Defense of Commercialism : BL/SS

[Duane Collie <drcollie@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

>Date: Tue, 4 Aug 1998 10:07:07 -0400
>From: "Anthony Dusovic" <adusovic@domain.elided>
>Subject: <All> BL/SS

(edited for brevity)

>Don't want to cause any flame wars but BL/SS which started as a cheap (what
>ever happened to the true meaning of UUC?) upgrade has become an overblown
>purely commercial entity. We all know the part numbers and what they cost. 
>The moral of the story is I feel that is is possible to make money and
>maintain a good name if you don't make them feel as if they are being
>screwed or taken for fools. 

Anthony,

I take issue with this.

Ben (and Rob) have always gone the extra mile to help thy fellow Bimwad.
I've pounded brewskies at HOOTERS with 'em and swapped lies many a time
with 'em.

They have *real* jobs, too.  When what starts out as a 'UUC tip' blossoms
into a high demand product then they can no longer dedicate the time as a
hobbyist to make this work to everyone's satisfaction.  As their time is
consumed and demands are made on them (both stupid installation questions
and whining levels increase) they find they are putting in a lot of time on
this endeavor.

They deserve to be rewarded for their expertise and knowledge, as does
anyone else in business.  If you don't like it ... then hack it together
yourself.  Would you have ever thought of this modification sitting in your
BMW Dealer test-shifting an M Roadster? Mebbee you would have - maybe not.
Ben did.

How many times have you ever bought something like a 'repair kit' for $
9.99 and then looked at it and said "Ya know...there ain't nuthin' here but
fifty cents worth of 0-Rings and washers - plus a set of instructions".
But, the fact of the matter is SOMEONE got all the right parts together
(correctly) and then made a set of instructions that work.  You pay for
that convenience and knowledge base.

I look at the Dinan Camber Plates for my M3 and say "DAMN! Lookie at
these...$ 200.00 for the pair and they are nuthin' but a chunk of cut plate
steel with three bolts in 'em."  Why....I could reproduce these (and I
could) for about $ 20 each.  Ripoff?  No. Dinan did the research - they did
the engineering.  Plus Dinan POURS money back into the Golden Gate Chapter
as donations so I don't begrudge them the $$$$$$$.

At a different level, I still get about 4 requests a week from Digesters
who want to: 1) Use my lift and tools, or 2) Want help installing
components at MY house.  Used to be I'd help everyone that asked as part of
the Bimwad community, even those I did not know. Mostly those requesting
help did so only because they want to save money - (Some Rolling Rock for 3
hours doing a full suspension swap? yeah...right). Help 'em out and then
never hear from them again until the next major project. Gets old after a
while and my evening is worth more than a 6 pack. 

I say support the UUC Motorwerks. Ben Liaw and Rob Levinson are trying to
make this work and they WILL deliver a good product at less than what you
will pay for similar items elsewhere. I think no one expects them to
deliver 1,000 orders of something and process the paperwork, pack it - ship
it - take the whining phone calls - eat the bounced checks - just to be
nice guys. You want sumpin' from them at dead cost, then BARTER with them!
Whaddya got to offer in return? (Rumor has it owners of Escort Services can
have all the free BL/SS shifters they want).

Plus they need the money to help fund the ///Team Bubba Race Car. <grin>

<........burp.......> that's all I have to say on the matter.....where'd my
Nachos go?

Duane Collie
RM3DR1-UUC
///Team Bubba Racing
National Capital Chapter

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