Rocky Auto reselling HybridZ cars?

[EvilC]

Very interesting.

[zero]

Wow, that's crazy

[rags]

Don't even think about it CB! lol

[EvilC]

I would never!

 

Maybe a white car could go to Japan. Rocky we can build you some cars here out of NY.

[dsommer]

Hmmm hope the come a calling when I finish my car....Should have sold them the Scarab, they couldn't claim that one with a 10ft pole!

[PLATA]

Very interesting.

Yep..... they asked for very key question on the car, e.i . were the panels all originals, the condition of the floors/ rails, code on current paint,  status on A/C, glass condition, trans/ diff,suspension details and wanted HD pictures on key car areas plus a video on a cold start up , they are pros at it  

Edited April 30, 2013 by PLATA

[kiwi303]

Well, given they sell cars to buyers whose main car is a ferrari or AMG and are willing to shell out what Rocky asks... they better be pros and know their stuff.

[Tony D]

How many of you have been to the shop, before spouting slander?

Is this sour grapes because a shop is acting as an auto broker, or simply sheer unbridled ignorance at the cultural requirement that a selling shop fully stand behind their product?

 

If someone here sold the car, they SOLD it.

 

If THEY want to bitch about someone "claiming to build it" perhaps THEY should set up shop in Japan and be prepared to SERVICE the car THEY sold when the owner wants it serviced!

 

This is another "lost in translation" non-starter by people who have no clue of the culture, or the climate in which these vehicles are resold.

 

The average client at Rocky Auto drives a Porsche, or a Bentley, and wants he car of their youth they never could afford to buy or build then. They don't give a rat's ass who did the wrenching. What they DO care about is that the selling broker or agent stand behind their sale 1000% with service. Free, in most cases in the case of component failure...

 

YOU gonna do that FOREVER?

 

That is what they are selling.

 

The IRON they move, and the source of it is SECONDARY, if that.

 

Plenty of people build cars. Who you going to get that will stand behind it for the next 20years?

 

THAT is what Rocky Auto is selling. NOT the car. The car is nothing. The SERVICE is EVERYTHING!

 

"It's a Japanese thing."

 

FYI: Rocky Auto is 15 minutes from one of my customers in Japan. A customer who expects ME on a plane hen an ALARM comes up on their machine. Maybe there's a reason he distributor likes me, and refuses to have any other rep into the country... Maybe because "I understand"? Sadly, my management doesn't, and apparently most here don't either.

 

Our machinery had to be relabelled with the local distributors name...even though they assemble NOTHING on he machine. They get it from us at a discount, and resell it as THEIR machine in Japan.

 

HELLLLLLLOOOOOOO???

 

Is THS what you guys are pissing and moaning about? Rocky Auto SOLD it, and in everybody's eyes in Japan, Rocky Auto is RESPONSIBLE FOR IT! It's a ROCKY AUTO CAR the moment it's sold in Japan. Where it was assembled makes not one WHIT of a Shite! (Anybody explain how every Isuzu P'up has the windows shot out on the Detroit Dealership lot, but the Chevy LUV's across the street remained untouched? "Them's is Chevys! Uh huh!" -- Built by Isuzu...badged as Chevy, but but but... Goose-Gander ???)

 

Welcome to sales in Japan, boys. Grow up and smell the coffee. It's been this way longer than the US of A has been a nation, and it's not changing anytime soon.

 

YOU sell it, it's YOUR product. YOU are expected to stand behind it. That's the way it was, is, and ever shall be there.

Edited May 1, 2013 by Tony D

[Tony D]

They have a full restoration and repair facility, as well as an extensive stock of "donor" cars from prospects can choose.

 

If I had the inclination, I'd post photos, but the ridiculous inferences at the beginning of this thread just astound me that building a car and then selling it somehow entitles someone to lifetime plaudits...holy CRAP!

 

Reselling a car or acting as a broker is one thing. But flying off the handle with the accusations made here without knowing the requirements of business that dictate THEY TAKE 100% OWNERSHIP OF ALL FACETS OF THE CAR AS IF THEY BUILT IT THEMSELVES...

 

I don't know about anybody else, but if I'm going to get 100% of the shite for the breakdowns, I'm taking 100% of the praise for the build as well.

 

As I stated above, if someone wants the credit, sell it from YOUR shop in Japan, and SUPPORT IT!

 

Some of you guys need to watch Corvette Summer again...

[Tony D]

And one final thing...

 

NOWHERE do I see Wantanabe-San QUOTED as saying ROCKY AUTO built it...

There's a bunch of Internet journalist blather making trite filler... But no quotes from Wantanabe-San. Be wary where you place the blame here, gents!

