Yah! from $299 to $319 LOL

Once upon a time Japanese cars were of pretty low quality but achieved high gas mileage. As such they sold pretty cheap, even after import tarrifs were added to the price. Now Japanese cars are of very high quality, have great gas mileage, and last a long time but are quite expensive. They have captured a large market share and continue to sell well.

Expect similar from DLE. As the more expensive engine makers lose market share the ability of the less capable manufacturers to increase prices grows relative to the decrease in sales of the more capable engine manufacturers. Don't delude yourselves into thinking this will not happen. If not for the domestic and European UAV market the high end engine manufacturers would already be gone and the hobby would have already seen a significant increase in Chinese engine prices.

As a the response to the RCGF warranty issue, an engine walking across the border from Canada hould have the same warranty as an engine sold in the U.S. To suggest otherwise implies a serious lack of confidence by the manufacturer in their product. Probably less confidence than I have in them.

This warranty issue is just where the "low cost manufacturers" take advantage of those who spend little for a product and accept what they get.

Let's suppose I drive a Kia vehicle (I chose that because it is reasonably low cost and not American, European, Japanese or Chinese). It is in warranty and I have an issue with the vehicle that is covered by warranty. I can take the vehicle to any authorised dealer who can perform the work under warranty and has their costs covered by the factory. Regardless of whether I have ever used the services of that dealer. what may not be covered is any specific "dealer warranties" that are over and above the factory warranty - that will depend on the fine print of that additional warranty.

If I purchase a low cost Engine for this hobby, the dealer is most likely going to wear the costs of any warranty related issues and is highly unlikely to be covered by the factory. For this reason many dealers of those particular engines won't cover engines purchased from others (even if they are in a similar location). I know from personal experience that some of the "higher cost" products we use are covered for warranty by the factory and that the factory covers the fair cost of warranty work to the dealer.

Any manufacturer that refuses to cover a product simply because it has made a relatively short trip is a manufacturer that is saying "We don't think our product needs to work to allow us to take your money" IMHO.

It is a business cultural thing.

One culture thinks
"I want - You have - please give it to me"

The other culture thinks
"I want - You have - I shall EARN the right for you to give me some of it"

That second culture is the one who generally provides a quality product with a quality backup service - usually at a higher purchase price to cover the cost of doing it right. I have dealt with both business cultures and the second one is a far more satisfying one to deal with in the longer term and it doesn't just apply to our Engines - it applies very widely in life - ask any stockbroker.

Good analogy.

""Expect similar from DLE. As the more expensive engine makers lose market share the ability of the less capable manufacturers to increase prices grows relative to the decrease in sales of the more capable engine manufacturers. Don't delude yourselves into thinking this will not happen""

TOM, this is so true, you can see this with the Magnum 180 4st, I have been watching it's price grow from what I paid ($315) climb up to $400, all in only 3 summers, I even saw it a one place for $415,,, but all and all this is good for me LOL, I could probably sell it now rather quickly for close to what I paid

Jim

I bought a Magnum 120 four stroke for $180 in 2000. Now you have to put another $110 with that.

A good part of that price rise is due to the devaluation of the dollar since the time you bought it. Takes more dollars to buy the same product now.