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Index > @ the Pickup Bed (General Topics) > Thread: Who pissed in the sticker guys cheerios?
Thread: Who pissed in the sticker guys cheerios?
Fd3BOOST


Hauling
Posts: 114
posted December 24, 2003 12:24 PM

Who pissed in the sticker guys cheerios?

I saw that he was selling those racing stripe mazda decals on ebay.So I asked him if he sold any others. He responds and tells me that he has the repu decals for $75.
I thought that was pricey so I didnt reply.
Then a day later he sends me another email asking if I got his other email detailing the price yada yada.
So i respond with "well how much were the decals again"
Hoping that he would see I didnt repsond to his first email cause his prices are outrageous. In anycase.
He resonds with something to the effect of
"thanks for wasting my time, I listed them on ebay just for you so you are wasting my money also since you didnt buy them. And I already told you that they cost $75.

Call me crazy but wtf kinda customer service is that?
Im not used to the salesman yelling at me in a store for just looking around and tryin to bargin shop..


I dont know if you guys know this cat but his people skills are hurting.
I would never consider paying $75 for the old stickers taht honestly are not that nice to begin with,'
I would rather tape it up and air brush the text on the tailgate. I could make it 50% better than the crappy stick on vinyl.

Anyway just thought I would share that.






       
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scalliwag


Revvin Up
Posts: 69
posted December 24, 2003 01:37 PM

I'd give him the finger!!!! Those stickers don't seem that special to me either now that so many people have big plotters for making stickers. It seems a little odd that he only put the stickers on Ebay so that you would buy them.
I would email him back and ask him if he had confused you with someone that had already confirmed they wanted them.
Hell maybe he has you mixed up with someone else.

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Fd3BOOST


Hauling
Posts: 114
posted December 24, 2003 01:46 PM

Not to mention that its weird to even offer them on ebay.
Why the need to go through ebay at all.
He could of just sold them to me via email.

In anycase he sent me a email apologising for the response he gave me.
I would buy them if they were not so expensive. He says that the cost to prodice them is high.
I dont know but I think I would rather just airbrush my tailgate.



       
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scalliwag


Revvin Up
Posts: 69
posted December 24, 2003 02:27 PM

well at least he apologized. I have sold a lot of stuff on Ebay and the RX7 CLub forum. Mainly solid motor mounts. The reason I would offer people to make the sale through Ebay was for recourse for them to be more comfortable. People that are there on the forum all the time know that all the Texas rotary people know me and they just tell me what they want and PayPal me. Things like $50 motor mounts aren't much to sweat over but Seat covers over $500 makes you give pause to that.
Another thing with Ebay is that you put your reputation on the line there and people leave feedback accordingly. Hell I have made stuff for as many people on the forum in the last year as I have with the locals.
This guy surely has similar reasons. Most people would probably not sweat the $75 because if they are real close to factory you pay the $75 and you are done. If you shop it to get a lower price the footwork may be more pain in the ass than it's worth. Let's say if someone did them for $50 but you spent the time and effort to track down someone and then try to pick the right font etc. In the end you really wonder if you saved anything.
Just the time to mask off everything and airbrush that would be more pain in the ass than I would be willing to put in.
So while I agree $75 seems a little high at least from what I can tell it would be quick and from what I've heard they are nicely done. So if it was me I would be a little torn but in the end I would buy the stickers, piss and moan a minute, put them on the tailgate and say "damn that looks cool" and figure I've wasted more money than that and been less happy before.

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Fd3BOOST


Hauling
Posts: 114
posted December 24, 2003 02:49 PM


I hear that but I cant get over paying $75 for two vinyl stickers. I know that availability and quality play a role in the cost. But again. Its only a sticker.
I would rather paint it on their. Its easy for me to do stuff like that so Its easy for me to say that I would rather do that.
Anyway.
They are nice stickers but stickers non the less.


quote:
well at least he apologized. I have sold a lot of stuff on Ebay and the RX7 CLub forum. Mainly solid motor mounts. The reason I would offer people to make the sale through Ebay was for recourse for them to be more comfortable. People that are there on the forum all the time know that all the Texas rotary people know me and they just tell me what they want and PayPal me. Things like $50 motor mounts aren't much to sweat over but Seat covers over $500 makes you give pause to that.
Another thing with Ebay is that you put your reputation on the line there and people leave feedback accordingly. Hell I have made stuff for as many people on the forum in the last year as I have with the locals.
This guy surely has similar reasons. Most people would probably not sweat the $75 because if they are real close to factory you pay the $75 and you are done. If you shop it to get a lower price the footwork may be more pain in the ass than it's worth. Let's say if someone did them for $50 but you spent the time and effort to track down someone and then try to pick the right font etc. In the end you really wonder if you saved anything.
Just the time to mask off everything and airbrush that would be more pain in the ass than I would be willing to put in.
So while I agree $75 seems a little high at least from what I can tell it would be quick and from what I've heard they are nicely done. So if it was me I would be a little torn but in the end I would buy the stickers, piss and moan a minute, put them on the tailgate and say "damn that looks cool" and figure I've wasted more money than that and been less happy before.