 

I also see the HBZ Ad for $47,000 and the Rocky Auto price of $100,000.... Not "three times the price", unless of course the original asking price of $47k was somehow inflated, and he was talked down...

 

Actually, the way I read that original HBZ Advert, asking $47K with FAR MORE SPENT...

 

Making Rocky Auto's asking price a reasonable markup if all is to be believed.

 

What is the REAL motivation for this post? That Japanese buyers appreciate a good build and will spend money to support the people doing the build? It does have shipping costs, importation costs, Shaken-Sho (I don't one how...) and flooring/inventory costs making the price even less of a margin.

 

If they did indeed buy it for $33K, then it's a decent margin to floor inventory the car until it sells...

 

But really, WTF? Is somebody pissed they didn't get.$100K out of the car in the USA?

 

Got news: chances are you won't! If you think it's possible, hold on out till you get your price. It's that simple. But be prepared to,wait a long long time!

Edited May 1, 2013 by Tony D

[zero]

Dino from speed hunters said in the comments that he was told by rocky auto that they built it, which is the thing I think many have a problem with.

 

speedhunters_dino 376 pts

P1 Race Photography oops indeed. Seems he's not only playing the market as I was lead to believe something else...

 

Edit: it's worthwhile noting that Dino has been covering the RA cars with exclusive shoots for a while, for both Internet and print magazines, and his articles are reproduced on Rocky Auto's own website where they advertise these cars for sale. I'd say to dismiss him as "Internet blather" is a bit unfair. Given the info he HAD been given about the car I think it's fair to say he was a bit misled.

Edited May 1, 2013 by zero

[78zstyle]

.

 

But really, WTF? Is somebody pissed they didn't get.$100K out of the car in the USA?

 

 

 

No, hes upset that someone else is taking credit  for the build, especially in a setting where he can't defend himself (over seas in japan). If you spent years on something, then someone else just says "No, I did this!", you might be upset too.

FYI: Rocky Auto is 15 minutes from one of my customers in Japan. A customer who expects ME on a plane hen an ALARM comes up on their machine. Maybe there's a reason he distributor likes me, and refuses to have any other rep into the country... Maybe because "I understand"? Sadly, my management doesn't, and apparently most here don't either.

 

 

 

What does this have to do with anything? Nothing, just another off-topic rant that your posts are always littered with. Seems like some early stage of mental breakdown.

 

Tony, you might be knowledable about what happened with cars due to your participation in observing racing and parts development. I also know you love to brag about how you have been to Japan..

 

But let me clue you in with something: You are not the end all to knowledge, especially matters concerning morality. You need to stop.

[motomanmike]

^^^ I have  been contacted by ROCKY( they monitor this site)>>>>>>>>>>>>> they want info on my Z, but told them that at this moment I will consider a super nice vintage 510 two door/with period mods as trade PLUS $$.$$$$ 

Lee, I'd send some pics just to see what they would offer.  You know what was involved in building that car and round about total build cost, I'm very curious what figure they come back with.  Just don't let anyone know where she sleeps

[NewZed]

Seems like Tony D, with his experience and connections in Japan, could find out what's really going on and translate the situation for the forum (and anyone else that sees these posts).  Or HS30-H might have some insights also.

 

That would be constructive.  Taking credit for someone else's work is never OK, in any culture, from my experience.  If a mistake has been made by the journalist, giving the wrong impression, clearing it up would be doing Rocky Auto a service.  Apparently they deserve the effort, from somebody that can get it done.

[ARiskyCvt]

I like how people cry when they don't get what they want. The whole things breaks down to the rich gets richer and the poor shouldn't be building cars or this case cry baby (nicest way I'm going to say it). Car is sold rocky auto is the owner and say or do the the fvck he wants. I don't get why this tread even was made for. Like I said on the other thread this is embarrassing .

[ARiskyCvt]

I'm going to enjoy this thread with my fried chicken forget the popcorn.

Edited May 1, 2013 by lostfairlady

[78zstyle]

I like how people cry when they don't get what they want. The whole things breaks down to the rich gets richer and the poor shouldn't be building cars or this case cry baby (nicest way I'm going to say it). Car is sold rocky auto is the owner and say or do the the fvck he wants. I don't get why this tread even was made for. Like I said on the other thread this is embarrassing .

"Basic sentence structure! Use it or don't post..."

 

Please follow the HybridZ rules.

[NewZed]

Yep..... they asked for very key question on the car, e.i . were the panels all originals, the condition of the floors/ rails, code on current paint,  status on A/C, glass condition, trans/ diff,suspension details and wanted HD pictures on key car areas plus a video on a cold start up , they are pros at it  

Since you're in direct contact with Rocky Auto maybe you could ask about the Speedhunter situation.  They either won't care because they're just in the money-making business or they'll appreciate the opportunity to clear things up. 

