Founder Performance
03-09-2012, 06:15 AM
#25
I don't have an "ax to grind" with any sponsors, however, when a company sells their parts for that low a price, I immediately have to ask how they can do it. In 2007, several months before I retired, I had some free time at work, as well as access to a 'full tilt' machine shop. I decided to take the opportunity to fab up a set of LCAs, but something a little different. I wanted them to be able to accept the Moog rubber bushings, as the roads are pretty bad in my area, and I wanted something that was structurally superior to the OE LCAs, but with just a little "give".
I contacted my company's steel supplier and told them what I needed. They had a mimimun order policy which I had to go by, since we were slow at the time, and didn't have any open orders with them, that I could add my request to. Therefore, I wound up with enough American made, DOM steel to make 2 pairs of LCAs, which is what I wound up doing. They did, however, give me my company's discounted price.
Long story short, the cost of the steel, and the cost of the bushings alone, was more than Founders charges for a finished part. I truly don't see how they can do it....
I contacted my company's steel supplier and told them what I needed. They had a mimimun order policy which I had to go by, since we were slow at the time, and didn't have any open orders with them, that I could add my request to. Therefore, I wound up with enough American made, DOM steel to make 2 pairs of LCAs, which is what I wound up doing. They did, however, give me my company's discounted price.
Long story short, the cost of the steel, and the cost of the bushings alone, was more than Founders charges for a finished part. I truly don't see how they can do it....
03-09-2012, 06:57 AM
#27
Ever seen American Gangster? Maybe they went to the source. Maybe they bought 50,000 bushings.
Or (what I think) they found a company that was just struggling because of the economy and had them CNC cut parts at an insanely low price just to keep the doors open. Founders sells the products for a couple years at a loss or at cost then jumps the price a little when economy turns around and their name/brand is recognizable.
Just because the doors are open doesnt mean they are profitable.
Or (what I think) they found a company that was just struggling because of the economy and had them CNC cut parts at an insanely low price just to keep the doors open. Founders sells the products for a couple years at a loss or at cost then jumps the price a little when economy turns around and their name/brand is recognizable.
Just because the doors are open doesnt mean they are profitable.
03-09-2012, 05:07 PM
#28
....Or (what I think) they found a company that was just struggling because of the economy and had them CNC cut parts at an insanely low price just to keep the doors open. Founders sells the products for a couple years at a loss or at cost then jumps the price a little when economy turns around and their name/brand is recognizable.
Just because the doors are open doesn't mean they are profitable.
Just because the doors are open doesn't mean they are profitable.
I suppose that's a possibility.....
03-12-2012, 07:52 AM
#29
installed there PHB and lower control arms(still need to install the lca brackets) over the weekend. All parts looks very nice and install was very easy. Time will tell how the quality is!
03-12-2012, 09:00 AM
#30
Ever seen American Gangster? Maybe they went to the source. Maybe they bought 50,000 bushings.
Or (what I think) they found a company that was just struggling because of the economy and had them CNC cut parts at an insanely low price just to keep the doors open. Founders sells the products for a couple years at a loss or at cost then jumps the price a little when economy turns around and their name/brand is recognizable.
Just because the doors are open doesnt mean they are profitable.
Or (what I think) they found a company that was just struggling because of the economy and had them CNC cut parts at an insanely low price just to keep the doors open. Founders sells the products for a couple years at a loss or at cost then jumps the price a little when economy turns around and their name/brand is recognizable.
Just because the doors are open doesnt mean they are profitable.
Last edited by Twin_Turbo; 03-12-2012 at 04:33 PM.
03-12-2012, 09:42 AM
#31
These things all add up and contribute to the cost of the product. For example UMI has a test vehicles for every product we offer, we have at least one of each make of vehicles we produce products for sitting here for fitment, road test or racing. As many of you know these newer vehicles (2010+ Camaro and Mustang) are not cheap to purchase, also classic cars in good shape have increased in value over the past few years. We also staff full time engineers, salesman and technical support for our products.
Can test high speed @ german autobahn 
should I send my adress? 
03-12-2012, 04:16 PM
#33
TECH Senior Member
orit's made in the east...there was word on 3rdgen.org that they're the same as J&M. I don't buy that.I bought original J&M strut mounts for my cars because other companies simply copied their product.I was thinking about the founders ones but not sure if they were chinese or similar.I don't spend my money on china junk so I didn't want to take the rist.
