RE: Monkey Lad business practices? (Re: Turbo/wastegate questions - K24, WG Spring etc.)

["TM" <mizutanit@mindspring.com>]

Let me preface this by saying that I don't know Scott nor do I have
anything to do with him.

That said, $375 is about market price for this mod. TAP wants $400.
Hoppen no longer does this. Anderson Motorsports wants $400. Intended
Acceleration wants $600, IIRC. (Why is IA so expensive? Ned says his
product is markedly superior. Is it?) Garrett Lim of A4 and VW 1.8T
fame wants $350 to do this. It doesn't sound particular expensive or
unfair.

If someone really got the mod for $210, then that's unusual, but to
me, $375 and "about $400" sounds like the same, especially if you
consider shipping costs.

I want to chip my soon-to-be-mine 5kcstq and am still researching the
issue, as I am very intrigued at Ned Ritchie's pricing scheme. Why
he wants 50% more than everyone else, I don't know. If his chip is that
much better and everyone in the know eventually gets his chip, then the
price is justified for a markedly superior product. Otherwise, I'll
either go with Scott or Garrett, considering Scott is much cheaper and
Garrett is local to me.

Regards,
Taka Mizutani

-----Original Message-----
From: owner-quattro@audifans.com [mailto:owner-quattro@audifans.com]On
Behalf Of The PC Handyman
Sent: Monday, November 29, 1999 4:30 PM
To: Scott Mockry; quattro@audifans.com; 'Lewis, Gary M'; Swann, Benjamin
R. (BSWANN)
Subject: Monkey Lad business practices? (Re: Turbo/wastegate questions -
K24, WG Spring etc.)


----- Original Message -----
From: Swann, Benjamin R. (BSWANN) <BSWANN@arinc.com>
> I got rough about $400 from Scott last Spring.  If I'd have know it would
be
> more like $200 I would have considered it.
>
> I may be a cheapskate with my AUDI(according to Click & Clack), but not
that
> cheap.
>
> Ben

    Likewise... _If_  Benjamin Swann was quoted $400, me $375, and Gary
Lewis $210, I am a pretty aggravated cheapskate... I would be really annoyed
to pay $400 for it and then find out that some other people got it for $210!
WTF!? Isn't that one of the things that happens to us at the monkeylad
garage when the car breaks down?

    Before this heats up, let me say that I can totally understand if you
want to give people you consider your friends a better rate, but you should
really make sure that you tell them to keep it a secret! Furthermore, you
should put up prices for your wares on the site; It would keep these types
of things from happening.

    Alternately, if you are just generally gouging people for whatever you
think they can afford, I say that you are practicing bad business and it is
only a matter of time before your golden goose runs out. $375 is enough
money that those of us that cannot really afford to pay for it will come up
with another way to accomplish the effect, and if that includes writing our
own eeprom and possibly selling it to recoup some of the time and expense,
then so be it. I'm beginning to feel a sense of deja vu... Wasn't the QLCC
affair about more or less this same issue? Weren't you on the cheapskate
team then?

    It sure would be good to hear about a christmas sale where we could get
some of these from you at some kind of reduced rate... $375 is too much.
Here is where you (or any of the other _even_higher_priced_ chip modders)
could explain how the cost is justified. All I can picture happening is a
quick desoldering, attaching the socket, and inserting the already burned
chip. Then stick it in the mail. It doesn't have to cost $375-$550 to profit
adequately from this.


-Noah


>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Lewis, Gary M [mailto:Gary.Lewis@West.Boeing.com]
> Sent: Wednesday, November 24, 1999 6:42 PM
> To: 'quattro@audifans.com'; Swann, Benjamin R. (BSWANN)
> Subject: RE: Turbo/wastegate questions - K24, WG Spring etc.
>
>
> You know folks, Scott Mo.'s 86 - 88 chip and spring upgrade is only like
(or
> was) $210 bux installed.  It is THE best money I've ever spent on a
> automotive mod.  No new turbo necessary, and it is done right, like the
> Factory would do (or maybe not depending on your opinion of Audi...)




>
> My .02
>
> Gary M. Lewis
> 1990 200tqa Silver/Platinum 146km 1.8 bar P6000 SVR, Bilsteins, BPV
> 1986 5kcstqa Sapphire/Platinum 180km Stock
>
>
> > My apologies to those who sell the mod kits by the way, as I'm sure they
> > are
> > worth it.  Some of us just can't afford or justify expensive chips, new
> > turbos and the like.  I'm not a racer, don't have the money or time -
> > maybe
> > some day.  Just want to get the best performance available without
> > spending
> > more than the car is actually worth.   I learn from the expert advice on
> > this list and other sources, and then I'll apply what I've learned if
> > prudent as a home mechanic/hobbyist.
> >
> > Thanks again for all the replies - keep 'em coming.  Happy Thanksgiving!
> >
> > Cheers,
> >
> > Ben Swann
> > '85 4KSQ
> > '86 5KCSQT
> > '87 5KCSQT Wagon
> >
>