Tires.......#1 most expensive item for racing
01-09-2012, 09:08 AM
#46
Guest
01-09-2012, 09:45 AM
#47
Guest
I'm not trying to get in any aurguments, but as for price gouging on RC tires, I know for a fact the manufactures & distributors here are not making a killing like people think. If the LHS sells at MSRP, then they are making a killing, but racers never pay full retail when you can buy online for 20-30% off.
JC tires are made in China, yet they retail for more then AKA and Proline. I know how much is costs to have tires made in Taiwan (VP-Pro and Beta) and I would guess that it is even more expensive here in the USA. The reason tires made in Asia are not way cheaper then domestic made tires is due to the customs, import/export taxes, and mainly freight costs. Plus overhead/operating expenses like 2-3% for CC or Paypal fees, wire transfer fees, ect - the list goes on and on.
A tire mold costs big bucks, and that is just for 1. If you offer 4, 6, 12+ tread patterns, then you have to sell a ton of tires just to recoup what you have invested in molds, plus labor and material costs. And premounts, you have to pay someone to sit there and prep&glue them - they don't come magically glued out of the mold.
As many have posted here, there are many brands of cheap tires. But they may not perform as good and they don't spend the money advertising, supporting a race team, sponsoring local race events, ect. I recommend you support the companies that support the hobby, not just the ones who offer super low prices.
When I started racing in the 1980's, I had to pay full retail at my LHS. In today's 'World wide web planet', you can get tons of good deals and save money for more racing.
JC tires are made in China, yet they retail for more then AKA and Proline. I know how much is costs to have tires made in Taiwan (VP-Pro and Beta) and I would guess that it is even more expensive here in the USA. The reason tires made in Asia are not way cheaper then domestic made tires is due to the customs, import/export taxes, and mainly freight costs. Plus overhead/operating expenses like 2-3% for CC or Paypal fees, wire transfer fees, ect - the list goes on and on.
A tire mold costs big bucks, and that is just for 1. If you offer 4, 6, 12+ tread patterns, then you have to sell a ton of tires just to recoup what you have invested in molds, plus labor and material costs. And premounts, you have to pay someone to sit there and prep&glue them - they don't come magically glued out of the mold.
As many have posted here, there are many brands of cheap tires. But they may not perform as good and they don't spend the money advertising, supporting a race team, sponsoring local race events, ect. I recommend you support the companies that support the hobby, not just the ones who offer super low prices.
When I started racing in the 1980's, I had to pay full retail at my LHS. In today's 'World wide web planet', you can get tons of good deals and save money for more racing.
01-09-2012, 09:57 AM
#48
How long is the blow out sale going till?
01-09-2012, 10:21 AM
#49
Tech Initiate
01-09-2012, 10:46 AM
#50
Trade for Steak and lobster dinner and ill wash em.
01-09-2012, 11:20 AM
#51
Guest
Till they are gone. We have discontinued the VP801, VP802, VP802W, VP803, VP804W, VP805W, VP806, and VP807.
This year we will only be stocking 8 tread patterns:
VP-Pro Turbo Trax
VP-Pro Axman
VP-Pro Gripz
VP-Pro Blades
Beta V-Max
Beta Cubez
Beta Enforcer
Beta Freeride
That is the other cost factor to consider. Once a new tread comes out, people stop buying "the old" tires. Even if they still work just as good or better on some tracks.
Then the manufacture is stuck with a worthless mold and distributors/hobby shops are stuck with inventory that is not moving.
This year we will only be stocking 8 tread patterns:
VP-Pro Turbo Trax
VP-Pro Axman
VP-Pro Gripz
VP-Pro Blades
Beta V-Max
Beta Cubez
Beta Enforcer
Beta Freeride
That is the other cost factor to consider. Once a new tread comes out, people stop buying "the old" tires. Even if they still work just as good or better on some tracks.
Then the manufacture is stuck with a worthless mold and distributors/hobby shops are stuck with inventory that is not moving.
01-09-2012, 11:59 AM
#53
01-09-2012, 12:30 PM
#56
Here's what you do
Find a company that will give you a 50% deal. Then you buy all the tires you want for X amount of dollars. After that, you run your tires once, maybe twice and then sell them to the local racer for what you paid for them. You get brand new tires at 50% off, run them a couple times, then Joe Localracer gets a great pair of tires cheap also. its a win win!
So basically you are getting exactly what you paid for them back, and can buy brand new tires for the same price.
You arent selling them to make a profit, just getting your money back so you can use your discount and buy new ones.
Find a company that will give you a 50% deal. Then you buy all the tires you want for X amount of dollars. After that, you run your tires once, maybe twice and then sell them to the local racer for what you paid for them. You get brand new tires at 50% off, run them a couple times, then Joe Localracer gets a great pair of tires cheap also. its a win win!
So basically you are getting exactly what you paid for them back, and can buy brand new tires for the same price.
You arent selling them to make a profit, just getting your money back so you can use your discount and buy new ones.
