please note that i have NO way of getting them for that price! im just getting the feeling that the price is holding most of us back,more than the down time! it might help to let everyone know why only 9 members have them. i personaly have the money. i just cant see spending that much money on a mod wich i feel doesnt do that much! and if the price were a little bit lower, id DEFINATLY get it!! i have stated this in other posts, but i felt the need to make an entire post to cover this! in hopes that it will get to Technosquare! so what is it? why do only 9 people have this mod? cheston, are you including the test cars in that 9? is everyone waiting to see how it works on other peoples cars befor you install it? are you not interested at all? is it the down time? or is it the $$$? everyone please post and let us know! ps. cheston, please dont feel that im aiming any negitive attitude at you! belive me i am TRULY GREATFULL of all that you have given to our (Z) family! i (mabey just me?) belive that technosquare may be asking too much for this!

 

one more thing. to those (9) of you who already have this mod. do you feel that it was worth $600? thanks.

 

i'm surprised no one has asked this question to those who have purchased a $700 set of headers, or $3500 set of rims. $2k for a nismo body kit? $500 for a head unit?

There always has been a history of battling over software pricing... and its not a battle i'm going to participate in, nor will i exert any more effort. If its too pricey, then perhaps people should consider other options, or bring this type of pricing ideology to other modifications...

no personal attacks meant to you DeeZee, but there are a few people out there that are posting rants and complaints on pricing, claiming that its all profit taking or whatever...when i offered numerous free beta testing positions over two monthes ago, i basically searched everywhere and no one wanted to help. and now, with the product out, they PM me and ask basically "can i get the hook up now?" and when i said no, they go off posting..

its getting to a point....... a point where i would rather not go. but if need be.. i will.

 

Not a good analogy. It is much more expensive to R&D hard parts. Then, once you put the parts for sale, there is the cost of production. Also, keep in mind that other ECU's for other cars, like the Hondata for example, cost about $250 and that includes the piggyback ECU!!!!

I think I would be generous if I said TS invested $10,000 in the ECU development. That equates to selling 17 ECU's and getting all their money back. After that, it's pure profit. Not to mention that the R&D for the other VQ35 cars will be less now that the major work is done.

And yes, it was me and I did ask to get a hook up. I was also asked for input in putting on a track day for the TS ECU (info that was left out). Because of that, I don't think it was out of line to ask for a deal. If you are gonna post something, at least post all of the story.

 

exactly what chebosto said =======> if you feel that its something you dont want to get just because of the price then just dont get it....i personally feel that when people drop 5 to 6 k on some 22 or 24 inch spinners, its just way to much for some wheels. But then again who am i to judge upon the actions of someone hooking up there ride like before if you want your car to run smooth and look amazing you have to at least put some effort and some dinero into it.....Just my 50 cents

 

You honestly think, production costs are so high, that a body kit would constitute a $2000 price tag?






Then Please, by all means, Purchase a Honda. What does comparing the ECU from a Honda to the Nissan going to get you? If they were the same car, and the same coding structure, then yes, you have a valid point. but its not, its apples and oranges.

Thats like comparing the complexity of a Cessna to an F-16 and complaining why if Cessna can build an airplane for $100k, why should an F16 cost $30 million?

 

Once again, your analogy is bad. The Z and and a Honda, no matter how much you don't want to admit it, are extremely similar. They are gas powered, non FI, piston based engined. An F16 and a Cessna have nothing in common at all. One is a jet and one is a piston prop plane. The price difference between a base Z and a Honda/or Acura is pretty much nothing, with many Acura's actually costing more.

You also know as well as I do that designing a custom body kit from scratch, that fits well. Is pretty expensive. Then you need to make the tooling to produce the kit, then you need the industrial space to make the kit, then you need the personel to produce the kit on a daily basis. For the ECU program, you need 1 guy that knows where to put the plug and what buttons to push.

