Why is all this little stuff so expensive?

[aron77]

I'm looking at maybe purchasing some minor mods but I don't feel like I'm getting alot of bang for my buck. The main minor one I want at this point is the gm cupholder and footwell lighting. I like the gm one with the plug and play and switch to change the color but it is rediculously overpriced, the best price I've seen is still 301 on gmpartsdirect. Seriously it is only a couple of wires and bulbs. The other methods I've seen require a little more fabrication than I want and they don't have the color change ability in the footwells and cupholder.

I was interested in doing the splash gaurds and I found them on parts direct for 143.50 which is somewhat reasonable but by the time you add 36.59 I might as well pay just a tad more and get them from the dealer and have someone to complain to if they don't look like I expect.

I did go ahead and price a pdim on direct and they have that for 136.50 which compared to the dealer is ok but again they want 34.81 to ship and again if I'm not saving that much by the time it gets here then I'll just buy it at the dealer.

Lastly I priced a cargo net cuz there is no way I'm dropping 50 bones on that thing from the dealer and the 35 is ok but certainly on the high side of what I think it is worth but they want 8.93 to ship and for that I don't even want it.


The flaps and the pdim are nice but for those prices I can probably live without them. I really like the cupholder/foot lighting but wow those prices, even 300, are just stupid. I'd like the cargo net just to stop my tool box from rumbling in the trunk but otherwise I don't even care about it so it is only worth like 20 bucks to me, not 40+shipped and absolutely not 50 in store.

Here is what my order looks like that I definatly won't be completing
GM
Part #CategoryDescriptionPack QtyUnit PriceTotal Quantity OrderedExt.
PriceYOU
SAVECore ChargeS&H ApproxTOTAL** 20971891
Dome/Courtesy Lamp
LAMP
1
$301.00
1
$301.00
$129.00
$0.00
$0.00
$301.00
92229704
All
FLAP
1
$143.50
1
$143.50
$61.50
$0.00
$36.59
$180.09
*22872777
All
MODULE
1
$136.50
1
$136.50
$58.50
$0.00
$34.81
$171.31
92223802
All
Camaro Cargo Area Net
1
$35.00
1
$35.00
$15.00
$0.00
$8.93
$43.93
Non-NC Residents Total:
$696.33
Sales Tax (NC Only):
$47.74
NC Residents Total:
$744.07

[BIO-HAZARD]

Welcome to the party ,,,

If you shop around on here, always look for a discount , usally the code will be camaro5 that saves some ..

also look in the classified section , some really good deals there ..from pepole selling & buying ..

I feel your pain ,,, the 1st month we had the car and new Cold air intake & full catback exuaust set us back $1,500 ,, that was just the beginning ,,LOL..

Have fun ,,,& dont spend to much ,,,

[BiG_TiMe]

i know :( it's hard when you're in school. especially those interior knobs covers...geez $40+ for those, no thanks

[IowaGuy]

The camaro tax. One bracket under the corvette tax.

[RANGERGOD]

DON'T DO IT!!!!! ONCE YOU START MODDING, IT WILL NEVER STOP!!!!

[wrmiller19]

Supply and demand. People are willing to pay stupid prices for stuff, so the price goes up.

[GMollohan12]

Ouch, that stuff sure can get pricey. But I'm sure it'll be worth it in the end

[ketel0ne]

Originally Posted by IowaGuy

The camaro tax. One bracket under the corvette tax.

Having owned a C4 vette, paying the camaro tax is a dream.

[chevy 3]

Members sell stuff all the time. Check them out and then go to eBay also. Good luck

[vroomapunk]

especially emblempros, the problem is their stuff is really good quality, but you can easily spend 100$ on a few emblems or badges

[snizzle]

I've been thinking exactly the same thing. Some of these items have to have ridiculous profit margins after R&D is covered. Highly specialized items for a relatively small group of people.

[woodj]

Similar to buying stuff for a pool. PVC valve at pool place $20. Same PVC valve at Lowes $4. No lie.

[TSSUNAMI]

Originally Posted by vroomapunk

especially emblempros, the problem is their stuff is really good quality, but you can easily spend 100$ on a few emblems or badges

I just spent a few dollars with them. Can't wait till they come in. Full "onyx" badge treatment. Fiancee said "you're spending how much for stickers?!?!?!"
me: "they're stainless steel emblems"
her: "hope you like your stickers hahaha"
me: *facepalm*

[aron77]

The pdim I can probably live without for what little I gain vs the aux jack. The cargo net I'm pretty much over cuz seriously 50 bucks for something probably made in a factory in bejing for a penny, f you gm. The flaps I'll just keep checking til I find a deal. But the lighting is pretty cool and if not for the I'm going to screw you and your going to ask for seconds price I'd have already purchased.

I'm just surprized that with all the lighting stuff out there that there is no aftermarket for this particular oem offering cuz it is much cooler than any that I have seen and the plug and play is a huge bonus but over 400 bones from the dealer and 300 online is absolutely crazy for a few wires, leds, switch and plugs. Unless it is patented or something I don't see why someone hasn't made an after market just like that and sold it for half of the cheapest price and made a killing off this site alone.

The diy options look cool and are a tiny fraction of this cost but to me none match the ease of the plug and play with the ability to toggle colors. I'm going to keep looking and hopefully find it less than 300 but so far I haven't seen anything close and actually found one more expensive than even the dealer on amazon. Do these guys just pull the price out of the sky or what?