Why are Simpson products so expensive?

[1of1547]

Why is anything with the Simpson name twice as much as the competition’s (G-force, RCI, Jegs, etc.) items? The price on a Simpson single layer fire jacket is $99.99. The competition’s single layer fire jacket on the average is $49.99. The same goes for the multilayer jackets. Simpson’s is $225.00 and everybody else’s is $150.00. What gives, is it just a name? Or is there a actual reason for doubling the price.

[Steve Wood]

People pay a lot for a name....at least enuf people do that they can.

[1of1547]

I figured it was a "keeping up with Jones" thing.

[Grumpy]

hmmm thinkin here ...didn't "Simpson" sell out ???

[turbofish38]

Blame it on the liberals and anybody against tort reform. Usually the biggest guy is the most expensive because a large porportion of the price goes straight to the lawyers and insurance premiums. Now adays, lets use racing as an example, when a driver(and spectaters too) gets injured the first thing that happens is they hire a lawyer, and I have even seen a few advertising in track programs, and the first thing these ambulance chasers do is go after everybody and anybody connected. Hey he was wearing a Simpson helmet. Sue Simpson! Simpson belts. Sue Simpson again! Goodyear tires. Sue Goodyear! Wildwood brakes. Sue Wildwood! Hey sue everyone, after all none of them will contest it in the courts. Its a lot easier and cheaper to settle out of the courts. If you sue a dozen companies for $100K apiece you can almost guarantee the victim(?) will get at least a $1M for a settlement instead of just trying to get that one big settlement from one manufacturer.

One day I was playing around with google and found a few websites and I see the current trend with the ambulance chasers is to post some of the settlements they have won for their clients. No mention of the ones they lost. I even found a promenent firm in the Charllote NC area that apparently is connected to one or more high profile cases(Dale Earnhardt Sr?) connected to the sport of auto racing. Makes you wonder why it cost so much to operate a track or even the amount the tracks charge for rental fees let alone trying to start a business that sells specialized equipment for racing.

One last word about helmets, Can you really put a price on piece of mind? I mean you generally get what you pay for. Buy a cheap helmet and you get a cheaply made helmet IMO.

All of this ranting brought to you courtesy of the anniversery of the granddaddy of one of the most famous cases that is used an an example for all tort reform cases, the infamous Ford Pinto and its exploding fuel tank. I heard on the radio the other morning it is going on 30 years since the first case was brought before the courts exposing Ford and other manufactures about thier excepted risks policies. Funny thing is there was never one case that could prove the Pinto had a faulty fuel tank design.

[turbofish38]

Originally Posted by Grumpy

hmmm thinkin here ...didn't "Simpson" sell out ???

Bill Simpson sold the rights to the Simpson name, to an off shore corporation IIRC.

He heads another company making safety products: http://www.impacthelmets.com/index.html

[1of1547]

Originally Posted by turbofish38

Blame it on the liberals and anybody against tort reform. Usually the biggest guy is the most expensive because a large porportion of the price goes straight to the lawyers and insurance premiums. Now adays, lets use racing as an example, when a driver(and spectaters too) gets injured the first thing that happens is they hire a lawyer, and I have even seen a few advertising in track programs, and the first thing these ambulance chasers do is go after everybody and anybody connected. Hey he was wearing a Simpson helmet. Sue Simpson! Simpson belts. Sue Simpson again! Goodyear tires. Sue Goodyear! Wildwood brakes. Sue Wildwood! Hey sue everyone, after all none of them will contest it in the courts. Its a lot easier and cheaper to settle out of the courts. If you sue a dozen companies for $100K apiece you can almost guarantee the victim(?) will get at least a $1M for a settlement instead of just trying to get that one big settlement from one manufacturer.

One day I was playing around with google and found a few websites and I see the current trend with the ambulance chasers is to post some of the settlements they have won for their clients. No mention of the ones they lost. I even found a promenent firm in the Charllote NC area that apparently is connected to one or more high profile cases(Dale Earnhardt Sr?) connected to the sport of auto racing. Makes you wonder why it cost so much to operate a track or even the amount the tracks charge for rental fees let alone trying to start a business that sells specialized equipment for racing.

One last word about helmets, Can you really put a price on piece of mind? I mean you generally get what you pay for. Buy a cheap helmet and you get a cheaply made helmet IMO.

All of this ranting brought to you courtesy of the anniversery of the granddaddy of one of the most famous cases that is used an an example for all tort reform cases, the infamous Ford Pinto and its exploding fuel tank. I heard on the radio the other morning it is going on 30 years since the first case was brought before the courts exposing Ford and other manufactures about thier excepted risks policies. Funny thing is there was never one case that could prove the Pinto had a faulty fuel tank design.

Hey Eric can you tell me what is really on mind? I will have to agree with you. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out motor sports are dangerous.

The TPP rating on the single layer Simpson is 6 and the G-force is 11. It is my understanding that TPP # is the amount of seconds it will take before you would get a second degree burn. So the G-force is almost twice as long as the Simpson?

[Racer X]

I agree with everything Eric said and would like to add to it. I have a G-Force 3 layer fire suit and it is much thicker and heavier than the Simpson and Sparco suits. Check the prices for Momo and Sparco as well.

After about thirty minutes of driving that heavier suit gets heavier.

Also, Simpson, Sparco, and Momo are major sponsors for several race teams and that money needs to come from somewhere.

[EightSecV6]

If you need a 9/16 wrench, would you prefer a Crapsman or a Snap-On? they will both do the same job.

[JP87GN]

Originally Posted by EightSecV6

If you need a 9/16 wrench, would you prefer a Crapsman or a Snap-On? they will both do the same job.

Exactly!

[Dwayne]

His stuff should be the cheapest........He was caught a few years ago in Indianapolis with his factories and wharehouses full of illegeal aliens doing the work for pennies a day.

[Grumpy]

Originally Posted by EightSecV6

If you need a 9/16 wrench, would you prefer a Crapsman or a Snap-On? they will both do the same job.

an adjustable