mwcet8k

Your biggest problem is that you're buying Trinity batteries. Because Trinity is so well known, you pay a big markup on cells that aren't better than other smaller, lesser known matchers. $100 per pack is ridiculous. There's no way you should ever pay that much for Gold Peak cells, let alone lower end matched cells. Try buying Gold Peak cells from a smaller, but highly respected matcher like Promatch or Surge. Here are their addresses:

http://www.promatchracing.com
http://www.surgebatterymatching.com

Gold Peak has actually done a lot to lower the costs of high quality cells. Sanyo has a deal with Trinity that makes them the exclusive distributor of Sanyo cells (at least in United States). So every single matcher in the U.S. has to buy their "raw" Sanyo cells from Trinity. Of course, Trinity marks them up a lot, which is why packs were a lot more expensive when Sanyo was the best on the market. Gold Peak doesn't have an exclusive U.S. distributor, so it's leveled the playing field considerably. Right now, you can buy some really good Gold Peak cells (1.160-1.164 AV Voltage 400+ Runtime) from Promatch for $39.99 (unassembled). I remember buying matched Sanyo SCR 1400's eleven or twelve years ago for $60 bucks a pack and they weren't even close to what you would get from that Promatch pack.

BTW, I've bought from Promatch several times and have been very happy with them. I've never bought from Surge, but have only heard good things about them. There are quite a few other smaller, reputable matchers out there too. But when it comes to buying batteries, avoid Trinity and to a lesser extent Orion and Reedy, because with those companies you're paying a premium for the name on the label.

GundamWZero

iTrader: (4)

You may be right, about the Trinity cells. They were the only ones the hobby store had; anything else was kiddy grade. As far as the sites, I have to check them out; 40 dollars for a decent pack sounds right up my driveway!

mwcet8k

Just noticed you're in Germany. I'm not sure how much shipping will cost, but you should still save quite a bit by going with Promatch, Surge, etc.

Grizzbob

iTrader: (2)

Agreed, Trinity & some of the other big name matchers have always overcharged for their packs, & now that we have access to some smaller companies(like Surge, ProMatch, SMC, Fukuyama, etc.) that'll sell us packs that are just as good as many factory sponsored guys' packs at a MUCH lower cost, there's little to no reason to waste the money on Trinity. In truth, I've NEVER spent $100 on a pack, because I just refused to when there weren't many small matchers of merit, & now even with those small matchers' bast packs, I'm only paying a max. of $75-80(& I really am talking about number every bit as good as a factory driver's packs), & of course their lower priced ones are such a good deal for most purposes it's almost sick...

wcoyote

I'm wondering where all of these $100+ Prices are coming from? I've got several Trinity packs and the most I have paid was $70 for the high end 3300 1.6-1.7 packs. Sounds like someone is charging close to retail price which is wrong.
When it comes to batteries, shop around. I know sometimes local hobby shops that have a monopoly in an area like to take advantage of it. I had one around me, until another "national" place came along. As far as I know, the original place eventually stopped carrying most of the R/C stuff just because people laughed at their prices. It was well deserved too.
I'll pay for top cells, but not if it costs me $90 and above. That's my $.02

TexRacer

iTrader: (70)

Important Information on the Differences on GP,Panasonic and Sanyo Pricing.

Guys.This information is for 2 people.Either the people that didnt know or the ones that are SO new to the industry they simply have witnessed or seen the pattern go on.

Trinity owns Distribution Rights to Panasonic and Sanyo making the price of these cells between $1.30-2.00 higher PER cell making the pack $8.00-12.00 higher even for the matcher.
Being Sanyo or Panasonic cells have NEVER been as consistant as GP cells they also dont produce as many high level racing packs making it harder for the matchers to make as many racing packs like when they are using GP cells.

GP cells have been the best thing since SLICED bread for the R/C industry Price wise,Performance,and durability wise.They yield better #'s,Performance and are more consistant for the matchers making it better for the racing part of the industry which only accounts for less than 15%.

The reason prices are quoted as being high are due to the natural cost of cells being higher,not yielding the same results or lack of competition or knowledge of the person buying them.
If they dont know to look around or the store doesnt have alot of cometition then the owner will try to get what he can to help pay for overhead.The R/C hobbystore industry is NOT what it's cracked up to be and hard to survive much less make the profits some of you might THINK they make.
Trinity Retails Panasonics and Sanyo's as $129.95-139.95 for their top packs and GP's for $109.95 due to less cost PER CELL even to them.
Shop around guys and you will find nice cells being fair priced.But also try and support your local shop even if it comes to negotiating the price.I will walk into a store and if I see something online for $59.99 and he has it for $79.99 I will offer him $69.99 to buy it and support HIM as a shop.If he says no then buy it mailorder or wherever you saw it for $59.99.

Hope this info helps.But GPs are cheaper to the public due to being cheaper to the matchers and NOT being controlled price wise by Trinity.

Rick Hohwart

This is not entirely correct. In reality Team Orion purchases Sanyo cells directly from Sanyo, not through Trinity. Claiming exclusivity is Trinity's way of boosting their perceived importance in the R/C industry.

LeadFoot

Rick Hohwart: Trinity has a USA Exclusive Orion probably has a European Exclusive.

"The real reason GPs are cheaper than Sanyos is they are made in China by underpaid workers working in substandard conditions."

This is not true and unless you go to China you cannot say that. My brother's company has a plant in China and they have everything you would see here in a plant in America. The major difference is that wages are lower and the price of materials are lower as well as taxes and business restrictions.

You want to throw around the FUD, fine, just do it where it makes sense and is true. You can find sweat shops in NYC if you bother to read the newspapers.

That being said, I am no fan of Trinity

Rick Hohwart

Just a token title...does not affect prices as many believe.

McSmooth

Shhhhh! The last thing we need are a bunch of the bleeding-heart types protesting our races, like they do to Nike!

wagnerov

iTrader: (4)

How about adding in a favorable exchange rate (RMB->$) to the reason GP cells are cheaper, instead of just assuming anyone who works in China is underpaid in crappy conditions? Jeez. At least their living expenses are paid for by the employer, including housing and food.

The Black Kat

True, True

Where in Sunnyvale do you live? I lived there for 10 years before I moved to Alviso

mwcet8k

Rick, isn't it true though that Orion/Peak is able to bypass Trinity when buying cells from Sanyo and Panasonic because Orion is a European based company? I've always heard that all U.S. based matchers HAVE to buy Sanyo and Panasonic cells from Trinity.