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Is the Shark Fin Antenna worth getting?

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Accessories & Modifications' started by macmaster05, Sep 17, 2010.

  1. deltron3030

    deltron3030 New Member

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    It's a very self explanatory install, just make sure it's lined up properly and clean the contact area of the car with some dawn. Unscrew oem antenna, screw in the sharkfin's screw/antenna, line up again and again, peel a little of the adhesive, make sure it's lined up once more, stick, enjoy.
     
  2. jcool10181

    jcool10181 New Member

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    Thanks! I thought i had to take out the oem antenna's base. This sounds alot easier!
     
  3. macmaster05

    macmaster05 Senor Member

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    Emailed VG just now. We will inquire about the group buy.
     
  4. Ryanpl

    Ryanpl Active Member

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    Thanks macmaster, I'd be interested in getting in on the group buy. On another note my five year old was very excited when he saw your avatar since we also have a black prius.
     
  5. macmaster05

    macmaster05 Senor Member

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    Haha, thanks! I’ll get back everyone first thing about the group buy once I find out….if they ever respond. :/
     
  6. macmaster05

    macmaster05 Senor Member

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    Good news fellow shark fin seekers! Arthur from Visual Garage just responded to my email about the group buy. He asked if we would like the shark fins shipped to one address or individually to multiple addresses. I went ahead and replied that we would like to have them sent out separately to each of our addresses. It seems that would be easier for everyone. That option may however affect our discount price. Feel free to object. Unfortunately he has not discussed the price yet. But I'm guessing at least a 10% discount with minimal participation. At least we're getting the ball rolling...

    As of now, who would be interested in ordering from this group buy (just to get a very non-official count)? From reading some other forums it seems the discount increases the more people that participate (5-10 people vs 10-15 people, etc etc). But again, Arthur hasn't mentioned any of this so far. I would just like to know so I can tell him if/when he does ask.
     
  7. Rokeby

    Rokeby Member

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    macmaster05,

    Have you thought to ask Danny about a group buy and support this forum?
    :confused:

    In my experience, what is ordered though the Store is typically shipped
    from the manufacturer.

    Sure, it might be a dollar or so more than going directly to Visual Garage
    but you'd be supporting a good cause in which you have a vested interest.
    :)

    PS: Danny did not put me up to this.
     
  8. cameljok

    cameljok New Member

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  9. macmaster05

    macmaster05 Senor Member

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    Are you saying that Danny will take care of this for me? I'm assuming he will do the same thing I do - contact VG directly and then provide drop shipping for whoever participates. If I'm right, I'm just cutting out the middleman. No harm or foul there.

    And what cause would I be supporting by using the PriusChat Store? I'll ask Danny but it comes down to 1) who replies first 2) who has better customer service 3) who can give me the better price. It's just business.
     
  10. Rokeby

    Rokeby Member

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    Why is it that people who use cut-throat tactics nearly always call it

    [​IMG]

    "just business?"

    You're kidding...right?
     
  11. macmaster05

    macmaster05 Senor Member

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    If Danny responds to me fast enough and can give us a deal as good as or better than VG, then I'll gladly go through him. It's as simple as that. I'm not going to waste time on retort or posting useless pictures.
     
  12. Ryanpl

    Ryanpl Active Member

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    Depending onfinal price I'd be in for a black fin. If anyone in NYC wanted to save on shipping I'd be happy to accept the fins for nyers and they they could pick up from me. If enough people are close enough then maybe we could get a better deal by reducing the amount of shipping and hence lower our costs.
     
  13. Danny

    Danny Admin/Founder
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    Hi macmaster05 - I got an email from VG yesterday and I got your PM last night. I'm looking into the final pricing, and as soon as I have it all figured out with shipping I'll let everyone know.

    All purchases through the PC Shop go to support PriusChat directly. PriusChat is a full-time job for me and without people buying products through the PriusChat Shop, there would be no PriusChat. Traditionally all group buys have been done through me or directly through the manufacturer.

    I don't see 100+ people being interested in a shark fin group buy, but if there are, there can be some significant savings.
     
  14. macmaster05

    macmaster05 Senor Member

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    Hi Danny, Really appreciate the explanation, thank you. Of course we'll do what is in everybody's best interest and it sounds like your the man for that. Now I feel we're in great hands, look forward to your next update. Thanks so much!
     
  15. Gds

    Gds New Member

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    I am also interested in the antenna. Put me down too.
     
  16. macmaster05

    macmaster05 Senor Member

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    I just got another message from Arthur at Visual Garage. Here are their prices, which I assume would have to include shipping.

    Qty: 5 to 15 @ $76.95 each
    Qty: 16 to 30 @ $72.90 each
    Qty: 30 to 49 @ $68.85 each
    Qty: 50+ @ $64.80 each

    In case you don't know how this works (I'm new at this too), Arthur says that we need one organizer who collects the money and car information from each of us, then sends the large sum of money to VG. I expect this organizer to be Danny, and from this point on I'll let Danny handle this completely. Thanks Danny! :D We'll wait for your cue.

    Oh yeah, and put me down.
     
  17. macmaster05

    macmaster05 Senor Member

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    Hi all,

    I just want to let you know that I've gone ahead and ordered the shark fin antenna by myself. The $4 savings didn't seem worth it and Danny was taking too long to get back to me. His full time job is at PriusChat.com but if he can't respond to a thread or a PM in a week, then what the heck does he do here??

    Good luck to the rest of you getting yours. Sorry you'll be -1 in the group buy.
     
  18. The Electric Me

    The Electric Me Go Speed Go!

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    Being weird..I hang around a lot of automotive website.

    My observation is it isnt Danny's fault or limited to Prius Chat. Group Buys are hard to organize and execute.

    You need commitment from a seller/provider..and a discount. Then you need commitment from X amount of buyers...and usually people are in and out....

    Then you have the logistics of the actual buy itself...

    And usually even the best intentioned attempt ends up disolving into bickering and painful angst.

    But good luck with it...because oddly there is nothing I enjoy watching from afar more than bickering and painful angst...
     
  19. macmaster05

    macmaster05 Senor Member

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    So I guess I was just another statistic? ;) Shame...
     
  20. macmaster05

    macmaster05 Senor Member

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    By the way, I know group buys are hard to organize, that isn't why PriusChat lost my business. All Danny had to do was say what you just said. Instead he is AWOL.

    Don't get me wrong this forum is great, I personally have over 700 posts that I owe to this forum, and I'll continue to use this forum for as long as I know. But as far as my Group Buy experiment went, it failed me, and in the end my business went to the bidder with better faster service. 2 weeks ago I posted here that I would buy from whichever store provided the better customer service. I kept my promise.