Why NOT to buy from Powerchip
Thread Starter
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Registered User
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 392
From: Davie, FL
Rep Power: 38
I received a repsonse from Powerchip based on my post here. It was very well written and addressed the issues. In my eyes they redeemed themselves in a big way. They also changed their "form" letter and pricing as a result as well. Too bad it took this issue to prompt the change. I will post the letter...
Dear Jon,
Â_
One of our customers advised us that you were dissatisfied with an e-mail that was sent to you in reply to your advice that 'there are companies out there that are much less expensive".
Â_
As you would realize, with hundreds of inquiries every day, it is necessary to pre-prepare a number of responses to popular questions.
Â_
Powerchip pricing is based on a number of factors, and we have more 'price points' that any performance chip company in the world in an attempt to provide the best value for money possible.
Â_
The benefits that a Powerchip provides to the cars owner are substantial, and we believe thatÂ_even at the current pricing, we offer amazing value for money. Particularly compared to the X50 option from Porsche
Â_
We believed thatÂ_the Powerchip softwareÂ_was priced competitively against the $3000 GIACÂ_chip, butÂ_the GIAC website wasÂ_checked today, and we became aware that they had changed their pricing to $2000. Powerchip management were unaware of the pricing change until today.
Â_
Maintaining competitive pricing is important to Powerchip, andÂ_Powerchip management met today to discuss this issue, and pricing of other software programs.
Â_
Due to a number of reasons, including the pending release of the 997, the fact that we have already amortizedÂ_a portionÂ_of the development costs directly attributable to 996TT development over the last two years, and the pricing of our major competitors, we have decided to change the price of the Powerchip Gold 91 and Gold 93 to suit 'stock' cars.
Â_
Effective July 1, the price of the upgrade to suit your car will become $1990 plus tax and shipping/fitting if applicable.
Â_
A number of other price points were modified, including BMW 850CSi, BMW X5 Valvetronic. In those cases, the prices were raised, not lowered. The 'late model with Flash chip' Porsche 993TTÂ_pricing has been lowered.Â_
Â_
TheseÂ_changed prices, includingÂ_the 996TT will not be reflected on our web siteÂ_until around July 1, but we are happy to make the lower price effective immediately.
Â_
I am sorry if you took offense to theÂ_pre-prepared response, we have revised the wording to ensure othersÂ_are less likely toÂ_take offense in the future, but I hope you can understand that 'money' is aÂ_sensitive subject like religion and politics, and Powerchip maintains its pricing regardless of a consumers request for a 'discount' or simply because products we considerÂ_to beÂ_inferior are priced below our product.
Â_
This sometimes causes dissatisfaction, but we hope that consumers understand that unless Powerchip returns a profit, we will be unable to offerthe product and service at the level they deserve and expect in the long term.
Â_
Please let me know if Powerchip software is still of interest to you, and if you have any further questions I am more than happy to answer them
Â_
Kind regards
Â_
Â_
Travis Cattach
Operations Manager
Powerchip Inc.
233 Wilshire Blvd
Santa Monica CA 90401
www.powerchipgroup.com
Dear Jon,
Â_
One of our customers advised us that you were dissatisfied with an e-mail that was sent to you in reply to your advice that 'there are companies out there that are much less expensive".
Â_
As you would realize, with hundreds of inquiries every day, it is necessary to pre-prepare a number of responses to popular questions.
Â_
Powerchip pricing is based on a number of factors, and we have more 'price points' that any performance chip company in the world in an attempt to provide the best value for money possible.
Â_
The benefits that a Powerchip provides to the cars owner are substantial, and we believe thatÂ_even at the current pricing, we offer amazing value for money. Particularly compared to the X50 option from Porsche
Â_
We believed thatÂ_the Powerchip softwareÂ_was priced competitively against the $3000 GIACÂ_chip, butÂ_the GIAC website wasÂ_checked today, and we became aware that they had changed their pricing to $2000. Powerchip management were unaware of the pricing change until today.
Â_
Maintaining competitive pricing is important to Powerchip, andÂ_Powerchip management met today to discuss this issue, and pricing of other software programs.
Â_
Due to a number of reasons, including the pending release of the 997, the fact that we have already amortizedÂ_a portionÂ_of the development costs directly attributable to 996TT development over the last two years, and the pricing of our major competitors, we have decided to change the price of the Powerchip Gold 91 and Gold 93 to suit 'stock' cars.
Â_
Effective July 1, the price of the upgrade to suit your car will become $1990 plus tax and shipping/fitting if applicable.
Â_
A number of other price points were modified, including BMW 850CSi, BMW X5 Valvetronic. In those cases, the prices were raised, not lowered. The 'late model with Flash chip' Porsche 993TTÂ_pricing has been lowered.Â_
Â_
TheseÂ_changed prices, includingÂ_the 996TT will not be reflected on our web siteÂ_until around July 1, but we are happy to make the lower price effective immediately.
Â_
I am sorry if you took offense to theÂ_pre-prepared response, we have revised the wording to ensure othersÂ_are less likely toÂ_take offense in the future, but I hope you can understand that 'money' is aÂ_sensitive subject like religion and politics, and Powerchip maintains its pricing regardless of a consumers request for a 'discount' or simply because products we considerÂ_to beÂ_inferior are priced below our product.
Â_
This sometimes causes dissatisfaction, but we hope that consumers understand that unless Powerchip returns a profit, we will be unable to offerthe product and service at the level they deserve and expect in the long term.
