Help me justify Gobi's Roof Rack Price

robaroni

robaroni

New member
I have spoken with two fabricators locally and have quotes of $650 and $750 for a 85 x 43 low profile roof rack for my Runner. One quoted a 2 week turn around the other 1 week. Both fabricators will install mounting tabs for the light bar I will be using.

It appears that the Gobi rack would cost $1595. I can't justify the huge price difference. Am I missing something?
 
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Agreed. If I had local access to a fabricator for a custom product to match my specific light bar set up and can weld on extra tabs anywhere you demand I would go with that. Being local could also make changes/additions as you deem necessary down the road that you would want to the rack. Also at over half the cost it just seems like you could add something we all need on our roof racks. . .MORE LIGHTS!!!!
 
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I'd go local too!

No doubt Gobi has money built into their price for rustproofing, powdercoating, and "free shipping" (actual cost almost $300 coast-to-coast), which you pay for in their all in one price.
 
flyfisher4822 said:
I'd go local too!

No doubt Gobi has money built into their price for rustproofing, powdercoating, and "free shipping" (actual cost almost $300 coast-to-coast), which you pay for in their all in one price.
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Don't forget all those patent lawyers. ;): They don't work for free. :p
 
Go local or get a BajaRack before Gobi sues them.

I am sure Gobi has or will be suing Baja shortly as the flex the patent muscles.
 
^either hurry and get the Baja rack or go local and save about $600 or more. I don't see a rack being worth 1600 that's insane. Looks nice but I don't like overpaying for stuff where it's the same build quality. I've learned with professional welders that they're almost all fantastic. What seperates them is a lot of them are full of themselves and think they do no wrong and I've met a few in Alabama but find a good one and make friends
 
Here is what the price differences are/were between Whitson and Gobi.

Pay for the Whitson:
1. shipping - several hundred
2. powder coat - few hundred (you can also spray paint it but you will have to reapply)
3. ladder - if you want it
4. sun roof insert - if you want it
5. full length flooring - if you want it
6. removable cross bars which were either Yakima or Thule (Josh wasn't making them at the time)

I priced both out and they were within $100 difference. The reason why I went with Gobi was because I didn't want to deal with taking the rack to get powder coated and I didn't want to get Yakima or Thule crossbars. I was also in on the Gobi group buy before all this BS happened. I love my Gobi rack but I despise the company. If you can get a rack custom built that is tailored to exactly what you want and its half the price of the Gobi then the decision is obvious. It's ridiculous. I actually like Whitson's design better because I think it sits closer to the roof. So if people like Whitsons design better then how the fu*k is Whitson infringing on their design? Anyway, thats a different discussion.
 
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robaroni said:
I have spoken with two fabricators locally and have quotes of $650 and $750 for a 85 x 43 low profile roof rack for my Runner. One quoted a 2 week turn around the other 1 week. Both fabricators will install mounting tabs for the light bar I will be using.

It appears that the Gobi rack would cost $1595. I can't justify the huge price difference. Am I missing something?
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Go with the local guys as they'll give you a better overall product for the price as long as they are quality guys. You won't find too much justification for GOBI (there were some rusting issues in past I think as well...) or love after what happened recently to blemish their name on this forum.
 
Best to get a Gobi in November when they have a big discounts on trail duty website. I think I paid $1300 with shipping with ladder and insert and shovel and axle holders which was not that bad at all.

Plus I had a custom built one to accomdate a 40" light bar. They did not charge me extra for a 'custom' rack.

I don't care about thistory of Gobi suing someone or not. I do care for just the product quality and customer support which I think are good.

Apple has a history or suing everyone also. So what? I bet 99 percent on here have an apple product.
 
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chmura said:
Best to get a Gobi in November when they have a big discounts on trail duty website. I think I paid $1300 with shipping with ladder and insert and shovel and axle holders which was not that bad at all.

Plus I had a custom built one to accomdate a 40" light bar. They did not charge me extra for a 'custom' rack.

I don't care about thistory of Gobi suing someone or not. I do care for just the product quality and customer support which I think are good.

Apple has a history or suing everyone also. So what? I bet 99 percent on here have an apple product.
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You sold me on the local fabricator Chmura. I hate Apple! HAHA
 
chmura said:
Best to get a Gobi in November when they have a big discounts on trail duty website. I think I paid $1300 with shipping with ladder and insert and shovel and axle holders which was not that bad at all.

Plus I had a custom built one to accomdate a 40" light bar. They did not charge me extra for a 'custom' rack.

I don't care about thistory of Gobi suing someone or not. I do care for just the product quality and customer support which I think are good.

Apple has a history or suing everyone also. So what? I bet 99 percent on here have an apple product.
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As pointed out their quality has some rusting issues, unless you affiliate that with great quality.
In regards to customer service you also will see multiple separate threads showing the disorganization of the company and fulfilling orders properly and in a timing manner. Lying about being at powder coating, coming back from powder coating etc, etc.
But to each their own.
The reference of apple is just a complete tangent. As nothing previously mentioned is in correlation with current events but their past history.
 
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chmura said:
Apple has a history or suing everyone also. So what? I bet 99 percent on here have an apple product.
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I 'm sure if you went to a Samsung forum and asked them to justify the price of an Iphone you would get similar responses. People aren't happy with the way Gobi handled the whole situation and they watched it happen to someone they knew on a semi personal level. It reflects poorly on their business. Of course people aren't going to recommend them to someone.
 
In my opinion 30 people being a small business is debatable. But you don't need a lot of employees to hold a market hostage. Just a lot of patents.
 
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