September 15th, 2008 Posted in Random Rant | 1 Comment »
What I always liked about building your own RC car was the fact that if something broke you could replace it. That eventually evolved into, if you need a better part, you can upgrade it, and this applied to everything from the motor, to the suspension balls. I kept to the replacing broken parts method for a long time. It was very easy because in general, the rc parts in oz are a little pricey (though i am finding stores that are well priced), and also because i didn’t break anything.
Then one day, i found a site that has caused me pain, rcmart.com . Here is a store that has just about every spare part, or little upgrade that you can find for Tamiya cars. Its ok though, cause each part works out to be about $5 AUD with a little bit of shipping. So off you go, I want this, wouldn’t mind a spare of that, read about this on the internet once, that will give me the edge. It goes on, and on and on. You think, yep, thats it, and go to the checkout. That little order is now a couple of hundred bucks. So now you have to do the list in reserve. Do i need this, do i need that. It takes forever. Eventually you give up and order, knowing that these are the “essential” items. Like who can really live without silver long body clips. Really.
I wasn’t going to comment on this, until someone i know (he can insert his name if he likes, i mean they, it might be a girl) ordered a $12 replacement body. Upon a delivery not arriving, he said they would have to leave his $59 order elsewhere. Wait a second, $59 not $12. I asked how the order had gone from 12 -> 59, and the response was along the lines of “you know exactly how”.
I had never intended this post to go in this direction, but why is it that you ummm and arrr over a $200 item, but its easier to decide to order 20 things that add up to the same value. I think it feels better when you open it, it looks better. People say, thats a lot of stuff, instead of, is that it. You can lay it all out and sit back and think, it was worth it. Its no difference then going to the milk bar (corner store, deli, lolly shop) a little while back (we’re talking 1994 here people). You walk in and its a choice of 3 chuppa chups, or 100 fizzo’s for $1. Its not a hard choice, 100 lollies is the way to go. Thats more then any one can count. You can share with your friends, or just look superior with your large white bag of lollies that doesn’t fit in any pocket. People who know me, know i was the latter (though it was more about the not sharing then the superior). But non the less, more was better. Looking back, i can’t help but feel i should have just got the chuppa chups, cause those fizzo’s last about 3 seconds each. Thats 300 seconds of enjoyment. 5 minutes. I think that the chuppa chups would last longer (mental note, buy chuppa chup and time, for research). Its the same with RC parts, there is a reason why the item costs $200. In motors, they are faster, longer lasting (in the case of brushless), have a better ESC with heaps of functions, handle more current and just be less crap them a cheaper alternative. But at the end of the day, 20 little items are easier to justify and the perfect place to find 20 items without even knowing it is a big online hobby store. Damn you $5 items.
