HOOD STRUT CHALLENGE!!!

[Deleted User 38384]

Chinese manufacturing is hit and miss just like US manufacturing. It all depends on the company sourcing the product and how much they are willing to spend on it.

That said a company that has a real name, at least headquartered in the US that stands behind their warranty is worth something, to me $20-30 is nothing to spend on piece of mind knowing if I have an issue the company is likely to stand behind it rather than chasing the next alphabet soup named company that pops up on amazon.

In the last 3 years or so Ive really tried to stop just buying random bullshit from amazon and finding the same things from actual sellers, be they RAH RAH USA USA companies or UK/Canadian/Chinese doesnt matter to me, what does is a company that is doing its own thing, standing behind their product and are easy to deal with.

No I definitely don't disagree with that. Like I've said in two other posts up above, when you get a US-owned LLC having products made in foreign countries, you get a better level of quality then if you go just to the manufacture themselves.

But like I also said, if you go to the manufacture themselves through an app like Alibaba, you can request those things that have the quality control and still get a significantly lower price without the US Mark-up.

I find a lot of times that many of these US companies are just playing middleman to foreign manufacturers. Even in the case of @Redline Tuning outside of their warranty, they're literally just playing middleman for the person actually making this product they're selling. In that sense, manufacturers have warranties on their products as well. So you can actually go to the manufacturer themselves if they're based in the USA, and have a product that failed will still have some level of warranty. You probably have to shop around and see which manufacturer of struts has the best warranty, but most of them are going to have at least a 1 to 2-year warranty.

I could go even deeper down this rabbit hole getting into whether or not companies apply their own warranty or are just selling you on the idea of the manufacturer warranty without telling you it's the manufacturer warranty. But a lot of times that's what happens. The one year warranty from the US-based LLC is actually the one year warranty from the manufacturer, but they act is the middleman yet again to get you that warranty coverage, because they already have a dialogue with the manufacturer. I'm not saying that's the case here with redline tuning or anyone else, selling these struts they're selling, but it is a pretty common thing.

There's like so much intro about this sort of stuff that I have but at the end of the day I'm just trying to get through all the BS and get to a real truth that people on this website can use. Cuz contrary to what the person selling you a product may want you to believe, their truth is not always the real truth.

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[yokramer]

No I definitely don't disagree with that. Like I've said in two other posts up above, when you get a US-owned LLC having products made in foreign countries, you get a better level of quality then if you go just to the manufacture themselves.

But like I also said, if you go to the manufacture themselves through an app like Alibaba, you can request those things that have the quality control and still get a significantly lower price without the US Mark-up.

I find a lot of times that many of these US companies are just playing middleman to foreign manufacturers.

You do realize what is actually happening there is the manufacturer is taking a product that a US company has asked them to make and then just run the factory afterwords and produce the product for themselves to sell. The US company isnt a middle man there they are a company having their product stolen and sold for cheaper. Happens all the time that a chinese plant will churn out non labeled products for sale and flood the market with them.

So yea youre getting a deal but not because the US company is playing middleman and youre getting one over on them, but because the factory producing it is selling their product out the back door for cheaper.

 

[Deleted User 38384]

I'm one of those people who questions everything. You tell me something, and a lot of times I'll look into it. A lot of times it's true, but there's been enough instances where you don't get the whole truth that I tend to look into these things a fair bit. Especially when it comes to products and people spending their hard earned money on them.

All I'm asking for is a little bit of clarity, and at the same time a little bit of reality.

Unfortunately people see made in the USA and just assume it's better, and that's not always the case.

 

[ym0bc1]

You do realize what is actually happening there is the manufacturer is taking a product that a US company has asked them to make and then just run the factory afterwords and produce the product for themselves to sell. The US company isnt a middle man there they are a company having their product stolen and sold for cheaper. Happens all the time that a chinese plant will churn out non labeled products for sale and flood the market with them.

So yea youre getting a deal but not because the US company is playing middleman and youre getting one over on them, but because the factory producing it is selling their product out the back door for cheaper.

This sounds like congressman’s narrative accusing china lol. The US companies know the risk way better than any one, yet they still go to the Chinese factory, guess why? They are not stupid for sure.

 

[yokramer]

This sounds like congressman’s narrative accusing china lol. The US companies know the risk way better than any one, yet they still go to the Chinese factory, guess why? They are not stupid for sure.

Because they spec cheap products .. pretty sure I said that was the reason why. Also you get what you pay for out of Chinese manufacturers like I said before.

And 1000% products get reproduced all the time out of production facilities in china, its a very well documented issue. Can it happen in US facilities sure, never said it couldnt. Just that when you see what appears to be the exact same product for 1/2 or less of the price without any branding the likely reason isnt that the US company is just a middle man.

 

[YGBSM392]

I've had Redline Tuning struts on my Jeeps for years. I've never had a problem. I even accidentally ordered a JT/JL strut for my Mojave and it worked flawlessly. @Terrymo is right. Contact @Redline Tuning in a PM. Yes, they will send you self fix info first. If that doesn't work use the warranty. I like the made in the U.S. advertising. But, to be honest, they're from Michigan.... I was born in Detroit. Michigan can be like its own country sometimes. I'm waiting for the mitten to declare war on the U.P. It's coming. Mark my words!

