Anyone here on team kinetik?

[snoopdan 5,000+ posts]

Thanks for the kind words NAVI... send me some pics of the van when you're done and I'll get them up on the new XS Power website we're launcing soon! (http://www.xspowerbatteries.com)

my butt itches.

 

[skinnymofo 10+ year member]

im not on the team but i can get 600s for 90 800 for 107 1400 for i think 170

and i dont remember the rest or even how great of a deal that is. that after thecrazy high 9% sales tax

 

[audiolife 5,000+ posts]

Ahh I see, it must make a company better to give away product or sell it extra cheap vs actually supporting the actual competition itself...I guess they figure other companies will pick up that tab right? Sell a huge amount of batteries extra cheap to any and all competitors. Who ends up paying for that bill? Hmmm maybe the everyday average consumers who don't compete or don't want to compete too much beyond the local level? Judging on price sheets I have seen vs what goes for 100% authorized on line, it doesn't suprise me why I don't know of a dealer around me that actually sells powermaster...

 

[Lakota 5,000+ posts]

Giving the competitors cheaper prices IS support the competition. The more expensive things get the less likely people are to compete.

 

[galacticmonkey 5,000+ posts]

If everyone who was doing a 20k+ rms system had to pay full retail for everything, noone would have a 20k+ rms system.

 

[Lakota 5,000+ posts]

If everyone who was doing a 20k+ rms system had to pay full retail for everything, noone would have a 20k+ rms system.

x2.

 

[iamamp3pimp 5,000+ posts]

youre right

 

[Lakota 5,000+ posts]

I only have 6kW and I rarely pay retail on anything anymore:laugh:

 

[roarzorz 10+ year member]

Someone needs to get a clue as to what real support is.

 

[audiolife 5,000+ posts]

Someone needs to get a clue as to what real support is.

Geee I guess back in the day when people didn't have Ebay and there were more people by a wide margin going to the shows they must have gotten all their stuff for free? Most guys in the mid 90's that were "sponsored" were sponsored through their shop. I would bet as eventually being one of those guys I still paid more than dealer cost. Which was fine by me I was getting a better deal. 30 odd first place trophies from single point IASCA and other shows, top 4 at SBN, top 2 at Midwest Nationals was not good enough to get a full on factory sponsorship from the equipment I used. I didn't get mad as other people they sponsored had BIGGER RESUME`S and they probably had longer relations than they did with me.

How many cars competed at finals back in the 90's and early 2000's compared to now? If you try and tell me that it has grown you need a reality check. Later I was also a manufacturers rep for 7 companies in my state. Every company that I repped for that sponsored or partially sponsored competitors paid dues to the competition bodies. They had booths at the shows and even some had labels on the product boxes that had "Member of IASCA" or USACI and DB Drag memory serves me correct MECA as well.

I wonder where the comp scene would be at if there were no support by manufactures to the actual body you are competing in (especially in the early days!)? Do you think more manufacturer support lends to the types of venues where the contests will be held? The booths and the special events that help draw spectators to the show and gives the competitors something to do and possibly have fun? Do you think the amount of manufacturer support doesn't have a role in how much your entry fees for a contest might be? Manufacturer support helps the org. So why should a company that doesn't support the very place they are getting advertising results from use the org for free that others help pay for? Some orgs had a sticker black out for companies that wouldn't or didn't pay a $250 supporting fee. I don't know about you but I am no big company, I don't even work for a company, and if I was asked to swing $250 bucks to allow me to advertise and support I am sure I could find a way to swing it. Some people complained to others it didn't matter. Comes down to this, a manufacturer has 2 responsibilities to the sport, the org and it's competitors. If companies are using the competition for promotion there is no way you can get around it. Frankly I would be more worried my sponsor wouldn't or couldn't come up with the $250. What price do competitors pay to compete? Big shows are what $50-$100? How expensive is finals to enter? You have entry fees why shouldn't the company wanting to throw banners up all over and make a presence at the show not have to pay? Were these manufactures even at USACI finals to lend support?