 

you know cheston you have a point! who am i to say that $600 is too steep for an ecu flash? truth be told, i realy dont know that much about ecu's. MOST of what i do know about my ecu, i learned from you guys! but i do know that my mods negate on their own! i know its not all in my head! and to that aspect of this ecu, its wonderful! and if the price never drops, i might just get it anyway? it just seems like soo few things are being changed! ive only hit my rev limiter twice! (drifting!) and ill probably never hit my speed limiter??? (140 is my best so far!) so to me i feel that im not getting that much for my money! thats why i started this thread. i fell that others may feel the same way! i truly feel that with a $100 dollar price drop, EVERYONE would jump on the techno band wagon! im by all means not telling you or technosquare how to do buisness! but with enhuf feedback on this, i feel that the price may drop! i mean to me it seems like good buisness? sell 25 units at $600, or sell 100 units at $500? i REALY think (from post an what not that ive been reading) that the $100 difference would skyrocket the sales of this! thats all ive been getting at!

 

I wouldn't pay that much for an ECU program that just came out, especially if it's only a program and not the board itself. Maybe when later on and there's more non-Beta tester's who are trying with different mods I might consider. Especially since by then other ECU would be out and pricing might be a little more competitive.

 

You are so correct raceboy.........the price does NOT justify the process........certainly the time and the effort to break up the ECM's program and figure it out was costly, but as a business, that was a decision that technosquare had made.......i think they're taking advantage of being one of the only US-spec reflashes available

 

DeeZee,I talked with Danny at technosquare 2weeks ago.He said he thought there would be a group buy.When?He did not say.Pricing between $400-$500.Don't know if that helps.I will wait & see what happens.Also,I won't complain about the price that technosquare is charging,they have a right to make a buck.But I am the kinda guy that won't buy unless I can get a price I can live with.Hell,thats half the fun of this sh*t.Regards,Tom

 

I can't figure out why numerous posts are made complaining about the price...if you dont like the price, dont buy it...its very simple. TSI isnt forcing anyone to buy their ecu, so if you feel that the cost is too expensive, then dont make the purchase...theres no need to constantly complain about it and try to justify why its overpriced.

 

I have no beef with the price. I'm just waiting to see how the first batch of cars do in the next little bit. if everyone seems happy and no cars experience 'glitches'
then I'll happily buy. I'd like to see a test case where a Technoed car goes to a dealer or shop for servicing or repairs and emerges still upgraded and not screwed up.

 

There have been some good points made here. But the most useful information is that provided by the people who have decided not to buy. For a the vendor(s): if you are a salesperson by nature, you are always overcoming objections. After development costs and production costs, you are down to profits. Nobody is suggesting that TSI should change the price. Consider this cheap feedback that many companies pay big $$ to research. Who would buy my product(s) if the prices were more aggressive.

I, for one, would be in line if the price were cheaper. I will also say this, I think that they are very close to that "magic number". Esp. since the price includes a warranty, right? Don't forget that this a business opportunity. Do you want to capture a market you do not have yet? Do you want to know how big that market is and if you are near its "sweet spot"?

I also see your point, Cheston...everybody is a buyer at free.
So how about this?

Set up a REAL group buy. Something like for 10 orders price of $500.
For 50 orders (credit cards charged with a deposit of $500) the final price drops to $400 or something.

If you wanted to get crazy, and could get 100 orders the price could be as low as $350 or something. I'm just throwing around ideas...it's the Business Major in me.

I know I would be inclined to do it seeing as I am almost a buyer at it's current price.

 

I'm not going to buy the ECU as a matter of principle now. I understand recuperating initial investment and all that, but I don't want to feel like I'm being taken advantage of.

Thank you, Cheston, for all of your sacrifices, helping Technosquare develop an ECU flash for this car, but they're shooting themselves in the foot. Within 6 months there will more than likely be dozens of aftermarket vendors offering similar services at a lower cost, so I'm gonna wait. Unless they make the ECU reflash available for like $200 with lifetime reflashes available for just the labor costs, count me out.

 

You guys are flippin rediculous on this pricing thing... SUPPLY AND DEMAND... you live in a capitalist society. The company you work for produces or sells some type of service or product. Depending on the amount that they produce and the amount of competition that they have, they have the ability to drive up cost of goods/services. Technosquare was THE FIRST to crack the ECU and THE FIRST to put it on the market. What exactly do you expect? It takes time, Dynos, and a LOT of brain power to crack these suckers. We are not talking about going into a shop and designing, engineering, and fabricating something. We're talking about software engineers and brains going over and over code.

You can wait for Jim Wolfe or whoever else produces the ECU crack, however, I'll be blowing by you with me ECU and mods while your sitting on your hands over a few bucks. You have a nice sports car not a Honda Prelude, Acura, or Civic here. The newer the car the more the ECU. The nicer the car - the more the ECU. Get over it man... buy it pay, for it, and shut up or just SHUT UP! Don't get on TEchnoSquare because you want their product but cannot afford it or don't like their asking price. This is not Barter Town!

