Just a little update:
I am letting my magazine subscription to Import Tuner Lapse. After 8+ years of readership I think it's time to move on. I know a $25 subscription isn't a big deal but I feel that the magazine has little to offer me in terms content. I used to get excited about reading the articles, in middle and high school I used to carry a subscription around like it was the bible. Now I can thumb through the whole rag in about 10min. I've noticed it's pretty much the same thing every month and the writing leaves a lot to be desired. I've never been a big part of the culture and I've never paid attention to the "scene", and this whole non-response thing with Carter has left a bitter taste in my mouth.

I'm going to Borders today to look at what else is out there.

 

I didn't renew my subscription to Import Tuner this year either. The only magazine i am receiving in the mail still is Honda Tuning.

 

wow I totally missed that thread, very interesting

 

just read this whole thread and it has a lot of interesting points and comments.

a few things i get are this:
--carter jung's editorial wasn't convincing. to say that they allowed 'knock-off' companies to advertise can't really be put on carter jung as this isn't his job or his decision; only the letter was.
--tan <---don't know him but it seems like he is a standup guy for his efforts in the scene and our cars/forum.
--'knock-off' parts are a reality, not just in the import scene, but also the arts, literature, music, architecture, design, etc. i think it holds true that imitation is a form of flattery, however, when it comes to getting paid it's not as acceptable. let's not forget that many of the 'original' tuners themselves are knocking off ideas or designs for parts as well, and we'll leave it at that.

best thing to do is to go with your convictions and buy what you feel is best for you and support what you stand for, be it jdm, copy/knock-off, or whatever. if enough people swing one way, eventually the company with the best quality/service/accessibility/form/function will (usually) be the only one standing.

that's my unconvincing editorial.

 

^ Nice jc!

 

This is just one example of the many that is choking the worlds potential as a whole. I totally agree with most of the stuff stated hear and I'm all for the "movement" but the cold hard reality that needs to be know is this..
PROFIT RULES ALL
it is a pure rule of business..
Why good customer service and reps to bring repeating customers back?
PROFIT.
Why advertise amazing fitment and excellent build quality??
PROFIT
Why lay off 100+ workers of an amazing magazine??
PROFIT
Why file a chapter 11 and cause huge loss in innocent peoples jobs after banks give out stupid loans to anyone who can sign there name with a pen??
PROFIT
Why would government inflate our starving economy even more to "bail out" companies that dug there own grave?
PROFIT
and its all done for the few elitist up top. I'm sure some people really don't see all that stuff for what it is.. you may argue it was really to save the company and all that stuff but its really because the "bosses" didn't want to lose there nice 401k and retirement funds...
ANYWAYS i guess i could be considered "boy ricer" but with actually good, track intended purposes lol. Im all for authentic, well built stuff but honestly...
If it really is an EXACT copy does the wind care that it cost more $$ to make and develop?
Even if one could afford the uber awesome JDM stuff why would they spend more money for something that is practically identical? Its just not right to think people are gonna be "righteous" or "honorable" when it comes to money.
-----Its almost Ironic how society expects such refinement from everyone when the only way to survive is to fu(k people over just to put food on the table.-----
With the way the world is heading i think it would be just plain retarded to think that if we don't change everything will be OK. We are supposed to teach morals and to help each other as a race but then you make our whole economy based on monetary so "competition" is not only inevitable but just how it works. It is REALLY total BS when a company says they "care" for the customer.

THEY CANT AFFORD THAT!!!

I'm only 21 but my age has not denied me from seeing how much shit is really hitting the fan these days...
As for the OP what your doing is a good thing and if more people like you can shed light on to similar issues which as a whole is based on a capitalist economy. Maybe people will craw out of there holes and stop letting greedy CEO's LITERALLY rape the world for a new stock option or a house ect ect.
k that blew some steam off.

 

Glad to see people are still rummaging around on an old post like this. The global economy is in a sad state, with business practices and ethics trailing a close second. It's one of the reasons I switched from a Economics/ Business degree to History/ Philosophy. I have no stomach for back door dealings and compromised morality. I know Carter has no say on what gets advertised in Import Tuner, but an email response would have gone a long way, especially after being confronted at the 10year anniversary. I will be looking at Honda Tunning and other offerings, I might switch it up all together and grab a motorcycle or Mt Bike rag...

I'm 23 years old and make a meager wage serving tables, and I can appreciate the value of hard earned money. That being said I will not compromise my ethics and buy knockoff. Sure the wind doesn't know the difference, but I do.

Here's another thread that's popped up in JDM Tunning that has some interesting insights and opinions.

-David