 

[Deleted User 38384]

@yokramer

It's tough being the anti-hero, not everyone appreciates what you do!

 

[Deleted User 38384]

You guys ever think about profits these companies make?

When I used to work for Toys r Us long time ago, power Wheels had a 600 to 1200% markup. I'll let you guys guess where all of those are manufactured.

When I worked for the hotel in Dallas, beer had a minimum of a 600% markup, and liquor had a minimum of 800% markup, though depending what you were buying, each of those could easily top 1,000% markup.

Here at my current job delivering beer, beer starts at around 15% markup, and goes up to 30% markup. Liquor is a little different, it starts around 60% markup, and goes up to 200% markup... And where just the middleman to the company that sells the customer of the beer by the time the customer handles the liquor, or the beer, it often has a 600% to 8000% markup.
You don't want to know how much we sell Pappy Van Winkle to the stores people buy them from for... I'll tell you this, it ain't $15,000, It's not even half of that.

So imagine if you could have a bit of knowledge, and go straight to the manufacturer and get a hood strut when yours eventually fails for half of the price the US LLCs want to charge you for theirs. I mean they're making a profit, and I'd have to imagine it starts at 40% and probably goes up to 100+%.

At some point in the near future I'll put together a thread with all of my information I found to give other people on here the direction, knowledge, and hopefully a location they can purchase their own hood struts straight from the manufacturer, without paying the LLC markup.

 

[yokramer]

@yokramer

It's tough being the anti-hero, not everyone appreciates what you do!

Id also like to say if youre cool with knowing that what youre buying isnt necessarily designed by who is selling it and they are cutting out those people, thats fine go for it. I may or may not have a bunch of tv shows and movies that I have procured in specific ways and Im cool with that too and will help you figure it out if you like. Or the fact that I dont think Ive watched a sporting event on the actual channel it was broadcast in decades. Well other than the Tulsa Shootout and The Chilli Bowl through floracing cause I like their product and think they deserve my money.

By now I think its pretty obvious Im far from the RAH RAH MURICA FUCK YEA type from my postings here and for people to act like they are doing something right and good, or better than others because of misguided ideals is always a bit ridiculous to me.

 

[Deleted User 38384]

Id also like to say if youre cool with knowing that what youre buying isnt necessarily designed by who is selling it and they are cutting out those people, thats fine go for it. I may or may not have a bunch of tv shows and movies that I have procured in specific ways and Im cool with that too and will help you figure it out if you like. Or the fact that I dont think Ive watched a sporting event on the actual channel it was broadcast in decades. Well other than the Tulsa Shootout and The Chilli Bowl through floracing cause I like their product and think they deserve my money.

By now I think its pretty obvious Im far from the RAH RAH MURICA FUCK YEA type from my postings here and for people to act like they are doing something right and good, or better than others because of misguided ideals is always a bit ridiculous to me.

Really I'm just trying to share information.

It's tough because to get that made in America stamp I believe only 25% of the product has to be assembled here. The whole thing's a giant sham.

But if you're not told that, and you've never looked into yourself, you never going to know.


I wanted to say too, separate from my response to you...

Hood struts are just gas powered springs, which extend a certain length, compact to a certain length, support a certain amount of weight, at a certain rate of movement. That's all they are. So in reality companies who sell hood struts, no matter where they're made, outside of the manufacturers who are actually making them and selling them to you, the US-based LLC who's selling you someone else's manufactured product, is simply telling them the specs they need, and what color they want it painted, and then they're slapping their sticker on it, and selling it to you for a marked up price.

Once you get into the guts of what's going on in the business behind the Made in America seal, and you get all the facts, you can start to figure out which companies products are actually made in America.

If you are the RAH RAH AMERICA type, then wouldn't you want to purchase from a company who has 100% of the product manufactured merchandise and sold in the USA, and be able to prove it too?



I'm definitely getting into the ranty repeating myself side of this thread. I guess I'll bow out for now. Let people post their experiences and get this thing a little more back on track.

 

[yokramer]

Really I'm just trying to share information.

It's tough because to get that made in America stamp I believe only 25% of the product has to be assembled here. The whole thing's a giant sham.

But if you're not told that, and you've never looked into yourself, you never going to know.


I wanted to say too, separate from my response to you...

Hood struts are just gas powered springs, which extend a certain length, compact to a certain length, support a certain amount of weight, at a certain rate of movement. That's all they are. So in reality companies who sell hood struts, no matter where they're made, outside of the manufacturers who are actually making them and selling them to you, the US-based LLC who's selling you someone else's manufactured product, is simply telling them the specs they need, and what color they want it painted, and then they're slapping their sticker on it, and selling it to you for a marked up price.

Once you get into the guts of what's going on in the business behind the Made in America seal, and you get all the facts, you can start to figure out which companies products are actually made in America.

