i got a response from Kraftwerks via PM:
[QUOTE]David,

We appreciate your support. A lot of time and money is spent engineering supercharger kits. They are very front end loaded projects, and require the utmost care in design. The costs are tremendous, but it is worth it, to bring a quality product to market.

Thanks,
Oscar Jr.


[QUOTE]I wanted to send this to you because I know your companies are big pioneers in the scene, and well respected.

 

My hats of to you sir, for drafting up such a fine response to the senseless banter of the editor. Would love to see the response he gives you!!

 

since Ben@Bulletproof didnt accept my invitation... i took this sample from Ben's E-zine The Real JDM:

VIS sells this R35 GT-R hood for $8000.00. According to the bodykits.com website link it weighs 45lbs.

http://www.bodykits.com/2255/2256/2473/862...od-p-87812.html

They also offer a front diffuser and front fenders as well.

Am I the only person who finds this amusing?

On a separate note

 

thanks for the encouragement. I hope that this thing makes a big enough stink that people will start to take notice. Maybe we will get the response.

 

[QUOTE=s2kobsession,Sep 23 2008, 09:27 AM] great letter.

 

excellent writing...

I didnt get a PM or anything... and I just came across this while lurking. anyhow, I have been to Japan and the orient at least 50 times within the last 5 years of doing business on behalf of PWJDM. I think people often forget that PWJDM's core business is being the largest importer of JDM spec parts, new and used. I think we bring in more JDM products by volume than just about anybody else. I've been there, I've done all of that. I have seen most of it in person... when you wanna talk about kockoff companies... I think there is just as many in Japan as there is in Taiwan these days. I can name more than 10 off the top of my head. I can certainly appreciate the efforts that Ben@Bulletproof does on a daily basis by picking and choosing worthwhile products to carry... he's keeping the dream alive for all of us... me included.

Please don't forget that I am an enthusiast first and owner/founder of PWJDM second. This can be observed in the direction of PWJDM as a company with vast amounts of investments in research and development, engineering, dry carbon manufacturing, race car fabrication, marketing, and everything else we do here at work to make it all proceed forward. It's not easy. what makes it easier for me on a daily basis is all the fans and supporters we have here at PWJDM. I can honestly say that I don't do this for the money. those of you who know me can attest to this fact. What I do it for is to scratch an itch that I have... and that itch has always been doing what others think is near impossible. Where others could care less, I keep on at it. I like proving the naysayers wrong and my weapon of choice so happens to be a Honda or a Japanese car.

We get bashed all the time, and honestly it does nothing to dampen my spirits... it's gonna take more than a few thousand haters to ruin my day, I have been through much worse. People don't know PWJDM well enough and that's ok with me... what I think this market needs to do is mature a bit more and understand what it takes to be able to bring the quality of products that companies including PWJDM offer to the Honda crowd. This will only happen over time and with a bit of willingness to understand. What it is that we do here at PWJDM isnt easy, and honestly, there isn't that much money in it. I do it just because I started street racing back in 1992... and it just happened to be in a Honda at the time. Damn I miss those days. I would really like to see more companies here in the states step up to the plate, don't give a **** what people think, put all their eggs into this basket, go for broke and ride with style into the sunset and set records and break all the trends that are so ass backwards. The movie fast and the furious isn't helping us out any.

Good night guys.

 

The war between authentic and knockoff products will never cease to end. At least for the most part we know that most authentic parts live up to the price for their build and quality, and that's whats important. People know the difference of pure craftsmanship compared to knockoffs. But I can't blame knockoff companies either because I would've done the same because there's a huge profit opportunity. Some will buy replicas, some will buy authentic, but it doesn't constitute you as a lesser man for whatever your purchasing choice, and many has solely based their opinion on someone like I've seen on this site.

 

very nice read although a response from the editor is slim, it was a great effort nonetheless.

 

well, nice job, but now I feel guilty cause I have a state-side shift boot... Ricks... oh wait, no I don't. Cause aem and greddy's shit is WAY overpriced. why buy it when I can build it for 1/3 the price? so I should string out my wallet and give away 3 times as much $$$ to help one company that overcharges when a more realistic company is selling the SAME thing for a realistic price? when you have a good answer, I am waiting.

 

ask and you shall receive...

I think your missing the point of this whole thread actually. A shift boot and a complete wide body kit arent exactly like comparing apples to apples. Your shift boot is a universal product. They arent design facets that set your shift boot apart from others, that may or may not lend itself to preform better...material and stitching excluded.

What we are trying to bring an awareness to is the design infringement that many companies commit. Either the thread and its reading is too complex for you or you didnt take the time to read it in its entirety.