B&M SHIFTERS NOW AVAILABLE!!

[Racecrafter]

If you missed the first 100 unit GP don't feel left out!

We are picking up an extra 50 units from B&M along with the first 100.

Retail is $225. (But remember... you are a member of this forum = 10% off)

Call to place your order today!

You will not be able to purchase these anywhere else until June 1st per our original agreement with B&M that lasts for 90 days!

Dealer inquiries welcome.

RK Sport
800-214-8030

RC

PS. You must call in to get your discount. The website is automated and it does not know who you are to be able to give you your discount.

[Shu]

Order placed!

[Rohnin]

Sorry if this has been asked before, but do these work on 05's? I'm still not used to the long throws on my car...

[GTO_Scott]

B&M SHIFTERS NOW AVAILABLE!!

Cool - does this mean they are shipping for the GP purchase?

[lisatw151]

two questions: 1..would it void the warranty and 2...what kind of shop would i need to find to have it installed?

[hsdguru]

install your self very simple no it should not void anything

[Maximental]

Call to place your order today!

You will not be able to purchase these anywhere else until June 1st per our original agreement with B&M that lasts for 90 days!

RC


So, does this mean that those of us who have been impatiently waiting can expect them to be shipped this week, as I was told last Friday when I called?


Maximental

[sintax]

Has anyone gotten one of these yet?

[2loco]

Next Week For Me :driving:

[Maximental]

So, does this mean that those of us who have been impatiently waiting can expect them to be shipped this week, as I was told last Friday when I called?


Maximental


I just got the word, Shipped on Thursday. It's supposed to be here tomorrow, (Friday.) Good luck guys.

Maximental

[kjac081]

You will not be able to purchase these anywhere else until June 1st per our original agreement with B&M that lasts for 90 days!
RC
care to elaborate? TByrne is selling them and saying they will be shipped in March.
http://www.ls1gto.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1517 3

[gotzaGTO]

ITS COMMING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! MARCH 2ND via UPS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! got the email today!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Spunky GTO]

:) can you use the stock shifter boot and shift knob?

[Walker]

Call to place your order today!

Just did, I can't wait to get it! :cool:

[dmonty]

Damn!!! Shifter or grills....?

SHIFTER!!! :p

Order placed!

[Racecrafter]

:) can you use the stock shifter boot and shift knob?

Yes!

[Racecrafter]

care to elaborate? TByrne is selling them and saying they will be shipped in March.
http://www.ls1gto.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1517 3

Simply put, we have a contract with B&M that states that we have an exclusive on this product for 90 days from the time of reciept. We received these Feb 24th. (So actually May 24th) If we do not order any more than the original 100 the terms of that contract drop to 60 days. Two weeks prior to our ship date we ordered and received 50 more. So there you have it.

RC

PS Those 50 are almost gone, but fear not, we already have another order sitting on PO. So for the next 90 days we will not run out.

[Thull]

I just called and ordered one, should be shipped tomorrow!

[Black No. 1]

Simply put, we have a contract with B&M that states that we have an exclusive on this product for 90 days from the time of reciept. We received these Feb 24th. (So actually May 24th) If we do not order any more than the original 100 the terms of that contract drop to 60 days. Two weeks prior to our ship date we ordered and received 50 more. So there you have it.

RC

PS Those 50 are almost gone, but fear not, we already have another order sitting on PO. So for the next 90 days we will not run out.

Are you serious?! Then why does Tom's website say mid-March?!?! Great, you mean I get to wait for-#$%@ing-ever for a shifter I expected to be here within days - and there's been no update from Tom and associates???

I really hope this isn't the case... :banghead: This happens everytime I order anything online, I swear.

[kjac081]

Are you serious?! Then why does Tom's website say mid-March?!?! .
i think something stinks here. RKsport says they have exclusivity until May to try and entice you to buy from them, but it is very clear that TByrne and Exotic Performance Plus both have this shifter now.
This story just doesnt add up.

[Black No. 1]

i think something stinks here. RKsport says they have exclusivity until May to try and entice you to buy from them, but it is very clear that TByrne and Exotic Performance Plus both have this shifter now.
This story just doesnt add up.

This, after having done business with Tom before and having cooled off overnight, sounds just about right after my dealings with Tom in the past and with other sponsors here prior to owning a GTO.