       
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admin


Administrator
Posts: 446
posted December 24, 2003 03:11 PM

Juan's work is TOP NOTCH!! They well worth the $75, since they are an exact match to the origs, and probably last longer.

Plus You are NOT going to find them anywhere else... Not everyone with a plotter has interest in making stuff for a 30 year old truck. Juan took a ton of time to dupicate the stock peices to an exact match.

Sorry that you feel that they are over priced, but old school rotary stuff can and does cost, and coupled in with how detailed the replicas are, they are worth every penny in my book...

So, stop whining and being so damn cheap... Cheap is something I've noticed a lot about us rotary people, the fact that we are all so cheap, we don't recognize the worth of something when it is right under our noses. Well, these are worth it for those who want the stock look.


____________
I'm The Admin, thats why!

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scalliwag


Revvin Up
Posts: 69
posted December 24, 2003 03:18 PM

Yep, I know I'm cheap!!! Can't argue with that :(

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Fd3BOOST


Hauling
Posts: 114
posted December 24, 2003 07:06 PM
Edited By: Fd3BOOST on 24 Dec 2003 19:55

Mr. Admin,
If I hadn't dropped well over 20k into my RX7 i would listen to your insults but considering I am everything but cheap I wont.

Sorry if you think being frugal is cheap.
Waste your $75 on two stickers.
Why would anyone want to pay $75 just so you can have stock shit?????
Be my guest but at the end of the day you still dropped $75 on freggin vinyl stickers.
You seem way to pressed on "hey its all original shit" Big whoopty doo!!

Look
Dont go busting my balls for watching out for other repu owners. I understand that your boy is the only game in town for repu decals but tha doesnt make his prices fair.
I mean what does the paper cost him $15?
Be sensable for one minute please..
If your such a big spender why dont you get some decent software for this forum and stop blowing your wad on stickers?

Cheers
-Mr. Not so Cheap.


quote:
Juan's work is TOP NOTCH!! They well worth the $75, since they are an exact match to the origs, and probably last longer.

Plus You are NOT going to find them anywhere else... Not everyone with a plotter has interest in making stuff for a 30 year old truck. Juan took a ton of time to dupicate the stock peices to an exact match.

Sorry that you feel that they are over priced, but old school rotary stuff can and does cost, and coupled in with how detailed the replicas are, they are worth every penny in my book...

So, stop whining and being so damn cheap... Cheap is something I've noticed a lot about us rotary people, the fact that we are all so cheap, we don't recognize the worth of something when it is right under our noses. Well, these are worth it for those who want the stock look.



       
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scalliwag


Revvin Up
Posts: 69
posted December 24, 2003 09:08 PM

this is pretty funny to me, I don't know why but hey?!?!!
The bottom line is that it is the sticker guy's perogative to ask what he wants and everyone elses perogative to buy them. Some people will see it as a deal and others won't.
I don't mind being called cheap because I am. But I sell stuff pretty cheap too. Two aluminum solid motor mounts for $50 is viewed by most as pretty cheap.
Dave and I make stuff ourselves so we think in terms of what we *think* something should be worth. I don't *think* that as much time or material cost go into making two vinyl stickers as what goes into making two motor mounts. At least that's how I see it.
If someone sees that as cheap I ain't going to fly off because they did because it doesn't bother me that much.
Knocking heads at best just gives you a headache in the end.

I was very impressed with Dave's emblem resto. That tells me volumes about him. He's not afraid to get his hands dirty and do something. He has enough creative ingenuity to figure out how to get things done on the fly.
The same person that would call him cheap would probably be viewed as lazy by him. If the truth is known he gave the price at $50 to restore an emblem and then offered to give people step by step on how to do it because he figures most people would do it themselves. Only about 50% would be my guess. Not everybody gets a rush off of doing that type of thing. For the life of me I will never know why?!?!?!
Dave is going to view someone that would rather pay $50 plus shipping as lazy because he does not view this as rocket science just a little effort.
The person willing to spend the $50 sees it as being worth $50 to have Dave do it.

Except for busting each others chops about how they base their judgment of value both types of people have valid reasons.

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Fd3BOOST


Hauling
Posts: 114
posted December 25, 2003 06:07 AM

LOL,
Sorry Mr. Admin
Last night i was drinking gin and well, you know.


I dont mind either way.
They seem pricey but they are quality decals so to each their own.
'


       
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Klaus43


Rotorhead
Posts: 1259
posted December 25, 2003 10:22 AM

Merry Christmas to All !