Brian Croutcher owns both websites and buildings, do a search...
03-12-2012, 06:04 PM
#34
I believe you,still...why would there be a 100$ difference between caster/camber plates from the same company then but under a different name?
http://www.corporationwiki.com/Calif.../45281312.aspx
http://www.corporationwiki.com/Calif.../45281312.aspx
03-13-2012, 10:22 AM
#35
This is simply my guess of why prices are low.
1. They want to earn their reputation by trying good parts at half price of other brands and once they have customers, prices will be more "industry".
2 Or the prices are cheaper because they don't do their own R&D and the products are simply carbon copies of other known brands who own, drive the test cars.
Think clear corner lights for camaros on ebay...
1. They want to earn their reputation by trying good parts at half price of other brands and once they have customers, prices will be more "industry".
2 Or the prices are cheaper because they don't do their own R&D and the products are simply carbon copies of other known brands who own, drive the test cars.
Think clear corner lights for camaros on ebay...
Last edited by bad_408_vert; 03-13-2012 at 10:29 AM.
03-13-2012, 04:33 PM
#36
But why would a set of J&M strut mounts cost something like $240 and the founders $150 if it's the same co.? I feel robbed now LOL Could have saved me a bundle (I have to pay taxes and import fees over parts price + shipping so it easily adds up to $150)
03-14-2012, 03:57 AM
#37
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I don't have an "ax to grind" with any sponsors, however, when a company sells their parts for that low a price, I immediately have to ask how they can do it. In 2007, several months before I retired, I had some free time at work, as well as access to a 'full tilt' machine shop. I decided to take the opportunity to fab up a set of LCAs, but something a little different. I wanted them to be able to accept the Moog rubber bushings, as the roads are pretty bad in my area, and I wanted something that was structurally superior to the OE LCAs, but with just a little "give".
I contacted my company's steel supplier and told them what I needed. They had a mimimun order policy which I had to go by, since we were slow at the time, and didn't have any open orders with them, that I could add my request to. Therefore, I wound up with enough American made, DOM steel to make 2 pairs of LCAs, which is what I wound up doing. They did, however, give me my company's discounted price.
Long story short, the cost of the steel, and the cost of the bushings alone, was more than Founders charges for a finished part. I truly don't see how they can do it....
I contacted my company's steel supplier and told them what I needed. They had a mimimun order policy which I had to go by, since we were slow at the time, and didn't have any open orders with them, that I could add my request to. Therefore, I wound up with enough American made, DOM steel to make 2 pairs of LCAs, which is what I wound up doing. They did, however, give me my company's discounted price.
Long story short, the cost of the steel, and the cost of the bushings alone, was more than Founders charges for a finished part. I truly don't see how they can do it....
I don't know how Founders makes what they do, but I currently own some of their stuff and some of the other big names BMR, UMI, Spohn etc. all currently on my car, and if you took the stickers off you couldn't tell the difference.
03-14-2012, 04:04 AM
#38
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And, they shipped me the wrong panhard bar a long time ago, one email and I had a new (correct) one at my door in a few days. They didn't even hassle me to return the other one. That's customer service, eating one for your mistake no questions asked.
03-14-2012, 08:27 AM
#39
Really? They don't need engineers or testing or vehicles if they don't want. What's on the market is tried and true. An identical copy of something that works and is proven is going to work as advertised. I don't see Founders re-inventing the wheel, they are making a product with like quality of their competitors but eliminating the costs. I assume its advertising, engineering, tech and sales staff that gets run on the thin side to keep cost down. With the proper CNC equipment and programs you only need a high school kid in the shop punching buttons and chucking up parts to keep an operation like this going. I welded for a CNC machine shop for years, I know how this stuff works. Also, fresh out of welding school I applied for a welding job at a place that makes scaffolds. They paid next to nothing for the wire gun work, and all you did was tighten 2x2 square tubing in a jig and sealed up the corners. So simple a monkey couple do it. I passed on that job.
Control arms and panhard bars are simple, tubing, bushings and weld. Front a-arms, k-members ect take more time and effort to design.
Many companies pay next to nothing for work to be done, we don't. 80% of our staff here is working here as a career, not a temp job until the next best thing comes around. This cost us more money but also results in more dedicated employees and less mistakes. High school kids don't care about your business or your future, if you are not inspecting everything they do something can easily slide out the door that isn't right.
