Underground motorsports brake kits

[phatpat240]

Hey why doesn't UM sell their supra big brake kit brackets seperately? I really like the look of the huge rotors. But I already have my z32 calipers and lines. I mean they could sell those brackets like hotcakes to the homeless all day long.

[underground]

Because, then I'd have everybody in the world knocking them off!

[phatpat240]

So sell em seperately,and patent them? Would you sell just the rotors and the adapters maybe? I already have a set of powder coated z32 calipers and spl lines. Also do the calipers have to be 26 or 30mm?

[AZhitman]

I may be out of line here, but "patenting" something is meaningless... I'd do the same thing.

30mm.

[Exar-Kun]

Because, then I'd have everybody in the world knocking them off!

yep.-chet

[crzycav86]

Because, then I'd have everybody in the world knocking them off!

I think if a company was really serious about copying your design, they'd spend the money and buy your whole kit, and then just copy the design for the brackets.

Then they'd sell the brackets seperately and take your business that way... that's just my speculation.

[Dori Dori]

I think if a company was really serious about copying your design, they'd spend the money and buy your whole kit, and then just copy the design for the brackets.

Then they'd sell the brackets seperately and take your business that way... that's just my speculation.

Agreed 100%.

[Nismo_Freak]

I think if a company was really serious about copying your design, they'd spend the money and buy your whole kit, and then just copy the design for the brackets.

Then they'd sell the brackets seperately and take your business that way... that's just my speculation.

Well... I know in these instances we always use our best judgement when shipping to other companies. We've had people call us outright wanting to buy parts to copy.

Honestly it's just part of the business and you gotta do whatever you can to prevent it but once it happens you just gotta make a better selling point.

Just part of the game.

[underground]

Well, we do just sell the rotors and brackets, and hardware as a kit. Runs $450

[crzycav86]

I say take advantage of the market now by selling the brackets seperately, before another company steals your idea and take the market from you.

These brackets aren't really something you can hide from people and other companies. So I think it would be wise to sell as many as you can, while you still can..

[N.O. Accorderz]

so how many of yall wana buy some brackets? get enough intrest and i'll see what i can do

[crzycav86]

ummm... lol?

I had another idea, you could sell them very exclusively and in low amounts to people who can prove that they're not a business. Perhaps pull off something similar to hotshot in that thread in gen section(which seems to be deleted now. :rolleyes)

[180crafter]

I did see some brackets on ebay that will let you use some 3000gt rotors, just my 2 cnts...

[underground]

I am looking into the brackets idea. The least they would sell for around $200/pair.

That should give you a heads up!

[phatpat240]

Edited: Nismo_Freak

[phatpat240]

I did see some brackets on ebay that will let you use some 3000gt rotors, just my 2 cnts...

Hey could you pm me a link or an auction #?

[youngturk]

Perhaps UM doesn't want to sell the brackets separately because then they won't be able to make any profit from selling Supra rotors and brake lines - people will be going out and purchasing the rotors and brake lines themselves for less, sending those profits to other companies.

My guess is that the $250-$300 estimated price for the brackets includes the profit they are making from selling the rotors and brake lines (which they would have to forgo if they sell the brackets only).

I can't blame them for doing what they are. In the absence of any competition, they have the greatest selling power.

However, as soon as someone (doesn't have to be a company) decides to enter the market and manufacture and sell the same bracket for less, UM's prices will drop a little or a lot (depending on the competition's pricing). And there would be very little that UM could do about it. As Nismo_Freak said: "...it's just part of the business and you gotta do whatever you can to prevent it but once it happens you just gotta make a better selling point. Just part of the game."

A patent costs minimum a few thousand dollars and takes at least two years to obtain. Moreover, this is the type of part that would be easy to "design around", as they say in the patent world. So, a patent is useless unless you got the lawyers and money to intimidate imitators. I'm guessing UM doesn't have that or wouldn't want to spend that over such a product.

I say to UM: Before someone discovers the market potential and takes away your commanding position, pre-empt any potential imitators by selling the brackets separately for a low enough price (with reasonable profit) so that no one else will be interested or able to justify manufacturing it and selling it for a profit. If the profits aren't high enough, no competitor will bother investing in designing, manufacturing, and marketing the product. Otherwise, you're just tempting/encouraging potential competitors to imitate your product. You can decide right now whether you want to be at the mercy of a potential competitor/imitator (and limit your long term profits) or whether you want to own the market with little to no risk of anyone challenging you. Choose a lower (decent) profit, and a higher sales volume will make you more money in the long run. Not to mention the potential to gain customers you didn't have before who may purchase other products from you.

[underground]

Young Turk, even a marketing guy like msyelf, can appreciate your business sense.

There are several reasons that are private, but prevent us from selling the brackets separately.

The big brake kit is amazing. It absolutely dwarfs the 300ZX kit, and makes the 300ZX kit look utterly puny.

I have been trying to sell this idea to McKinney Motorsports/ West Coast Dealer of the kits for some time now. But, they aren't barging.

I do agree that the brackets should be sold separately, but unfortunately I can't make the call alone.

Thanks guys for your input.

Chris

[phatpat240]

I'm just sayin $450 is hella overpriced for lines,brackets,and rotors. I got new S/D brembos,spl lines,and calipers for $350,and they wanna charge $799?

[Nismo_Freak]

This isn't a board to sit around and whine about pricing... companies charge what they charge and there will always be someone out there to "prove them wrong" and do it for less.

If you'd like to contact Underground Motorsports I'm sure they'd be more than happy to field your phone call and listen to your concerns.