I can appreciate someone needing to make some bucks for their time and effort in producing/reproducing parts/accessories for our relatively rare, very finite little market segment... seeing as how I've run up against some cost vs. benefit issues myself, (see the shiftknob thread...).
I also appreciate hearing feedback on such restoration items from our friends with personal experience--no matter the cost of certain such items... Quality being a major consideration, again, regardless of affordability...
I fully commisserate on the cost factor! I myself have kicked myself plenty in the past for having missed out on some scores, due to my own frugal/cheap/poor nature...
Live and learn, as far as how many $$$/debt to throw at what aspects, and when.
As to Juan's vintagerotarydecals: I've never had the pleasure of direct interaction, though I emailed him once regarding the amazing number of variations in side stripes/logos alone that I have become aware of as coming on certain REPU's... he never returned my email, but hey--maybe he's a really busy guy, right?
I agree, $75 is high for stickers... but as Dan said, they're high quality reproductions--from what I've heard, correctly laid-out and all. And, retail IS retail, especially in a limited niche market... But: he's not the 'only game in town'... if you wanna screw around, there are companies who will work with you to produce decals in high-quality vinyl... however, time is money...
If you're handy and equipped with an airbrush, and wanna go more custom, by all means! I've considered what paint versions might be very cool...
Bottom line for me, though, is that Juan's decals aren't priced out-of-line for those who've invested plenty in a more-or-less stock vintage rotary car or truck restoration. I can see how they'd be the icing on the cake for an otherwise completed oldschool dream... In this context, the cost is minimal for the convenience and quality.
Regardless, I'm glad the guy's in business at all--even if he can't be bothered to return every dreamer's emails.
Bottom line for me: He won't get my business until I've gotten every other detail, all the way through the painting process, at least, fully squared away! That, or he's going outta business...
Wouldn't wish that on any of us, let alone this season.
Merry Christmas my friends--and a Healthy, and Prosperous--not to mention Peaceful, and Hi-RPM-filled, New Year!

       
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rotarydave


Hauling
Posts: 108
posted December 25, 2003 04:22 PM

I can vouch for the fact that he does an awesome product and i can vouch for the fact he used an original set NOS to make the template for the tailgate stickers and for the rally stripes, he also spent about 6 hours at my place taking pics of all the other stickers that go into the mazdas, i know his dedication to making them right afterall he paid for the plane trip from CA to TX I did not help, and when it was all said and done i was the one who benefitted as he sent me several complementary sets of stickers to confirm that they were perfect. I am not the expert but i would like to think i can compare them to the originals. How do i feel they stack up, well i think they are better why he is starting with a better sticker. I can also say that i have purchased an additional 4 sets of stickers from him and have never been unhappy.

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rotormunky


Redlining
Orlando, Florida
Posts: 424
posted December 26, 2003 09:29 PM
Edited By: rotormunky on 26 Dec 2003 21:33

Oi!

Well I'm glad that tempers cooled quickly on this stuff.

My mail server took a crap two hours after I left town for the holiday so I'm just getting all this now.

On the decals I'll say this much: I personally am looking for a 'stock look'. So for me they are a good product. I could have them custom made if I had three months, originals to work from and a couple hundred dollars to get someone to run off a prototype product.

Or I could spend $75?

I will qualify that as my own individual situation.

I have to say as I've been working on reproducing tail-light trim rings over the holiday this thread really discouraged the hell out of me. Its more the time involved in making some of these things than the monetary investment.

I'm sorry to say that but its hard to get up for working your ass off (some of us are short on brains and creativity so these projects are harder for us :) on some of these projects when I read stuff like this :(


Oh! Dave on an up note I got your detailed battery box cover pics for you. As soon as I resurrect my server I'll post them (super-sized so you can make out the details). I think they should be what you're looking for.

Also I got some pics of the bed where the hinges mount and took a few of the tailgate as well. I can't remember why but I thought there was some issue with yours and you might be able to use them.

I'll be heading back to my fathers place for the new year holiday so if you need more/better pics just let me know what you need.


____________
-Martin
Orlando, Florida

http://www.themonkeyhouse.org/REPU

'77 REPU (Some assembly required :)
'91 Cabrio (Battered and bruised, but she's still my baby.)

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Fd3BOOST


Hauling
Posts: 114
posted December 26, 2003 09:33 PM

quote:
Oi!

Well I'm glad that tempers cooled quickly on this stuff.

My mail server took a crap two hours after I left town for the holiday so I'm just getting all this now.

On the decals I'll say this much: I personally am looking for a 'stock look'. So for me they are a good product. I could have them custom made if I had three months, originals to work from and a couple hundred dollars to get someone to run off a prototype product.

Or I could spend $75?

I will qualify that as my own individual situation.

I have to say as I've been working on reproducing tail-light trim rings over the holiday this thread really discouraged the hell out of me. Its more the time involved in making some of these things than the monetary investment.

