Headlight Splitters... WHY?
06-02-2009, 11:41 AM
#1
The Paranoid One
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Texas
Posts: 5,320
Headlight Splitters... WHY?
Why in the HELL do headlight splitters cost so much?
I can see louvers being that much but give me a FRIGGIN BREAK, these things are TINY compared to other things.
Like 150.00 or more for them... WTF???
AND I CAN'T EVEN FIND THEM PRE PAINTED!!!!!
Has anyone found them cheaper or pre-painted?
And am I MAD for thinking the price is ridiculus?
I can see louvers being that much but give me a FRIGGIN BREAK, these things are TINY compared to other things.
Like 150.00 or more for them... WTF???
AND I CAN'T EVEN FIND THEM PRE PAINTED!!!!!
Has anyone found them cheaper or pre-painted?
And am I MAD for thinking the price is ridiculus?
06-03-2009, 12:41 AM
#5
4th Gear Member
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Newark, Delaware
Posts: 1,259
The goal for retailers is to adjust prices for both supply and demand in order to turn a profit. If they have lots of supply and little demand, raising the price as you stated would simply result in ever-decreasing demand.
Alternatively, I feel that lots of people are demanding headlight splitters, which drives the price of a relatively simplistic body piece to an exorbitant level because there's enough demand that people are willing to pay $100+ for a pair.
Take Ford's splash guards for example. In 2006, you could get a pair for $7 from the dealership. What's the price now? $60+. Are people actually paying $60+ for them? You bet.
What did I just pay for my radiator cover extensions? Yeah... over $60... and they were on sale. With enough demand, you could charge $20 for a pack of gum or $10 for a pencil...
06-03-2009, 04:16 AM
#6
2nd Gear Member
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: CA
Posts: 434
I love headlight splitters from everything on my car I get most compliments on them. Would I pay 200$ for mine probably, and I'm probably not alone.
That is the Demand, the consumer is willing to pay for that so they charge that.
That is the Demand, the consumer is willing to pay for that so they charge that.
06-03-2009, 08:25 AM
#7
The Paranoid One
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Texas
Posts: 5,320
East87:
Supply and demand normally dictates that as demand increases, supply decreases causing an increase in price to compensate. Prices decrease when there is excess supply or insufficient demand...or both.
Supply and demand normally dictates that as demand increases, supply decreases causing an increase in price to compensate. Prices decrease when there is excess supply or insufficient demand...or both.
06-03-2009, 06:27 PM
#10
4th Gear Member
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: CA
Posts: 1,291
I completely disagree with you East87, headlight splitters are not in high demand. And many of the private parts makers charge HIGHER prices when items are either new or not selling in high volume. A great example are the outside mirrors and brake ducts from Agent 47- great products, but a tad too high for my taste. I believe one of the Agent 47 sales people in on this forum, and I would suggest you have a conversation with them if you need more evidence.
Onto my next point: Ford Motor Company, and many other manufacturers, have recently raised the prices of parts simply as a method of making more money- not as a result of supply and demand. The OEMs are having trouble making as much money as they did even 10 years ago, and one of the methods is to increase the profits from parts. Heck, some of the smaller parts were sold at a loss, or at cost, for several years; and I will not debate this last fact.
Onto my next point: Ford Motor Company, and many other manufacturers, have recently raised the prices of parts simply as a method of making more money- not as a result of supply and demand. The OEMs are having trouble making as much money as they did even 10 years ago, and one of the methods is to increase the profits from parts. Heck, some of the smaller parts were sold at a loss, or at cost, for several years; and I will not debate this last fact.