My only gripe about replica's is that if people only bought them instead of the original's then the original company will eventually go out of business => meaning no more kits to copy. After that, if that replica company runs out of new things to copy, they it'll then fall into a similar position as the original company. It might pursue making something original - which will only lead to it being copied by yet another business. The cycle will only continue. The only people that can really stop it is the consumer.

Then again, who am I to really pose a solution?

 

I don't know if it cycles like that though, really. There are a lot of elitists out there, so I think there will always be a market for the genuine articles. Plus, the replicas don't come out at the same that the originals do, so the original company will profit there as well. The fact that there are replicas available may undermine the originals somewhat, but it might also just drive the elitists to buy the originals anyways.

Plus, some people will buy the originals simply because they are better quality and better fit. The fact that there are knockoffs available doesn't have to keep people from buying originals, it just makes the style more available to those who can't shell out the dough for the top tier. And then once everyone has access to a style, those people with money will seek another, and there are the original companies there to create new styles again.

Long story short, I won't take any crap about replicas from anyone unless they prove to me they've never purchased the generic equivalent of a prescription.

 

Buying replica kits is like the difference between chronic and Mexican ditch weed.

Yeah, it's weed, but that's about the extent of the similarities between the two. One was painstakingly taken care of to make sure it's right, the other was made by the side of the road with little thought to quality, because quality would mean many, many, man hours of labor.

You're gonna loose any money you saved when it takes 15 hours labor for the bodyshop to make the kit fit.

 

+1

yup

 

Why is it the consumer that can stop it? I've seen the profit margins the original business makes off those (not detailed). You have do the design first, which is where the majority of the cost is done. Once that's finished and you have your original mold, you spend $80 in material and sell it for $1200. I'm all for a business doing this btw, but they could be cheaper and gain more customers.

I bought replica, but I intentionally bought a PU kit for easier fitment b/c I know there can be fitment issues.

You're talking about an $800 difference between replica and original. I'd risk the $800 in labor to the shop guy who's actually doing hard labor for a living and in my home town. Brings the money back my way anyways and not over seas.

Prices only stay that high b/c the elitist consumer will pay it. So you are right that consumers can control things. The elitist quit paying those ridiculous prices and bring the manufacturer back in line with fair prices.

If you want to pay it, pay it, but don't dog on others b/c they don't think its a fair price. Hell I'll bet those other companies sell the design rights to the original anyways.

Anyways...the whole fact that I'd rather pay for fitment to a local shop, keeping my money local was the only sell I needed for myself. In the long run, the $800 discount is going to win over in cost anyways. I paid $1100 for MS Replica Kit and MS Replica Spoiler and have a feeling since it's PU, the fitment will be fine and I'll have saved over $1000 after it's said and done.

 

I can understand the high prices for quality pieces that are extremely difficult to manufacture and fit, such as a front bumper. But MazdaSpeed charges $1000 for their rear spoiler. I am sorry, that is outrageous. I can buy 3 Seibon CARBON FIBER pieces for that price. I wouldn't think that producing a spoiler that fits well would be such a tall task.

I love the look of the MazdaSpeed spoiler. Love it. But to pay only $300 less for an ABS spoiler than I paid for 19" wheels AND tires? It's simply not economically logical for me to pay that price when I can get the same look elsewhere for literally 3/10 the cost. If money were not an issue, I wouldn't care, but then I'd also be driving an F430 in that case.

I agree with previous statements that it isn't my job to protect someone's IP. It's theirs.