MIB,
It's a question of choice. I have the choice to import a beast from the US (or anywhere) and could do so (as you could), but then have to consider all the other associated costs (also as you would). In many cases you have import tax, modifications to required local regulations (homologation) etc. Not least (in your case and mine) is shipping a car ... Other "soft" factors include not being able to test or review the car before hand. So you chose to pay local prices - that's great and I'm glad your happy. Now, my only disappointment here is that despite my willingness to abide by all of the above concerning the upgrade, I cannot do so for reasons relating to their business model. If they contacted me tomorrow and said "Ok, the US price applies - my credit card info is on the wire in minutes" - done deal.
That's my only (sidebar) point in my mails earlier in the thread stating that I was looking into potential other chip suppliers. However, on further review of your email:
A statement like:
"If you want to buy at States prices, Move to the states."
is frankly offensive, myopic and, shall we say (to be polite), "ill-informed" in todays global market. Just because you got hammered on the price of your car and mods is not my fault but I understand your defence of trade barriers as a result.
Additionally, your other statement:
"But don't critisize a Great product"
shows that you haven't read my mails properly. I've stated that I've understood from this board that it's a great product, I want(ed) to buy it but since the only difference in the deal is the price (and the fact that an identical connection cable is shipped twice as far), I decided I would keep looking. It's also worth pointing out (from a recent thread I've read) that when a buyer uploads their current software map from the ECU, it get's sent to Australia for tuning and sending back even if you are in the US ....
To address the point on R&D and customer service (latter first): this is another customer "benefit" for me? Although I would communicate by (and prefer) email, I've got to call Australia at twice the rate of the US to get support (on my bill)? And that's customer focus, right? R&D is the same for US and Australia (same product, same everything...) - that doesn't wash either.
An example of what I'm trying to get at: Several years ago, I wanted a set of decent pads for my Porsche (Metal Masters from Australia as it happens
), and couldn't get them in Switzerland. Therefore, I purchased them from the US. The pads cost US$38, the shipping an additional US$84 (weight). It was my choice - the pads were exactly what I wanted and the pads themselves were a good price. Sure, I could have bought a different brand locally - perhaps even paid less.
Enjoy the car - at US$225K (and other cars presumably pro-rata), even if I could afford it (I couldn't), I'd be driving an old VW Beetle or an Opel Corsa :7:
Cheers,
Gary.
MIB said:
Hey Gary,
If I could get a Beast at USA Prices I would have 2 of them.
Still wrong logic. A beast in the states is $75K USD , In Australia they are $225K. So By your logic, we should never buy a Beast because they are so much cheaper in the states?
If you want to buy at States prices, Move to the states.
If you want the Best mods in the World, You have to pay for them. If you want to settle for the sake of a little coin, thats fine.
But don't critisize a Great product, because you have to pay more to get it than People in the US.
Every Mod I have I had to pay Double and even Trebble.
I am happy I did it, because I wanted the Best, no matter where in the world it was.
If you are happy with a cheap Chip, grab it. But there are lots of stories about cheap chips actually reducing Power instead of the huge increase claims.
I think its better to pay more for a Tried and Proven, trusted Product, than to save a little bit and pay heavily later.
There usually is a lot more that goes on than a price tag.
R & D and customer service and back up.
Or You can go for a No Name brand that advertises on Ebay. I think that says a lot in itself.
I don't think I would care to have my beast touched by anything on ebay. But thats just me.
Happy Beasting :M5launch: