As I've said, I could care less about who to blame for the current issues. If these guys can produce good quality products for NSX owners, I'm happy to welcome them here.
Sounds like a personal attack.. besides, who has more time on their hands? The person who makes a guess or the person who looks up that person's profile?
As I have indicated, people will line up to buy stuff because it's cheap. Regardless what the thoughts are, you now have a Diffuser in CF at a give away price, take advantage of it and get one, because NRG and Synergyxxx will most likely, not have any thing else for the NSX in the future, at least not any thing they will produce them self. As I have indicated, this is a one shot wonder, a deal of a life time.
Dude, I bought the Procar NSX-R diffuser two years ago, and I'm out there talking crap about Procar? absolutely not. After dealing with Downforce for couple of years, I came to understand this type of business, I can honestly say that who ever want to make a product, replica or not, some one has to pick up the initial cost. As I have indicated on my previous threads, Mode4 got the raw end of the deal, and it is an unfortunate event. They have some cool NSX stuff in their pipeline and some one else will be producing their future product, some one who will honor their contract.
BTW, I was making a "intelligent" guess regarding Koolaid's comment, after reading his Bio. No personal attack here
I'd agree with you on the software analogy except for one minor detail: Mode4 wouldn't be analogous to Microsoft--they'd be analogous to someone who copied Microsoft's OS. Honda would be analogous to Microsoft, as they are the ones who put in the real R&D for this product. Someone correct me if I am wrong, but the Mode4 diffuser--which was manufactured by NRG--was a copy of an OEM Honda NSX-R diffuser. So to say mode4 was the victim of pirating wouldn't be accurate. Actually, Mode4 spearheaded the pirating of a Honda part to be manufactured by NRG.
I haven't had any experience with Synergy or NRG, but I've met Eric before and he seems like a good guy. Hopefully this all gets resolved.
The scenario is similar. Mode4 purchased a real deal, consulted NRG to produce the product, paid for the mold and initial production run. NRG decided to make more than the agreement and flood the market against the very people who paid for project. A conflict of interest maybe?
As for your comment regarding replicated parts, there has always been an unwritten rule in this industry. You can copy what ever your can see or touch, but you can't steal the blue print from the technology proprietor's computer and benefit from it (McLaren vs. Ferrari, 2007 F1 season), but that's an entirely different matter. What I can tell you is, there are companies out there that have replicated this product such as Procar, DF, KITE garage, Mode4, etc. with price range of $175 to over $1000 (depend on the exchange rate). Honda will never go after them.
Regardless, here is a simple fact. I'm not involve with Mode4, but I am a friend with Peter/Downforce. In S. Cal, once you learn one company, you will learn more about other closely associated companies. NRG is only 10 minutes away from DF and I have been there before. There are more dirt regarding NRG to this story than what Synergy understand and Mode4 is willing disclose. In a way, it is a good thing because as a consumer, we don't really need to know the dirt unless some one stir it up. In this case, people can buy the diffuser below the true cost - Consumer is the benefactor. After spoken to the owner of Mode4, he basically decided to let this one go and take a financial lost on this matter; at the same time, NRG has lost a good customer who put their very trust in NRG as supposedly, a legit and honorable company.
Erick of Mode4 has been a stand up guy. When entered this community for the first time, I conducted business with him as one of my first vender, he has never failed me. I'll give you a good example. Two years ago when he installed my NRG quick release hub for my NSX-R steering wheel, I ran into a problem with the horn. It will go off when I turn my steering wheel. Erick show up at my shop at 3 am and fixed the problem without complaint so I don't have to leave my car by my shop - He had class at 8 am!!! The problem turn out to be not related to his installation. He didn't charge me any money, took care of the problem, supplied me with additional parts that he was not obligated to at no charge, and that was the end of the transaction. That to me, is not only great customer service, but some one who is willing to back up the stuff he sales, and some one who cares about his customers by offering superior customer service. That is why every time some on PM me for information, and trust me, I get them almost daily, I often recommended Erick of Mode4 if his service fits the bill. You can't find a more stand up guy in this community than Erick.
In my opinion, NRG has lost more potential future earnings because Mode4 have some really cool NSX related project in their pipeline. Obviously, NRG will no longer get any more contract due to this unfortunate event. NRG decided to pull a fast one so they can dump some insignificant inventory that were produced in violation of the contract, all for the sake of some cash during this economic hard time. As I have indicated, time has been tough for some companies, and many don't survive, even after some desperate attempt. In this case, many business owners will tell you that we don't always make good money, some times we have to juggle the money pertty hard in order to pass the difficult periods. It's the way we juggle the money separate different business from been a good vender or bad.
Consumers has to make the decision of who to buy/support. I have always supported good venders on Prime by offering them my business. In most cases, I could have gotten better prices by purchased through other venders, but I like to see good companies thrive by not only offer the community more great future products that is unique to us, and willing to stand up for their products. How often have we see venders who came on Prime and pulled a fast one, run with the money, and never be heard again? Deamon, Tomaske, etc?
The most unfortunate part of this event is the fact that the discussion is played out in Public. As for some of those who questioned the true cost of the this product, as any small business owners will tell you, the 100% true cost will never be calculated. The money and time you spend by going to SEMA, negotiate with the manufacture, first initial cost to cast the mold, and first production run, etc. etc. As of this moment, both both sides has lost great amount of time and resources arguing over some thing that absolutely shouldn't have happened. Have you ever heard "some one will sell his mother for a pitiful dollar if he can?" In essence, NRG basically did just that.
In a few months, few will remember this incident. Mode4 will move on and life will be back to normal. Mode4 will have some more cool stuff to offer, some thing other venders will not have.
As for the members of the community who believe this is a great way to get parts cheap, Analyze what I just wrote. Of course some will agree, and some wouldn't. It's OK, we are all entitle to our opinions.
Peace out, I got my 2 cents in and I'm done with this thread.