Did you guys complaining about the costs of your stuff get approached by Kinetik or did you go to them? Did other companies seek you out or did you go to them? What resume` did you have to present them? Did they know you? Did you try to get to know them? Is this a real question of that is the way it is? Who you are? or maybe just maybe about HOW you go about things in a correct manner? I competed on and off for 3 or 4 years and placed the highest in my class at 2 national events for the amplifiers I used. I still didn't get special treatment or free amps. Hell if it was not for the shop I went to I still would not have had a good discount...and I would bet $ had we had ebay back then I would have had a much sweeter deal going off line but I still would buy from a shop.

Ever think some people pay retail or close to retail from an actual local shop? What do you think runs through their minds seeing people whining in the wide open over paying a price lower than the non competitors did and wanting more off? These are the same people who as sponsored competitors you are trying to impress to buy product and get the word out to. Almost seems like most of you are trying to say everyone should get the best competitor deal regardless if you compete or not. If not why spout off about it on a public forum?//content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/laugh.gif.48439b2acf2cfca21620f01e7f77d1e4.gif Its also not like anyone that was on this board ever bought product with a competition discount that was below retail cost and then turned around and sold it for profit:wow:. If a company actually has dealers (more than a handful per state) they would try to protect from that wouldn't they? I mean until they had at least a real time working relationship with the new competitor. Who ends up really flipping the bill for competitors in the end? Consumers maybe?

 

[iamamp3pimp 5,000+ posts]

/rant

 

[iamamp3pimp 5,000+ posts]

in all seriousness, i agree with you on all of it, except the whole "if i found a better deal on ebay, id still pay more from the shop)

 

[audiolife 5,000+ posts]

in all seriousness, i agree with you on all of it, except the whole "if i found a better deal on ebay, id still pay more from the shop)

I would pay more from a shop, who spent the money to have a shop near me? Who are you actually buying it from off ebay? Who do I know I have a warranty with? Which one am I rolling the dice with? A shop has people who go there everyday who will talk to you and HAVE ITEMS IN STOCK rather than someone answering on line then ordering it from a location after they have your money. I have worked retail in car audio as well so I respect the profession. My deck, processor, wires and front speakers were all local purchases from the same shop. My sub at the time could only be purchased on line and I bought my Van Gogh on close out. If I could do it all over again I would have gone with the entry level M class sub memphis had at the time and purchased it local. (It sounds better in my box)

I also know 3 of the main guys who would give tech help at shows for Kinetik between Rich, Erik and Chris I highly doubt they would turn down support. With who they all have on their team and they have sucess still like in the past, enough so I bet Kinetik competitors have gotten "sweet" offers from other companies but still stayed with Kinetik. I do not know about levels they have in pricing, but it wouldn't suprise me if they did. Why wouldn't another company give you a better deal after finals and after you did well? You just added to your resume` and they probbably figure they can look even better taking you away. I have seen this brought up from people that say Kinetik gives away free stuff to now they are expensive. Thing is it should be between you and your sponsor/sponsors and not everyone else. Things that may have happened in the past may contribute to why they may have or may not have different levels of sponsership but again that is not for me to know or discuss that is between the competitors and their sponsors no one else.

 

[SPL140.2 5,000+ posts]

I also know 3 of the main guys who would give tech help at shows for Kinetik between Rich, Erik and Chris I highly doubt they would turn down support. QUOTE]

I agree 100% these guys are incredible.

 

[Toomnymods 10+ year member]

I'd like to be sponsored but also got the run around by zapco and other companies.. they make you believe that they are selling you a *****in deal at like 10% above cost but in all reality it is like 10% below suggested retail which you can usually beat on your own or thru ebay.. screw the warranty if i can save 3-4k of my hard earned money the greedy shop owners can starve for all i care..