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

["The PC Handyman" <pchandyman@intrex.net>]

----- Original Message -----
From: Buchholz, Steven <Steven.Buchholz@kla-tencor.com>
Subject: RE: Monkey Lad business practices? (Re: Turbo/wastegate questions -
K24, WG Spring etc.)
> ... I just had to reply to this post ...
>
> If there is any one individual in Audidom who should be commended for his
> helping Audi owners keep money in their pockets I would suggest that it is
> the person here being accused of being a "monkey lad."  He freely divulges
> information that other vendors will ask you to pay for ... or might tell
you
> is proprietary.  When we look into the boost mod field, it used to be that
> there was one primary source ... and based on the prices at that time even
> $400 would have been a bargain (and superior to the more expensive mod I
> might add)!

    Point taken. Scott's page has helped me alot. Some other guys will get a
bit jerkey about their proprietary code/knowledge, but they do post their
prices on their sites. If Ned wants $550, you read about it on his site. You
don't send him email to get it, and then hear about two or three other
prices that other people paid. One would think that given the info about
sensors, boots, and everything else, that the prices would be there too. Why
not? What other reason is there for not posting it?

> I doubt that this is a situation where there was a special discount for a
> friend ... it sounds as though if you had bought the product two years ago
> the price was around $200 and now the price is $400.  Perhaps the current
> product has been improved due additional research that has gone into the
> $400 product and so the seller feels that this is an appropriate price.

    And that seems to be the case. But, A statement like, "Well, now It
costs $375, and it's improved." would have been good to hear. Public prices
are reassuring aren't they?

> Perhaps the price has been $375 for a year now and it just went up to
$400.
> Perhaps the seller analyzed his costs of doing business and found that he
> could not stay in business only charging $200 for the mod.  Perhaps you
> would get more for your $400 product (e.g. WG spring, new WG diaphragm,
new
> pressure transducer) than those who paid $200 got ...

    If the mod comes with a new diaphragm and pressure transducer, that's
more that I didn't know. I couldn't gather that from the description. If
people are supposed to appreciate the labor and components involved in the
mod, they should be listed. Many people (like me, obviously...) think they
can do everything themselves, and if the components and rigors of the
process aren't outlined, along with the price, we feel that there's
something fishy going on.

> I don't know if any or all of the above suppositions are true, but the
fact
> of the matter is ... if you don't feel that the upgrade is worth the
asking
> price then don't buy it!  I don't appreciate seeing an accusation of
> impropriety as a result however.  I find it a bit surprising to see this
> posted by someone who appears to have their own business ...

    Perhaps it was a bit harsh, but a few others were already thinking it, I
just opted to be the one to take the fall. If the expense is justifiable in
terms of labor and components, I'll pay it...


-Noah