There are no Aerotech/Quest retailers in my region. Even the retailers that sell Estes in my region do not carry the full Estes motor line , no C5-3, A3-2t, A3-6t, almost no Estes E and F motors. I do not think Quest motors have the low cost production or profit margin of Estes motors, and Estes as the 800 pound monopolistic gorilla, could crush Quest if they saw then as a competitive threat.
Estes going to MAP = MSRP for all online sellers 4/1?
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If Estes were an 800 pound monopolistic gorilla they wouldn't let every company and its kid brother sell clones of Estes kits.
Fortunately I have a large pile of shame to build from if there's a price increase that dissuades me from buying new kits.
Eh? Isn't that in the best interest of Estes? Isn't that like Estes hiring a private manufacturer to produce Estes kits that Estes no longer believes are profitable, but still consumes profitable Estes motors?
I'm not sure. For me, most of the clones that I see and are interested in are also upscales that move beyond what Estes motors are capable of lifting.
I really hope that other brands take this opportunity to expand on their kit selection. I'd love to see some additional 1.0 and 1.6 kits from LOC and some new offerings from Quest.
I know this one is a stretch but I'd love to see the old Custom Brand come back with some of their older kits.
QJets are more expensive than Estes BP motors, but IMHO they're reasonably competitive. Especially if bulk-packs become popular. And the QJet and similar AT offerings at E/F/G levels leave Estes in the dust. (Also MHO)
Exactly. If AC Supply can still offer their discounts on Quest motors but Estes says no more of that, it's a pretty easy choice.
Love those C12s too
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Because I know @AeroTech Gary reads here, I'd buy bulk packs of Quest if they were available in the longest delays. I'm mostly an MD high and fast guy, and in almost any impulse, any rocket I build only wants the longest available delay. It's pretty annoying to not have bulk pack pricing available just because I wanna go fast.
Erase the discount on the Estes and it's no contest.
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Sitting here wondering if I should do another order of just motors tonight.
mh9162013
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Do it!
I ordered several Booster Berthas to possibly use with scouts later. That rocket is a great deal at $23.
I wonder if AC Supply will be able to do something like offer 35% discount on Estes products for orders over $100 or something.
I wonder if AC Supply will be able to do something like offer 35% discount on Estes products for orders over $100 or something.
How often does AC have coupons? I can never find one when I want one.
I just ordered some Estes motors and a couple of Quest kits.
This may only affect the prices that show up in advertisements. Actual selling price may remain unchanged.
Example: Sam’s club sells a certain brand of luxury sunglasses that has a MAP. When searching, you see the frame, but no price. If you continue for further info, you’ll be prompted to log in with your Sam’s account to see the price.
That’s designed to keep me from telling that sunglass vendor to come pickup all of their frames and place them somewhere uncomfortable, as Sam’s is selling them cheaper than the manufacturer will sell them to me, as a dealer.
By allowing that price to be advertised, they would be alienating the entire dealer network that built their business.
mh9162013
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They could have special promotions, like buy 4 rockets, get the 5th (of equal or lesser value) for free. Or offer free products for certain purchases. Then there's lowering the free shipping threshold.
I wouldn't be surprised if AC Supply has the same prices as the Estes website, but the free shipping threshold is $40 or something.
Went into FPM (Full Panic Mode). Just bought $400 worth of motors from AC. Based on what I launched last year, it's just over a year's worth. If they continue to be available under some "secret" discount, well, that's OK too. In that case, I just won't need to order for a while.....
Hans.
Hans.
dr wogz
Fly caster
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A common method is to bundle product from a mfr. that has MAP with product from one that doesn't. e.g., buy an Estes kit at Estes web site price, get a pack of Q-Jets for free. The seller is averaging the effective discount across both products, but it's officially a sale of the Estes kit at MAP.
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Speaking from my RC Sales days. The dealer is given a list of items with MAP and as long as that item appears on that list we could not advertise below the MAP price.
Typically the Mfg. will send out an email blast to all dealer when they lower the MAP in an attempt to reduce inventory. If we received a new list and the item was off the list then pricing is fair game. That is how I dumped a ton of RC Cars after they went out of production.
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There is absolutely a run on ACS' inventory going on right now. @BEC posted in the other forum that they are selling out of a bunch of stuff. I checked, and that includes popular motors. If you want something, probably best to get it now.
On the other hand, I looked on estesrockets.com at their motor prices, and after you apply the launch2023 coupon code, you're close enough to ACS' prices that I've decided to "keep my powder dry" so to speak for now. Maybe later in the year they'll have a stackable coupon and I can stock up at 40-off...
I’d forgotten about that coupon. Thanks.
mh9162013
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I just went to AC Supply's website, and it seems like they're pushing Quest rockets hard and their Estes offering are difficult to find. The only Estes rockets I could quickly find were their bulk packs; I was able to find individual Estes kits, but they're few and far between.
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I think that just reflects product going off the site when it sells out, as they had plenty last night and earlier this morning.
The odd thing about that is that they are disappearing altogether, not just flagged "temporarily out of stock". It really does make one wonder what's really going on.
They have a TON of website editing to do in a few hours. Maybe stuff is going "offline" when out if stock; only to come back with the MAP in place as they get restocked. In the mean time anything "in stock" will be at the MAP in a few hours.
Think about how many websites have had major issues when the try to flip a switch on "mass changes".
Think about how many websites have had major issues when the try to flip a switch on "mass changes".
A very insightful and unfortunately a very accurate analysis of what Estes has now become. I purchased my first Estes kit in 1969. My opinion only. Thank goodness that a have three very large boxes of still-packaged Estes kits and parts in my hobby room, as my wife and me call it. I'll not ever buy one more or their kits following this latest action from them.
Jim
Well HL's prices don't seem to have changed...
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