 

It doesn't really matter in the big scheme but it would be interesting to know what's going on in the big-money world.  Vicarious thrills...

[EvilC]

lostfairlady - if you think the thread is a waste of time then don't post in it. I never said there was an issue with buying and selling cars. The issue was with claiming to have built something you never touched. If you think that is ok then so be it, tells me I wouldn't buy anything from you

 

As far as Tony D - I don't get you posts? Again who cares if the car was sold for mid 30's and asking price is 3times what it sold for. No one should or could fight that issue because this is a free-market BUT culture translation lost means you can claim to build cars that you didn't build? Like you said you know how it works there and they are providing a "service" to high end clients. If you are going to be a broker be a broker, if you are going to resto cars then resto car, if you want to do both then state with truth which one is one.

 

 

At the end of the day I said there is nothing we can do about it besides discuss it.....................=)

[josh817]

No one seems to be mentioning the key parts Tony was discussing, they are servicing the car for life which explain the price, but the price isn't the topic. Think about it like this, lets say they have quite a good rep for themselves (I don't know if they do or not), if they start listing cars "Bought from USA, built by [essentially some nameless guy]" I suspect that would reflect a sort of mentality that indicates "if it breaks, go talk to that dude, not us" which is the opposite of what they represent according to Tony. They put their name on it because if/when something goes wrong, the customer will come to them, not to "Plata" or the other dudes who are being scoped out on here.


Part 2: What I find curious is why they don't stick to Z's on the mainland and avoid the shipping costs. Maybe it's only a fraction of their profits so it's not a big deal. Just thought it was weird, considering they have some pretty trick stuff over there that we sometimes don't have. Maybe the custom Z's sell cheap here compared to over here. Other thing I find curious about buying someone's project is the fact that its someones project. I loathe buying someone's old project, even if its beautiful, because I have no idea how they like to wire things, or mount things, or build their motors. In their case as a dealer, I don't know how they will guarantee the work/make sure the car doesn't come back for repairs all the time.

That is of course, if they do their own little tweeks or whatever to ensure it stays running well and out of their shop; and in that case, is it really a shocker that they label it as theirs?



Although, I do understand the other side of the argument, putting your name on someones work (even if you made a few changes to it). Tony shows no discretion for that saying once its sold they will do whatever, however if I were to do that with lets say a Datsun Spirit motor or a Kameri part.... that would be a sin punishable by death under his terms and the Japanese. If I spend the money to buy nice Japanese products and get them anodized (that was my contribution to the product), sell them as my design/creation/research, I would a Scum Bag Steve. Ok, but this is different, under Tony's terms, I must be able to service/actually have some knowledge on the equipment I sell in case if it breaks and returns to me. So maybe I do my own independent research about the product so I am prepared for that situation, it still doesn't make those many hours and money on research and development mine.

Honestly though its a funny argument. We are getting both perspectives here and Tony, it does seem like you pound the Japanese way as the right way into our heads. Openly saying that there is a culture conflict, and then saying things like "unfortunately my boss doesn't see it that way" kind of implies that the Japanese culture is superior to our American culture and we should respect them. This topic comes up in many cases where at some point someone needs to jump in and say you know what, when I go over there I have to assimilate to your cultures or I get frowns and scoundrels, however when you come over here I still have to respect your cultural ways. At no point is there ever a neutrality or a... "Follow American culture" standpoint in your argument which I do sometimes resent. Double standards, they put their name on one of our items, they are protected due to their culture. We put our name on their item, they are still protected by their culture, "you broke the honor code how could you, that's so wrong in Japan", somehow that is a valid argument but not for us.  I can see where the frustration would come from.



It seems like most in this thread suggest poor business practices, claiming someones work as yours. Tony is the only one to speak otherwise so far and the logic is, as stated above, somewhat frustrating when the answer is "Your American culture is incorrect, they can do that because it's Japanese culture, so it's fine, don't whine". I would be surprised if that doesn't break an honor or integrity code in Japan. Tony if someone made these comments about your creation

 

"Now working out of a brand new state-of-the-art workshop, Watanabe-san at Rocky Auto is able to churn out cool custom kyusha at an even faster pace than before!  This USDM Datsun 240Z is something he pieced together in the last couple of months…and it’s probably one of the cleanest cars we have ever seen from the famed resto-mod specialist."

Displaying positive remarks and all sorts of talk that would give the creator great pride, yet you're not the real creator, you're saying that's alright..... because it's their culture?


I wouldn't believe it for a second, considering you get upset when someone makes a quote on here, or posts a picture, or information that you were the originator but weren't given credit; they usually don't even claim it as theirs either. That's small beans compared to this sort.

Edited May 2, 2013 by josh817