I'm sorry to say that but its hard to get up for working your ass off (some of us are short on brains and creativity so these projects are harder for us :) on some of these projects when I read stuff like this :(


Oh! Dave I got your detailed battery box cover pics for you. As soon as I resurrect my server I'll post them (super-sized so you can make out the details). I think they should be what you're looking for.

Also I got some pics of the bed where the hinges mount and took a few of the tailgate as well. I can't remember why but I thought there was some issue with yours and you might be able to use them.

I'll be heading back to my fathers place for the new year holiday so if you need more/better pics just let me know what you need.




Thanks a ton Martin.
Anything will be helpful.

       
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scalliwag


Revvin Up
Posts: 69
posted December 27, 2003 12:14 AM

quote:

I have to say as I've been working on reproducing tail-light trim rings over the holiday this thread really discouraged the hell out of me. Its more the time involved in making some of these things than the monetary investment.

I'm sorry to say that but its hard to get up for working your ass off (some of us are short on brains and creativity so these projects are harder for us :) on some of these projects when I read stuff like this :(




I wouldn't let any of the remarks Dave and I have made discourage you from making anything. Both Dave and I and evidently you and some others on the forum have fabricated and/or restored some things. The bottom line is that not that many people percentage wise do. Most don't have the tools and/or room and/or aptitude to do anything of any significance.
So most people do rely on another persons skills and resources to provide a finished and ready to install part. Hell some people can't even put on the damn part when you hand it to them.

When I make parts I set a price for what it is worth for me to do it. Some people think it's too high and others tell me it's a helluva deal. Everybody has an opinion. Don't let that stop you. The people that think it's worth it will buy from you and the others will try to talk you down on it.
Just because Dave and I think the stickers are overpriced are just our opinions.
If I was restoring my repu like I did my AE I would pay the $75 though. I don't see the price as worth going through what it would take to have a set made to a comparable result. So this guy would still get my money.
But since I am not restoring the truck even if they were $50 I would not buy a set.
So if you make something at a reasonable enough price that the scarcity and the need would get enough sales to justify your time you will get sales even from people that wished it was cheaper.

So don't let at least anything I have said discourage you from any projects. That would be the last thing I would want. God only knows I've had too many people try to tell me something I thought up would not work. The mini-bead roller I made I had more fun showing a few people they were not as smart as they thought they were (or else I was not as dumb as they thought I was). Now they think I want too much for one :) Haha!

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rotarydave


Hauling
Posts: 108
posted December 27, 2003 09:01 AM

I understand fully what you are saying and have had that same problem with a former associate. I spent about 10k of my money to help research and organize the materials and supplies to reproduce some parts. We looked into the Grill Badge for the REPU and the Rx-3 they are very similar and making both seemed the way to go. The problem was between me and my partner.... he did not understand what I wanted, I said that we could make a good product and sell the initial set at a slight loss(doesn't make sense yet) the first 100 would pay for themselves and 90% of the molding costs. It would be a good product and in demand after the first set sold we basically owned the mold any more could be sold at the same price which now would net a moderate profit, but more importantly give the capital to create the next part.

Sometimes the vendor loses sight of what is important, that is the customer. The balance sheet only reflects your reputation and the quality of service you give.

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Klaus43


Rotorhead
Posts: 1259
posted December 27, 2003 11:22 AM

All of which is great, 'IF'...

...if you can afford to invest/choose to gamble on breaking even, let alone making a profit. Then again, that could be the very difference between being somebody with some skills and a great idea, and actually being a 'vendor' in business...
Price point of finished product is relevant.
Quality is paramount!
Personally, I don't have the luxury of gambling on a payoff for a new niche product--beyond a point. And I won't compromise the product to make a buck...
Must be nice to be well-funded.

       
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scalliwag


Revvin Up
Posts: 69
posted December 27, 2003 11:54 AM

Sometimes you just have to start off on small things and work your way up. My regular job pays the household bills and my projects are pretty much funded off proceeds from sales of services/products. I take my extra "play" money (which ain't a lot) and often use it when I want a tool or something and am not bringing in enough from the projects.
I didn't get a garage full of tools overnight. It took many years actually. But that is different for everyone and their financial situation and what their spouse let's them get away with ;)
I made so many things unrelated to cars to bring in money as well. My biggest problem is that I get real bored doing repetitive tasks and I am not disciplined enough at times to structure my extra time such as bs'ing on the computer ;) too much.
If I set a schedule to make a certain amount of motor mounts, powder coat front covers, pulleys, misc. brackets, and some of the other things that bore me to death I could do a helluva lot better. Just simple planning makes a lot of difference. So my problems are not so much being able to generate more funding as getting my attention deficits out of the way to do so :O
When I have a new tool in my sights and not enough money in my pocket to get it I can sure get motivated though.

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