Â_
Please let me know if Powerchip software is still of interest to you, and if you have any further questions I am more than happy to answer them
Â_
Kind regards
Â_
Â_
Travis Cattach
Operations Manager
Powerchip Inc.
233 Wilshire Blvd
Santa Monica CA 90401
www.powerchipgroup.com
Thread Starter
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Registered User
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 392
From: Davie, FL
Rep Power: 38
In retrospect, I might have overreacted to their reply, but I hate feeling like just a number. I have really come to appreciate the personalized treatment from some of our sponsors. I spent a while on the phone with Steve from Imagine today. That's the kind of person I will do business with in the future. I'm sure the guys at Powerchip are pretty decent as well.
Registered User
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 3,787
From: Edmonton, Alberta
Rep Power: 209
Originally posted by JK996TT
In retrospect, I might have overreacted to their reply.....
In retrospect, I might have overreacted to their reply.....
Originally posted by Zippy
Joel sounds like a *****.
Joel sounds like a *****.
Originally posted by JK996TT
I spent a while on the phone with Steve from Imagine today. That's the kind of person I will do business with in the future. [/B]
I spent a while on the phone with Steve from Imagine today. That's the kind of person I will do business with in the future. [/B]
Mike
Registered User
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 106
From: San Diego
Rep Power: 27
When this thread hit, I emailed my displeasure to Joel directly.
I told him that this is the dumbest letter a sales representative
could have concocted and I was interested in an explanation.
This was about two hours ago. He has since called. I am not
sure that I will return his call since I am not interested in the
PowerChip upgrade. I would get Upsolute if anything. For the
moment, the ‘flat and boring’ 415HP in my stock TT is plenty.
Frankly, when I track my TT, PSM is the only thing that keeps me
on the track.
I have the following comments to this whole thing:
1. JK996TT: You DID NOT overreact. My jaw dropped
when I read the ‘canned’ response to your objections to the
PowerChip prices. ‘Wow. That’s stupid†– was my first thought.
My customers all complain about the prices.
2. This was a canned message sent to all people who
complain about the price. As best I can determine, Powerchip
has several product lines, and the 996TT is one of them. They
have several products for cars of much lower MSRP. This doesn’t
excuse the Powerchip insults, which are sprinkled throughout the
response. Frankly they shouldn’t insult somebody who wants
more power out of their (pick you brand of car including Yugo).
3. I am floored that this guy, in his canned response,
offered terms. Say what you will about those of us who drive
these things, but ‘destitute’ and ‘payment plans’ for a bill of $3k
isn’t applicable. Dumb. Dumb. Dumb. $3k barely covers a set of
tires. It certainly wouldn’t have covered the new clutch I just had
installed.
4. The response, in that canned email message, contains
the following line: “So to make that jump from having a flat and
boring carâ€Â. Wow. What an insult. And a low one at that. This
is just about the highest performance car that you can
reasonably use as a daily driver. It is also a good (but not great)
track car. We buy these things based on ‘emotion’, not
on ‘value’. They 996TT, in its stock configuration, is not ‘flat and
boring’. The ‘flat and boring’ comment was intended as an insult,
and should be taken as such. PowerChip deserves the bad press
that it is getting.
5. They have some work to do to recover from this
unfortunate response. It will be interesting to see if Joel is
allowed to keep his job.
I told him that this is the dumbest letter a sales representative
could have concocted and I was interested in an explanation.
This was about two hours ago. He has since called. I am not
sure that I will return his call since I am not interested in the
PowerChip upgrade. I would get Upsolute if anything. For the
moment, the ‘flat and boring’ 415HP in my stock TT is plenty.
Frankly, when I track my TT, PSM is the only thing that keeps me
on the track.
I have the following comments to this whole thing:
1. JK996TT: You DID NOT overreact. My jaw dropped
when I read the ‘canned’ response to your objections to the
PowerChip prices. ‘Wow. That’s stupid†– was my first thought.
My customers all complain about the prices.
2. This was a canned message sent to all people who
complain about the price. As best I can determine, Powerchip
has several product lines, and the 996TT is one of them. They
have several products for cars of much lower MSRP. This doesn’t
excuse the Powerchip insults, which are sprinkled throughout the
response. Frankly they shouldn’t insult somebody who wants
more power out of their (pick you brand of car including Yugo).
3. I am floored that this guy, in his canned response,
offered terms. Say what you will about those of us who drive
these things, but ‘destitute’ and ‘payment plans’ for a bill of $3k
isn’t applicable. Dumb. Dumb. Dumb. $3k barely covers a set of
tires. It certainly wouldn’t have covered the new clutch I just had
installed.
4. The response, in that canned email message, contains
the following line: “So to make that jump from having a flat and
boring carâ€Â. Wow. What an insult. And a low one at that. This
is just about the highest performance car that you can
reasonably use as a daily driver. It is also a good (but not great)
track car. We buy these things based on ‘emotion’, not
on ‘value’. They 996TT, in its stock configuration, is not ‘flat and
boring’. The ‘flat and boring’ comment was intended as an insult,
and should be taken as such. PowerChip deserves the bad press
that it is getting.
5. They have some work to do to recover from this
unfortunate response. It will be interesting to see if Joel is
allowed to keep his job.
Registered User
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 1,041
Rep Power: 76
No big deal. I wouldn't take any of it personally. Who cares if they think you can only afford a $ 3k chip on a payment plan. I guess if you complain about price, one might surmise they are doing you a favor with the payment plan thingy. Just ain't no big deal and wouldn't stop me from buying the chip if it was truly the best chip.
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