Usually my issues arise when a manufacturer pushes their deadlines back like B&M did originally and the retailer feels the heat. It always happens when I order something, unless the part is a GM part like the autocross grills I got through Fred Beans...

Argh.

I hope Tom sees this thread and responds to what's being said here. I'd really like to know what's going on. :huh:

[GTOdriver7]

Tom probably will not respond to this thread b/c sticking your nose into a competing vendors thread is not the classiest thing in the world. you might wanna try calling/emailing him if you are really interested in an answer.

[Racecrafter]

OK I will tell the story one more time for those who don't get how marketing works.

SEMA show 2004.
Our General manager talks to B&M's chief about GTO shifter.

B&M says "We have scrapped the plans to build one, not enough market share to worry about." (i.e. Not many 6 speeds were sold in relative comparison to say the new Mustang.)

We say we'll take them on if you build them.

B&M says "You have to order at least 100 units for us to even think about it."

We said give us an exclusive and we'll do it. The rest is history.

RC

[kjac081]

We said give us an exclusive and we'll do it. The rest is history.

RC


I think we all get how marketing works, the problem is you saying you have the exclusive rights to sell this product when tere are at least two other sponsors selling them now. You obviously DO NOT have exclusive rights if other are selling.

[Black No. 1]

OK I will tell the story one more time for those who don't get how marketing works.

SEMA show 2004.
Our General manager talks to B&M's chief about GTO shifter.

B&M says "We have scrapped the plans to build one, not enough market share to worry about." (i.e. Not many 6 speeds were sold in relative comparison to say the new Mustang.)

We say we'll take them on if you build them.

B&M says "You have to order at least 100 units for us to even think about it."

We said give us an exclusive and we'll do it. The rest is history.

RC

I'm not going to reply to the overall tone of your response, but actually the content:

How do you explain your competitors getting/expecting shipments in and ready for shipping?


We are taking pre-orders to ship these as soon as they become available. That should be towards the middle of March. You can place your order now and not be charged until they are ready to go!

and especially this one:

http://www.ls1gto.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1916 6

So how's that marketing thing work again? Is this RKSport's marketing ploy to get us to buy "exclusively from you"? Did you have a deal for 100, or a deal for a TIME PERIOD? If this is your "marketing ploy", that's really scraping the bottom of the barrel. However, if it's your competitors or B&M making false promises, then I sincerely apologize, and will do so publicly at that time.

And no, Tom replying here is NOT butting into this thread - especially when this thread is making his business practices appear somewhat shady - same goes for Exotic Performance Plus. Same for B&M.

Someone needs to get to the bottom of this - something's not adding up with these shifter orders. So it's either a sponsor/sponsors or it's the manufacturer. I don't care which, but I'd very much like to know where not to spend my money in the future.

:bomb:

[AmesGTO]

How does anyone know Tbyrne is actually shipping these? Tbyrnes site says "We are taking pre-orders to ship these as soon as they become available. That should be towards the middle of March. " To me that means when Tbyrne put that on the site that was the case and since RKSport re-ordered and from what they said extended the deadline. Maybe B&M didn't update Tbyrne or they didn't up their site.

[kjac081]

How does anyone know Tbyrne is actually shipping these? Tbyrnes site says "We are taking pre-orders to ship these as soon as they become available. That should be towards the middle of March. " To me that means when Tbyrne put that on the site that was the case and since RKSport re-ordered and from what they said extended the deadline. Maybe B&M didn't update Tbyrne or they didn't up their site.
Exotic has them IN STOCK
http://ls1gto.com/forums/showthread.php?t=19166

Im interested in buying a shifter, and will not buy from a sponsor that is lying

[SteveGTO]

OK I will tell the story one more time for those who don't get how marketing works.

SEMA show 2004.
Our General manager talks to B&M's chief about GTO shifter.

B&M says "We have scrapped the plans to build one, not enough market share to worry about." (i.e. Not many 6 speeds were sold in relative comparison to say the new Mustang.)

We say we'll take them on if you build them.

B&M says "You have to order at least 100 units for us to even think about it."

We said give us an exclusive and we'll do it. The rest is history.

RC

History? I think you got screwed. Today I recieved a B&M GTO shifter and it was not from you. To tell you the truth, I was not expecting the shifter until after your contract ran out. I can prove it if you like.

