Buchanan seat risers (wow!)

[CMBD]

Why compre to the "worst " you've had? Why not compre to the best?

TJ is best of the worst


What are you arguing?

Im done

 

[Rickyd]

Why compre to the "worst " you've had? Why not compre to the best?

Bicycle?

 

[mrblaine]

Anyone with a bandsaw and a drill press and 18 inches of square 6061 bar stock can make these. There are quite a few members here on the forum that have made theirs with one member even using steel. I've got all the machinery to do it, but at $50 for a kit it's not worth my time to make. If you decide to DIY, don't sell them or you might violate the patent Buchanan may have secured on a block of aluminum with a hole in it.

Now that I have a few minutes. Here's why you should be better. If you look at the other items offered, you'll find this.

Those are minimum 4" in diameter, they use minimum 16" of 4" diameter aluminum bar stock to make all 4. Even in volume, there is almost 100 bucks just in material. If they are cut from tube, even more. There is more than 10 minutes of machine time per spacer. Then they ship free. Plus packaging, plus handling, plus shelf space, plus a lot of things that it takes to run a business.

There is no possible way you can do that price with US goods, at all. And to be very clear, the only tiny little aspect that I have any issue with is just the disingenuous nature of saying they are made in USA.

The same is also true for the seat riser kit. You can not do those prices with US goods. Buchanan doesn't have a patent. Buchanan did however, do the first seat risers for the TJ and then everyone else copied them. There are two schools of thought there, those that like thieves tend to adopt the position that competition is good for the consumer, the other is the opposite.

FYI, 50 is not the same as 44 since that roughly 6 bucks is more than the entire profit in the kit.

Bolts in volume- 80 cents each = 6.40
Anodizing in volume = 8.00
Hole drilling and deburr 2 sides = 8.00
Cut to length on CNC saw = 4.00
Material cost = 10.00
Total if done in the US = 36.40
That is less packaging, overhead, shipping, etc. and then here is the killer. I have a lot of friends who sell on eBay. The barest minimum you can sell for is 12% in fees. That's 5.32 just in fees.

Those being a US product is not a sustainable business model.

 

[mrblaine]

Quick on the edit

I truly appreciate the TJ visibility, because I have driven a lot of things other than TJ. Thats the drift I get.

Im out.

You adopted a very odd position for someone who isn't dumb. It is the equivalent to the gent with 31's who only runs forest service roads wanting to know why anyone runs a larger tire.

 

[nitrofalcon]

Now that I have a few minutes. Here's why you should be better. If you look at the other items offered, you'll find this.
View attachment 545433
Those are minimum 4" in diameter, they use minimum 16" of 4" diameter aluminum bar stock to make all 4. Even in volume, there is almost 100 bucks just in material. If they are cut from tube, even more. There is more than 10 minutes of machine time per spacer. Then they ship free. Plus packaging, plus handling, plus shelf space, plus a lot of things that it takes to run a business.

There is no possible way you can do that price with US goods, at all. And to be very clear, the only tiny little aspect that I have any issue with is just the disingenuous nature of saying they are made in USA.

The same is also true for the seat riser kit. You can not do those prices with US goods. Buchanan doesn't have a patent. Buchanan did however, do the first seat risers for the TJ and then everyone else copied them. There are two schools of thought there, those that like thieves tend to adopt the position that competition is good for the consumer, the other is the opposite.

FYI, 50 is not the same as 44 since that roughly 6 bucks is more than the entire profit in the kit.

Bolts in volume- 80 cents each = 6.40
Anodizing in volume = 8.00
Hole drilling and deburr 2 sides = 8.00
Cut to length on CNC saw = 4.00
Material cost = 10.00
Total if done in the US = 36.40
That is less packaging, overhead, shipping, etc. and then here is the killer. I have a lot of friends who sell on eBay. The barest minimum you can sell for is 12% in fees. That's 5.32 just in fees.

Those being a US product is not a sustainable business model.

Your analysis is right on. When I had my roofing and remodeling business in Texas, customers sometimes asked why my prices were higher than others. I would explain: 1- I have liability insurance for my crew and any damage to your property and people getting hurt or worse. It's very expensive and not required in Texas and many competitors don't carry it. 2- I provide a 5 year warranty versus others with the standard 2 years (which means more repair costs) 3- I have several large crews (8-10 each) so I can schedule the job sooner and finish in shorter time. Others companies do the opposite on both. And there are the intangibles such as when you call for a repair under warranty I put your job on top, not bottom of the list (good practice because it brings in referal business).

Some customers would understand and respect the reasoning while others would choose to go for the lowest bid from another company.

My point is customers don't always know and understand the cost of quality and think they're being gouged. While some companies do that, most businesses would rather stay as competitive as possible and have more customers.

 

[jdsouther]

I've got on 06 and definitely needed the seat risers

 

[mrblaine]

Your analysis is right on. When I had my roofing and remodeling business in Texas, customers sometimes asked why my prices were higher than others. I would explain: 1- I have liability insurance for my crew and any damage to your property and people getting hurt or worse. It's very expensive and not required in Texas and many competitors don't carry it. 2- I provide a 5 year warranty versus others with the standard 2 years (which means more repair costs) 3- I have several large crews (8-10 each) so I can schedule the job sooner and finish in shorter time. Others companies do the opposite on both. And there are the intangibles such as when you call for a repair under warranty I put your job on top, not bottom of the list (good practice because it brings in referal business).

Some customers would understand and respect the reasoning while others would choose to go for the lowest bid from another company.

My point is customers don't always know and understand the cost of quality and think they're being gouged. While some companies do that, most businesses would rather stay as competitive as possible and have more customers.

You missed my point a little even though I stated it pretty clearly. My issue is not with the price. My issue is the misleading claim that they are made in the USA when the price point clearly indicates that isn't possible in a sustainable business model.