If you are the RAH RAH AMERICA type, then wouldn't you want to purchase from a company who has 100% of the product manufactured merchandise and sold in the USA, and be able to prove it too?



I'm definitely getting into the ranty repeating myself side of this thread. I guess I'll bow out for now. Let people post their experiences and get this thing a little more back on track.

I mean thats just how business works, if you buy anything you are paying more than the person you bought it from. Youre paying for their labor to , spec the shocks, design the brackets, procure all the parts and put the kit together then ship it to you. Do you not think any of that should be paid for in a product? Should you only pay for the tangible pieces you can hold in your hand? The "made in america" seal as you put it doesnt even come into play in any of that. Obviously you will save money doing the research and sourcing of the parts yourself. I really dont get what point you think youre trying to make here.

 

[Tortolabob]

2 Years with Redlines still work as new

 

[Aonar]

Writing B4 reading any other comments.

OK, I hear the water is warm, so I am going to jump in!
I can't compare what I use, the @Redline Tuning struts because I do not own any other brand.

I will tell you the following about why I purchased and how they have performed.

-I purchased because of the forum reviews AS WELL AS non-forum reviews.
-Made in the USA is not NECESSARILY a deciding factor but there are advantages that I see.
..........I can probably reach them easily and quickly - Right here on this forum is ONLY one way.
..........I do in fact like the concept that I am helping an American Small Business

How do they perform?
-I suspect that I use mine MORE THAN ANYONE on the forum. How can I say that? I have a diesel (JLURD), so I am opening and closing the hood daily from about Halloween through April Fool's Day. I use my block heater during that time period. So, let's see...
.Struts used 2X per day
.Used apporx. 150 days
.Used approx. 300 per year
.I have had mine since Dec of 2021
.That should be about 1200+ uses since owning the product (please check my math).

I tried to find the pic I attached in the other thread, but I think all our comments disappeared...
Here is the pic from that thread showing what mine still look like after all these years:

Here is the vid I mad, way back then. Sorry, not well done at all.






NOTHING against another Company trying to break into the market with a COPY...But I for one, would not change to a new Company WITHOUT a track record for what amounts to about 63 cups of tea at my local gas station.

BTW did the original thread by them disappear? OR just the forum comments? Please redirect me if I am wrong.

https://www.jlwranglerforums.com/fo...orts-struts-20-off-promocode-yslxlf54.162683/

 

[jaymz]

Frankly I'm a little tired of this whole made in the USA thing everyone loves to flaunt, meanwhile it's always a question as to how much they're actually made in the USA, and how much they're just assembled here.

I find a good way to tell that is to look at the size of the facility which they are supposedly manufactured and designed in, go on LinkedIn or another site, see how many employees they have, and see if the numbers add up to however millions of products they sell every year. A lot of times I find it's just a warehouse where things are packaged and shipped from, rarely do I ever come across a company that does everything they say they do from their tiny little facility wedged between two other companies in the same plaza.

Anyways, this is my experience so far having purchased numerous Chinese hood struts for various vehicles I've had over the years, sometimes you win with them, sometimes you don't, but the more based in the USA the company is, the more likely you are to have a quality product. When you buy straight from the manufacturer like I have in the past, it's kind of a hit or miss whether you get a quality product or not. But when you buy from a company that's based in the USA, but manufactures their products in China, you usually get a very good quality product, remnant of the much more expensive products that are supposedly manufactured in the USA.

I think we can all agree at this point that I have a substantial amount of experience ordering from manufacturers in China, maybe not as much as some of the company selling us products manufactured in China, but as an individual buyer I've been doing this for over 10 years now. I like to think of myself as a bit of a DIY expert when it comes to finding products cheaper from their manufacturer in China and ordering and installing them.

Without further ado here is my comparison between my 1-year old @Redline Tuning hood struts, and some cheap Chinese struts I got for $20 off of AliExpress 4 years ago:



I'd love to hear y'all's experiences with whatever brand of hood struts you guys are currently running, and your experiences with domestically produced ones as well as ones that are manufactured in China and other countries globally.

My experience with China hood strut kits wasn't the gas springs - it was the bracketry. I saw that they were so cheap and flimsy when I opened the box that I didn't even consider wasting any time installing them. It was obvious that they wouldn't last long. They got shipped back the same day I got them and were replaced with Redline.

And FWIW, Redline advertises that their product assists opening at about the halfway point, not anywhere near where you demonstrated. We also don't know how many times you've opened and closed the Jeep vs. the Subaru (probably a LOT more - it is a Jeep after all). In addition to that, I'm not so feeble that I need help opening the hood. If the gas springs hold it up after I open it, I'm a happy camper.

 

[yokramer]

BTW did the original thread by them disappear? OR just the forum comments? Please redirect me if I am wrong.

https://www.jlwranglerforums.com/forum/threads/tecbaba-new-product-hood-lift-supports-struts-20-off-promocode-yslxlf54.162683/

Looks like they had the first one deleted and made another, which is completely reasonable.

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