. Who really cares where you get it if the price is the same every where. This price fixing stuff undercuts competition. It turns your business in to a crap shoot. You'll spend more money advertising just trying to get the fish net wide enough to get the most customers.

Also, businesses pay tax on their profit and assets and get a break if they loose money. So they're really not paying double taxes. Correct me if I'm wrong but don't they get a break for the first three years regardless?