TH knock off......WL K949 - $189

[Sr.Irie]

Originally Posted by mattjk

I guess my point is, If these online sellers can make money from this buggy, which is about $185 shipped, is it really fair to the consumer for Vaterra to charge $449 for the Twin Hammers?

I agree 337%
I have owned a few businesses and run a few more and I ran with about a 30% markup on parts. After that I just felt like I was robing them but I guess it is like anything else the cost of the product has little or nothing to do with the retail value.

[MonkeyFist]

Originally Posted by mattjk

Vaterra may be the original seller, but I doubt they designed and manufacture the twin hammers. If you know how MOST of the companies operate, they almost all deal with LARGE OEM designers/Manufacturers that make products, and companies like Vaterra slap their name on it.

Losi Desert Buggy is made by OEM Himoto

Associated Prolite is made by Thunder Tiger

80% of all compact digital cameras are made by Sanyo.

My GF is a clothing designer for a HUGE OEM manufacturer here in Socal... Dockers, for example buys from them and just put their label on.

I guess my point is, If these online sellers can make money from this buggy, which is about $185 shipped, is it really fair to the consumer for Vaterra to charge $449 for the Twin Hammers?

Maybe if some of these companies weren't so greedy, and priced it more in line with what you're actually getting, these clones wouldn't be on the market.

I've always wanted a Twin Hammers, but NOT for $449.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not a cheap bastard. I will pay the money if I think it's worth it... I have a DJI Inspire 1 and a Phantom 3 pro... both those together cost $4100

Of course it could also be a Vaterra design then they use a large manufacturer to make. Then the manufacturer rips the design and resells it cheaper because they have no R and D costs to recoup.

[mattjk]

Originally Posted by MonkeyFist

Of course it could also be a Vaterra design then they use a large manufacturer to make. Then the manufacturer rips the design and resells it cheaper because they have no R and D costs to recoup.

that too

[makya]

Originally Posted by Sr.Irie

I agree 337%
I have owned a few businesses and run a few more and I ran with about a 30% markup on parts. After that I just felt like I was robing them but I guess it is like anything else the cost of the product has little or nothing to do with the retail value.

yes, but a %30 markup above what costs? saying vaterra should sell close to the sub-$200 price point that these chinese clones are selling at doesn't take into account the costs of marketing, r&d, corporate overhead (payroll, workmans comp, employee benefits, taxation, and keeping the lights on )

I've always been taught that the ideal goal for retail is %40 (as a rule of thumb) to cover costs and make a profit, and a little less than that for support markets (wholesale, distribution etc..). That's after the company before you makes their markup. so by buying the clone, you're avoiding the additional costs incurred by buying a vehicle that has all of the additional points listed above. So I would agree that the cost of the product can have little to do with the final cost, but I would disagree that a company should sell for less because a chinese manufacturer can clone it for a fraction of the cost since there is little to no r&d, or associated costs.

of course, it's really all conjecture until we see whether or not the clones hold up under regular use.

[amorton94]

I'm still waiting on the slow boat. Opened a claim with PayPal though to get a refund for the "free shipping" that cost $13, so we'll see if it ever gets here.

Edit: Speaking of the slow boat, it just arrived today. Just pulled it out of the box, so far seems good. Can't wait to dig into it. Shocks seem rather week, probably empty. Majority of it will be replaced anyways so who cares.

[mattjk]

Awesome!

My fronts were empty. Try 60wt front and 10wt rear. Mine handles very good that way. .. might try 70wt in front, needs a bit more damping

Originally Posted by amorton94

I'm still waiting on the slow boat. Opened a claim with PayPal though to get a refund for the "free shipping" that cost $13, so we'll see if it ever gets here.

Edit: Speaking of the slow boat, it just arrived today. Just pulled it out of the box, so far seems good. Can't wait to dig into it. Shocks seem rather week, probably empty. Majority of it will be replaced anyways so who cares.

[amorton94]

I'm a cheap ass and only have some 20wt, so that's what will go in haha. We'll see how bad it is.

Sent from my C6916 using Tapatalk

[jeepgeek2002]

Great news... its in the Post office as of 6:30 this morning.. so maybe Tomorrow i ll bet getting a Chinese Santa Claus delivery!
I hope its worth all the trouble!

More soon!

[jeepgeek2002]

Its at my front door! my gf said.. a large package has arrived... i ll snap some pics of everything ...
Poor Exocage. his is on a slow boat.. he ll get his for xmas lol

[Exocaged]

I think the boat that has mine on it sank.

