Community Feedback Requested Re: EuroConnex / Epoustouflant

[usdmej]

admins should tag him as a vendor and make him decide if he is going to post as either Epoustouflant or EuroConnex since they are the same entity.
he's currently operating like a member that's using multiple accounts by speaking about his company in third person

[SandeepM3]

I also find it problematic that pricing is not openly posted and requires disclosing personal information at an unaffiliated site to even see the pricing details.

I agree with this. IIRC M3F had a rule that prices had to be given on group buys. That I feel should also be presented here especially if it's supposed to be community-driven.

[joefresh]

I always thought the PM for pricing thing was lame. this is just that but on another level. I would never buy anything from this guy. I have been doing just fine building all kinds of cars without this type of sale.

[wahsm]

Like others have said I think it is actually good for the community and some of the products that are being offered are interesting and I may have not come across previously. From that point of view I think that brings value. I haven't participated so can't speak from first hand experience, was going to in the SS group buy but the discounts when factoring shipping to Canada weren't really a discount. Glad I didn't based on how delayed some of the shipments were and possibly still people waiting, so I think that should be tightened up if we are going to allow essentially a business to run group buys on the forum. Discounts aren't what I would expect in general from a group buy, but at the end of the day EuroConnex is really more of a volume business than a true group buy. Probably doesn't hurt to have rules around it.

[Arith2]

This guy reminds of people I work with at my dealership. There's always an angle. Deleting post full of misinformation and fear mongering to aquire customers is quite pathetic. At least some of us remember since the post are gone. The group buys are a quick buck for this guy. In his words, it's a side hussle. That's all fine and dandy but he withholds information and pricing.

[jet_dogg]

When I first signed up on this forum I was a little confused regarding the euroconnex concept. It is essentially a for profit private enterprise that for some reason or another was permitted to operate in a commercial business/advertising capacity on an enthusiast forum. I didn’t question it at first but seemed it was grandfathered in such a way that it benefited in two ways; circumventing the rules and by not being considered a sponsor by having to pay any affiliate fees. Seems counter to the spirit of this thread https://nam3forum.com/forums/forum/m...s-first#post46.

There are inclusive buzzwords like “community” and “we" used throughout the connex but the only benefit to forum members for these perpetually crowd funded group buys is some savings on parts albeit with long wait times which in all fairness people should understand. This is effectively no different than any other sponsor/affiliate offers on other forums. People will undoubtedly vouch for the connex because they want to save money. In the most recent example they are mislead because in the thread that started this drama the price was listed, perhaps unbeknownst to him, with a disingenuous discount rate since it included the european tax price to the USA to give the impression of a greater discount spread than what was really the case. There was no transparency/clarity regarding this issue which I feel the connex should have been obligated to address to the community it serves. I am well versed in importing goods from the EU and this was absolutely the case. These products surface on niche forums all the time, especially in this age of information so it’s only a matter of days or hours before someone posts about new items without the shroud of secrecy to protect the organizer’s business.

I was an outspoken bipartisan voice in defense of the group buy process like the supersprint thread, but after some thought I don’t think it ultimately benefits the community the way it purports (one look at the ss thread will tell you all you need to know). Some items have no relevance to the organizer like grassroots organized buys do as previously mentioned. It probably makes sense to host buys for the car you yourself own and plan to participate in.

It would also be wise for him to conduct himself with a certain code of conduct and ethics while he grows his business without resorting to insults and calling members here names. My observation is It seems he vacillates between business and member roles depending on the situation that suits him in response to concerns/criticism. Who’s to say he would continue this venture if his own site garnered enough traffic is my question with no clear answer.

[lvm3sm46]

I really want to know how much he makes on a group buy like the Supersprint one. That would be interesting to know.