I like the group buy idea but personally... I ain't waiting for it.

 

I could easily afford it, but why should I pay their ridiculous asking price for 15 minutes worth of work? Now if they have some magical powers that no one else has that allowed them to unlock the mystical secrets of the ECU, then I'll pay their asking price. They don't have any special superpowers though, so I'm sure there will be better and less expensive versions coming out before too long.

I will wait until someone gives me a good deal on an ECU flash or piggyback. I decide when it's a good deal for me and until then Technosquare isn't getting my hard earned money.

BTW, the subject of this thread was to discuss the cost of the ECU flash, so no I won't shut up.

 

Just curious... what software do you run in the office and at home Jesse?

 

Working closely with TechnoSquare, i can tell you they are not about trying to make a quick buck or rip off anyone. They are all in it for the pure goal of making an enthusiast happy.

Technos does not just the Nissan but Toyota and Honda as well. To have that type of expertise to be able to modify multiple platforms from one company is excellent... i have yet to know ANY ECU tuner with this type of perfessionalism, EVER.

In fact, i bet they would rather NOT work with anyone that thinks their 350Z is same as Honda Civic or Integra, because it is NOT. One is your common low-cost econo pocket rocket, while the Z we have is a true sports car. Where do you guys get off comparing the Z to a Honda/Acura? That's perposterous.

Sure, they may sell more ECU if the price was $300. But what do we get here? All get get by doing so, is just a gang of people with this "Honda mentality" as our customers. I thought everyone who owns a Z wants to be thought of highly of, as a true sports car consequier. Not some punk kid who think the Tornado Air is the best thing in the world and he got the hookups on a set of strut bars for $10. You know what this "honda mentality" is... and you know who they are/what they want.

Technos has been in this business for long time... its not your wannabe dude at the tune shop that can alter your timing with a Consult...

They would rather sell to a smaller number of the ECUs to the quality customer who knows what their car is and the speciality it takes to tune it and provide quality customer service and tech support..

Secondly, pricing also is including the maintainability of the product liability insurance.. they do that for ALL the products they sell. That is what you may call part of the production/post-production costs.

As you know, 350Z use fly by wire system. There is a risk involved by reprogramming the ECU and the risk for this Z ECU is very high for that reason. You mess up any wrong component in the core programming and its toast. ECU is a black box/mystery box for everyone, and if any thing goes wrong, first thing the people point their finger at is ECU. I've personally seen it happen before and i'm telling you now, other people will too. They why Technos only settles for perfection in their Code. do you see Microsoft caring about their customers after they release a shitty *** program?

Raceboy, are you in the business of ECU tuning? You know know what it takes? You run your own business, you know the inherient costs for everything. You should know there are costs for every product made. You need to pay bills, payrolls, and tax...so many things. You know should know that there never will be a no cost product and service.

Some of you guys really need to think more about what ECU is really is on newer cars today. If you don't like the ECU developed/tested by Technos, please by ALL means, try to find other ways to manage not only the engine but the entire car systems. Or if you find a standalone core replacement, how much it will be? Less than 600? HA! I can't even think if that is possible.

Finally, TehcnoSquare is the US representative for Techtom products. There only a few other companies who purchased the programming devices. They need to keep this flashing business attractive to these companies also. That is why TS is not in a position to just dump the product. I bet you will never bring this type of price bitching to JWT or Altered when they release their ECU.... just because we are the first ones to get it done right, this is the thanks?

I believe that other companies will also offer their ECU same price range as ours. But, it really doesn't matter how much they sell ECU for. Technos simply keeps our 350z performance to be the highest possible for the price you pay.

People who purchased JET chips still come to buy Technos' higher priced ECU after they found out they got nothing.

These are my opinions. This is the Last i will talk about this. You are the end customer. those reading this.... YOU make the decision

Your Z is not a Honda. Nor will it ever be nor should it ever be compared as so. IF you want a type of product that is set in this "honda mentality" then go buy one, and leave us true 350z enthusiasts alone.



--Cheston Chiu

 

Win2k, apples and oranges, without it, your computer will not run. An ECU flash is not a required purchase, my car still runs great without it.