[jeepgeek2002]

Here it goes.. The box:


Inside the box.. to the left.. Radio, Charger, battery...


The China Hammers


The battery i charged it at 2500mah 2s..


The 4pl knock off..


underneath


The beadlock wheels look like integy ones

[jeepgeek2002]

i ll take the body panels off and snap more pictures

Oh heres the weird thing..
I think some one unpackaged it.. pulled the plastic film off . put a battery in it and set up the trims, DR and turning ratio.
Theres plastic film all over it.. and the tires have like sand in them.
And i suspect they lay the stickers on it too.. they must do it in china fashion.. super fast.. nothing is centered ..

First look:
The shocks are probably not filled... one feels stiff the other flops around.. the front shocks feel ok but i think its the spring compression.
Tires have foam. feel grippy
The rims have bead locks
The lexan feels solid.
The radio is bad ass.. i has possibility to hold 5 cars.. 0-4. You can name them too.
The grip feels nice.. like those new comcast remotes? doesnt feel slippery. pretty neat.
The wheel flings back when you let go..
The rear diff is locked..


The initial in the room run..
Its brushed but you have to pull the tigger pretty much 1/2 way to get it to move then it lunges..
i boosted the exp up and its down to 1/4 way before you hear the motor go.
its got 2 speeds .. i put the radio in middle position and gear just spun.. to the left is low range to the right is high speed.
it turns ok.. im sure they are plastic gears and not the best servo but i can replace those.
The Esc is a ESC + RX combo.. i ll take a picture of it later..

[mattjk]

I like the radio also, it's damn nice.

[adamargue]

Sounds like a cheap why I get a twin hammers.

I bet twin hammers parts would fit the holes on the chassis look the same.

What was the price of this unit. The one I have been looking at does not come with this radio. It was like $65

[jeepgeek2002]

When they listed it .. it was 60% off.. i got it for $107 plus 59$ shipping 4$ insurance .. something like that..
$169 later i got it.. 2 weeks later.. i thought i wasnt going to get it like my friend ExoCaged's one thats lost on a boat some where..

I measured the wheel base .. Vaterra says the TH is 11.6 and its the same width.

I was working on a my other project and didnt get around to take pics of the inside..
Today im going to run a battery through it and see how it does.. its a small 2500 2s battery that came with it.. Deans as well..Nice touch. .. i may put a 3s on it just to see.
If you think about all you;re getting.$169 is a hellova great deal.
Twin Hammers knock off + 4PL Knock off + Lipo battery = for $169 shipped.

They dont have anymore.. i checked.. GearBest - Best Gadgets & Electronics Deals but they do have other twin hammers but they look like short course trucks.. same chassis and all..

[mattjk]

Originally Posted by jeepgeek2002

When they listed it .. it was 60% off.. i got it for $107 plus 59$ shipping 4$ insurance .. something like that..
$169 later i got it.. 2 weeks later.. i thought i wasnt going to get it like my friend ExoCaged's one thats lost on a boat some where..

I measured the wheel base .. Vaterra says the TH is 11.6 and its the same width.

I was working on a my other project and didnt get around to take pics of the inside..
Today im going to run a battery through it and see how it does.. its a small 2500 2s battery that came with it.. Deans as well..Nice touch. .. i may put a 3s on it just to see.
If you think about all you;re getting.$169 is a hellova great deal.
Twin Hammers knock off + 4PL Knock off + Lipo battery = for $169 shipped.

They dont have anymore.. i checked.. GearBest - Best Gadgets & Electronics Deals but they do have other twin hammers but they look like short course trucks.. same chassis and all..

the other chassis is quite different. different bolt holes, mounting points, single speed tranny, etc. more of a copy than a clone.

[jeepgeek2002]

yeah i you re right... banggood still sells it but their shipping sucks.
look on Aliexpress.com

[XXFETTXX]

Good write up and review, interesting to see how they will holdup in the long run.

[mattjk]

Just an FYi. Quanum receivers do not bind to the K949 radio.

Going to order a Frysky receiver and try it.

[Shinjari]

Is this the same thing? Feiyue FY03 Eagle-3 1/12 2.4G 4WD Desert Off-Road Truck RC Car Sale-Banggood.com funny that it showed up in my rcc ads on top of the page.

If its the same one, not bad at $114 + $11 shipping for standard or $16 for express