[usdmej]

Who’s to say he would continue this venture if his own site garnered enough traffic is my question with no clear answer.

have you heard of massdrop? their business model is essentially what Epoustouflant/Euroconnex is trying to copy minus the sleaziness and ego.
Massdrop started out as a business that would organize group buys with vendors and jump on different forums to try and gather enough interest for better discounts. they were briefly on M3F to organize a recaro pole position group buy.

prices were publicly advertised

they specialized in a lot of diferent genres from automotive parts to home audio. Eventually they got enough buying power to "curate" collaboration products with vendors. Their most popular product was a Massdrop version of the Sennheiser HD600 headphones that came in at a significant discount to the original.


eventually they got big enough to not have to seek out buyers from forums. These days they're known as www.drop.com and mostly cater to the audiophile/custom keyboard crowd with a combination of their own products and group buys. it looks like their website also has a built in forum where group buy interest is constantly gauged. I'd imagine this is Epoustouflant/Euroconnex's end game.


i've purchased from them in the past and have had no issues, which is probably why i have no interest in dealing with Epoustouflant/Euroconnex.

[Cronenberged]

I do wish pricing was posted as coming from the old forum thought it was a requirement, but I also understand NDAs and how he might be obligated to only share through EC site. That said a lot good and valid points have been posted on the spectrum of pricing, and how EC should be more of a vendor. I personally haven't had any issues getting responses or information, but maybe I'm a unicorn. Overall I think EC has brought a lot of attention to products otherwise that wouldn't be known and I appreciate that. Seems like a middle ground needs to established, and for reference I've never bought anything.

[jet_dogg]

have you heard of massdrop? their business model is essentially what Epoustouflant/Euroconnex is trying to copy minus the sleaziness and ego.
Massdrop started out as a business that would organize group buys with vendors and jump on different forums to try and gather enough interest for better discounts. they were briefly on M3F to organize a recaro pole position group buy.

prices were publicly advertised

they specialized in a lot of diferent genres from automotive parts to home audio. Eventually they got enough buying power to "curate" collaboration products with vendors. Their most popular product was a Massdrop version of the Sennheiser HD600 headphones that came in at a significant discount to the original.


eventually they got big enough to not have to seek out buyers from forums. These days they're known as www.drop.com and mostly cater to the audiophile/custom keyboard crowd with a combination of their own products and group buys. it looks like their website also has a built in forum where group buy interest is constantly gauged. I'd imagine this is Epoustouflant/Euroconnex's end game.


i've purchased from them in the past and have had no issues, which is probably why i have no interest in dealing with Epoustouflant/Euroconnex.

Haven't heard of them but thanks for the heads up to avoid. I think that would be anybody's end game not that I blame them. Who would have time for forums when trying to run one's own hobby turned business?

[old///MFanatic]

Think it’s helpful to clarify what the definition of “Group Buy” is to some with their own preconceived definition:

*Group buying, also known as collective buying, offers products and services at significantly reduced prices on the condition that a minimum number of buyers would make the purchase. Origins of group buying can be traced to China where it is known as team buying.

At no point does an organizer need to have “skin in the game” for it to conform as a GB by definition.

Again if someone doesn’t find the pricing advantageous they don’t have to buy. But it appears his Group Buys garner enough buyers every time that it benefits the members imho. If he starts a GB for $200 off 20 widgets and you can make one selling same widgets for $250 off, more power to you! But anyone having organized a GB knows it’s a hassle and how much is your time worth?

As to mandating all Group Buys disclose how much they make. That seems a bit much, and does it really matter. Because if the price isn’t below market and benefit to collective group they won’t buy. Besides you don’t ask the guy in classifieds selling his CSL trunk or intake how much they bought it for. One just considers the price it costs you from buying elsewhere.

[usdmej]

yea just let him be a business here, he wouldn't be here giving exposure to new products unless it came with his group buy so why treat him like an enthusiast?

[Tones]

I saved like 3 grand on a full ss header exhaust.

I don't really care that it's on another site. I don't care his another vendor. His an entity that I can charge back to.

How many "grass roots" group buys end with everyone getting fleeced? Many and I find them extremely hard to trust. Yall have your csl wheels yet?



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[oceansize]

I saved like 3 grand on a full ss header exhaust.

Damn, does anything else need to be said if this is anywhere close to accurate (I wasn't in that group buy, but even if it was $2k sheesh)? How in the heck is anyone going to argue that?

[usdmej]

How in the heck is anyone going to argue that?

who in the heck is?