If vendors want to give us a "real deal".......

arceeguy

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Offer us our choice of 50cc or "80cc" kits for $150 (or less), with shipping included. The prices I see here in the vendor area are not anything to write home about, and this is why I did not buy my kits from anyone advertising here.

I got my two kits from eBay, from two different vendors. one from California, and one in Canada. Both kits were about $154.99 with shipping and insurance. The lower the price, the greater the volume - and that is how you make more money! People will be buying multiple kits just to keep a spare parts inventory, or to have two motorized bikes. (they're small, you can have a bunch!)

Thanks for listening!
 
i agree, $150 shipped , send me 2

Being in California, I would imagine a HT kit should go for less than $120 since all these kits are being unloaded from container ships on the west coast! No doubt, shipping is a substantial cost, but a lot of vendors are making plenty of money on shipping for slapping a label on a box and having UPS pick it up.
 
arceeguy let me ask you something. Are you just assuming that these companies are making a ton of money off of these kits? shipping from china is just the start (assuming the company is buying container loads of these motors. I know personally the products my company has coming from China range anywhere from 3-5k for shipping.

So now the motors are here. Next is customs (got to pay the tax. ) Then if you have to have them shipped to your location (lets say from Cali to florida) The container might have to be unloaded, warehoused, then loaded onto a truck to be delivered to you.

Once you get them to your location They have to be unloaded from the truck, inventoried, and put on the shelves. This all takes labor and as you know labor costs money. From there you fill your orders, and ship them to fine customers such as yourself.

From the supplier end of things that $50 motor (assuming cost here) you had shipped from china now cost you $90-100 after all the above was added in.

Now lets move on to your "Lower the price greater the volume theory" While this obviously works in some business, something like motorized bikes is a niche market. I would be willing to bet that repeat buys from customers (average consumers) are not that high.

Just my 2 cents
 
Now lets move on to your "Lower the price greater the volume theory" While this obviously works in some business, something like motorized bikes is a niche market. I would be willing to bet that repeat buys from customers (average consumers) are not that high.

Just my 2 cents

Just to add some reality to this. I for one would probably buy from a Motoredbike poster (like Bluecollar or Dax) over one of these ebay guys and a $150 price tag would get me to pull the trigger. I already have a nice GEBE and a Staton friction drive, but for $150 I'd buy a happytime just for fun.
 
Just to add some reality to this. I for one would probably buy from a Motoredbike poster (like Bluecollar or Dax) over one of these ebay guys and a $150 price tag would get me to pull the trigger. I already have a nice GEBE and a Staton friction drive, but for $150 I'd buy a happytime just for fun.


I would buy based on vendor reputation over price any day. As you said you would buy the $150 HT just for fun. But would you continue to purchase them just for fun? How many could you possible buy just for fun?
 
just bought my second ht last night on ebay, i know im takin a chance, but how could you not the total shipped with insurance was only$102.99 it was an auction for a 55cc kit from livefastmotors. at that price i,ll buuy as many as i can get. the folks around here will buy em up as fast as i can put them together. i dont make anything on the kit just $50 for the install, just want some people to ride with.
 
I would buy based on vendor reputation over price any day. As you said you would buy the $150 HT just for fun. But would you continue to purchase them just for fun? How many could you possible buy just for fun?

I may build one for my brother and his son. Who knows at that price.
 
Question
How do we know that the current prices are nothing to write home about ?

Point #1 -- Those in business have to be able to make at least a reasonable profit -- so as to stay in business..

Point #2 -- Pricing competition is the only thing that keeps prices down..

Point #3 -- As a consumer - it is none of my business what a company may be paying for said product that I am interested in buying..

Point #4 -- If service regarding product is important to me - should also be taken into account along with total price..

Buy That Thing and Ride That Thing - Mountainman
 
Question
How do we know that the current prices are nothing to write home about ?

Point #1 -- Those in business have to be able to make at least a reasonable profit -- so as to stay in business..

Point #2 -- Pricing competition is the only thing that keeps prices down..

Point #3 -- As a consumer - it is none of my business what a company may be paying for said product that I am interested in buying..

Point #4 -- If service regarding product is important to me - should also be taken into account along with total price..

Buy That Thing and Ride That Thing - Mountainman

All of that being said, these Chinese engines are not reliable enough to be used as transportation. I paid a lot for my GEBE because I can use it to commute, a happytime simply can't be used for that (its utility is really limited). Since these are strictly for fun and not serious transportation I personally can't see paying more than $150 (postage included). I do not care what vendors pay for these, but personally I have my price point and it is not being met.
 
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