[AmesGTO]

Man what's with the negativity. If what Racecrafter said is true and RK Sport bought the intial 100 to get the thing made in the first place then I'm glad they got an exclusive for a couple of months, which I'd say was true RK has been selling them for several months now, they didn't just start now. Anyone that owns a business knows sh*t happens maybe B&M and RK didn't keep the contract going as was the plan so phase 1 of what Racecrafter said was true and done and phase 2 didn't happen. At least Racecrafter was willing to get on this site and say their side.

[SteveGTO]

Man what's with the negativity. If what Racecrafter said is true and RK Sport bought the intial 100 to get the thing made in the first place then I'm glad they got an exclusive for a couple of months, which I'd say was true RK has been selling them for several months now, they didn't just start now. Anyone that owns a business knows sh*t happens maybe B&M and RK didn't keep the contract going as was the plan so phase 1 of what Racecrafter said was true and done and phase 2 didn't happen. At least Racecrafter was willing to get on this site and say their side.

I wasn't trying to be negative. I appreciate that RK got the ball rolling. I also feel bad that B&M did not honor the contract. RK had an exclusive contract to offer the shifter for three months. As of now it has been a little over a month. This means B&M did not honor the contract. RK did not get exclusive rights for a couple of months, so how am I negative?

[AmesGTO]

I was actually referring to kjac, I should have quoted it.

[Bob]

Tbyrne's response: http://www.ls1gto.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1709 4

I'm still waiting... maybe today... next week... next month? Who knows?

[kjac081]

Man what's with the negativity. If what Racecrafter said is true and RK Sport bought the intial 100 to get the thing made in the first place then I'm glad they got an exclusive for a couple of months, which I'd say was true RK has been selling them for several months now, they didn't just start now. Anyone that owns a business knows sh*t happens maybe B&M and RK didn't keep the contract going as was the plan so phase 1 of what Racecrafter said was true and done and phase 2 didn't happen. At least Racecrafter was willing to get on this site and say their side.

I dont mean to sound completely negative, but i dont think its fair that they are telling people that RKSport is the only place to get this product, when there are several other sponsors as well as a very large online retailer selling them.

[NetJunkie]

Mine arrived from RK on Friday. I got tired of waiting on the others and saw no reason not to buy from RK. It shipped the same day I ordered. If they did help get this built then they deserve the business.

Thanks guys!

[Racecrafter]

We figured that our exclusive would be in jeopardy when we called B&M back within 60 days of placing the original P.O. for the first 100 and ordered another 50 having already sold them out. As expected, they saw the fact that if we could sell 100 shifters in 60 days how many could some of their other dealers and major distributors sell? Trust me, we had an agreement. And that agreement has (obviously) been broken.

However I would like to go on the record to say that we didn't hord the shifters to ourselves. I personally made several phone calls to sponsors of this board and other wholesale companies who already buy from us who either purchased some, flat turned me down to purchase, or didn't return my calls.

In all cases we are glad to be part of the GTO community and a memebr of this board. We will continue to bring you, and other car owners, quality parts.

Jim Wright (aka Racecrafter)
Manager of Sales
RK Sport Inc.

[Black No. 1]

We figured that our exclusive would be in jeopardy when we called B&M back within 60 days of placing the original P.O. for the first 100 and ordered another 50 having already sold them out. As expected, they saw the fact that if we could sell 100 shifters in 60 days how many could some of their other dealers and major distributors sell? Trust me, we had an agreement. And that agreement has (obviously) been broken.

However I would like to go on the record to say that we didn't hord the shifters to ourselves. I personally made several phone calls to sponsors of this board and other wholesale companies who already buy from us who either purchased some, flat turned me down to purchase, or didn't return my calls.

In all cases we are glad to be part of the GTO community and a memebr of this board. We will continue to bring you, and other car owners, quality parts.

Jim Wright (aka Racecrafter)
Manager of Sales
RK Sport Inc.


Jim,

I'd like to officially go on record to offer you an apology for my previous posts directed toward you. I told you I'd apologize publicly if/when it came out that I had barked up the wrong tree, and I am absolutely a man of my word. B&M should be ashamed of themselves. Yes they're in business to make money, but that doesn't explain away their business practices in this case...

Please accept my most humble apology for my words earlier. Good luck with your business, and thank you for the response and for being straightforward with us. Thank you also for your sponsorship and your time invested with the GTO community.

-Black No. 1
:driving: