LED Headlight upgrade +

[JT88K5]

Current DOT website:

www.nhtsa.gov/importing-vehicle/importation-and-certification-faqs

You sir, are correct. Appreciate the knowledge.

But tell me you never bought a product from a company that didn’t lie, cover up, or exaggerate (same as lie’n in my book) to influence you to buy their product. That would be admirable but would also limit your purchasing to <5% of companies out there.

OK, the 5% was a guess, the real # is probably lower.

 

[6872xtc]

You sir, are correct. Appreciate the knowledge.

But tell me you never bought a product from a company that didn’t lie, cover up, or exaggerate (same as lie’n in my book) to influence you to buy their product. That would be admirable but would also limit your purchasing to <5% of companies out there.

OK, the 5% was a guess, the real # is probably lower.

I like the fact that you stated your appreciation for the information, however I feel disappointed that you have apparently had so many companies screw with you about their products. I would feel that I don't have many problems with misrepresentation of what I buy, like maybe 5% of the time do I have problems. I do look for reputation more than money quite often, and I often pay a little more if the product is more likely to be good. I am not saying that you are, or bought cheap. I would hope that it is just one of the rare times of misrepresentation.

I still believe that from the pictures, you a a good light pattern and better light output. I have seen lots of lower quality lights running around with light going everywhere, and a little on the road ahead.

 

[1-ton]

Here is my head light up-grade.

This up-grade may p!ss some people off, but all I did was install high beam lights in all four slots. Then I configured the system to turn on all four lights with separate dimmer switches. They are adjusted down more towards the street because my truck has close to 9" of lift. I do sometimes get people flashing at me, but all I do is turn on all four head lights to show them that..." if you think two of my lights are too bright for you then all four of these lights will really chap your hide".

 

[JT88K5]

Thats one nice thing about dealing with Amazon, I can send it back if it’s crap, I really don’t need to worry about who makes it. I do try to buy US first and otherwise worthy products, but sometimes I see something I want and just get it. The DOT claim made me feel better about the purchase, had I known it was BS I can’t say I wouldn’t have ordered them, as more than this set claimed to be DOT approved.

On the other hand, I will simply go without it if I can’t find something at what I feel is a reasonable price. I often think about how much it cost to make something, then decide what I’m willing to pay based on that. Then I go with where it was made and by who.

Those jw’s would have cost close to a grand for 4 lights, that was simply out of the question for headlights imo. I doubt they cost more than $25 a piece to make, and I think that’s being generous. I don’t care if my grandma is making them... if the markup is a 1000%, gram can keep’em. She would still be welcome to come stay with me when she goes out of business though.

 

[dyeager535]

On the other hand, I will simply go without it if I can’t find something at what I feel is a reasonable price. I often think about how much it cost to make something, then decide what I’m willing to pay based on that. Then I go with where it was made and by who.

Those jw’s would have cost close to a grand for 4 lights, that was simply out of the question for headlights imo. I doubt they cost more than $25 a piece to make, and I think that’s being generous. I don’t care if my grandma is making them... if the markup is a 1000%, gram can keep’em. She would still be welcome to come stay with me when she goes out of business though.

Just to be fair...they MAY be $25 in materials (Superbright LED's are massively more expensive than Ebay products, but from all accounts are far superior as well), but given the vintage of the vehicles we are talking about, any business owner that was halfway worth his or her salt, would have figured out the true cost of the project (R&D, materials, setup, labor, shipping, etc) and calculated out what the volume of sales would likely be.

Then, after that person takes the plunge, does all the work and risks their financial well-being to finance the project, someone from China takes one, reverse engineers it, and then cranks out a thousand (perhaps out of the exact same factory, so not even any reverse engineering needed), for far less, because ALL of the overhead has been removed. Besides cutting corners wherever they can. And for things sold on Ebay, they abuse our Postal System, so even the cost to get it to the consumer is minimal.

Not making excuses for high prices, but we are a niche market anymore, the volume isn't there for small profit margins...if people can't make money on a project, outside of it being a labor of love, we aren't going to see innovation.

I can't justify $1000 in lights either, I have little skin in that game, but I see it for all the products out there. Group buys are a good example...all sorts of people say they are interested, UNTIL the cost of the project is figured out. I don't mean to be condescending, but any time I've tried to put together a product, once I figured out the overall cost, it was pretty much impossible to bring to market and make it worth my investment and time.

 

[sweetk30]

i can tell you i have had both a j.w. speaker and china copy in my hands and there is a huge quality level jump from one to the other .

i think it is true its what can you afford and how much night driving do you really do . once you get this figured out you now know what you need .

when i was towing and doing a lot of night driving in the country area i live in these top end lights were my ticket to night time vision and freedom . so i was able to justify the $$$ spent .