Transponder rip off!
Discussion
I have just sold a transponder that I am sure only cost me £120 for over £340. What a rip off, how can this be happening. Timing tech should be as cheap as chips now. Does the manufacture have some sort of hold over the circuits. It appears to sink of the usual excuse 'If you can afford a race car you can afford xyz! Well I for one gave up with this attitude after the MSA just kept on changing the regs, making new costs for the poor club man year on year. Its people like the MSA who should have used their power to limit cost like the ones for a transponder. I cannot see how a transponder costs over £600 new when all it has to do is send a signal - after all look at all the 'chips/tags' used in over sports for timing - granted usually to time objects/people at a lot lower speed but that why the car ones have a power supply.
There's a temptation to sell mine as I have no race car at the moment, I presume they could easily decide that the old non-subscription type is no longer eligible which'd render it worthless?
That said I don't want the rechargeable type, anything with a battery in it lets me down eventually- or I'll plug it in to charge up and leave it plugged in at home / in the hotel...
That said I don't want the rechargeable type, anything with a battery in it lets me down eventually- or I'll plug it in to charge up and leave it plugged in at home / in the hotel...
sheepdip said:
I have just sold a transponder that I am sure only cost me £120 for over £340. What a rip off, how can this be happening. Timing tech should be as cheap as chips now. Does the manufacture have some sort of hold over the circuits. It appears to sink of the usual excuse 'If you can afford a race car you can afford xyz! Well I for one gave up with this attitude after the MSA just kept on changing the regs, making new costs for the poor club man year on year. Its people like the MSA who should have used their power to limit cost like the ones for a transponder. I cannot see how a transponder costs over £600 new when all it has to do is send a signal - after all look at all the 'chips/tags' used in over sports for timing - granted usually to time objects/people at a lot lower speed but that why the car ones have a power supply.
When did it cost £120 that must have been a while back. They have skyrocketed the going rate was about £240 in 2014. As you say it's not expensive tech... I don't think it's the MSA's fault though is it? Are they bound into a single source agreement contract with TSL? If so then I don't blame tsl - I'd blame the lack of competition!Sorry but I do blame the MSA they should have the power to use what ever timing gear they want any track they want - after all they are the ones bringing in the business. I used to race 50cc bikes many years ago using the same make of transponder and you only need to pay a few quid deposit for the loan of the transponder during the meeting. If the transponder was worth 100s of pounds then the deposit would have been of a size to match said value. I do not do any MSA events now due to the fact they represent the top end of the sport i.e. cheque book racing and not the skit clubman.
A new transponder with 5 years subs is just over £300. I'm not saying that it's cheap but it isn't £600.
http://www.racetransponders.co.uk/car-bike-product...
http://www.racetransponders.co.uk/car-bike-product...
The situation is a mess, which is why the CSCC bought up the last of the 'old', non-subscription transponders whilst it could, it still has a few for sale to members.
It isn't a fault of the MSA, but that of MyLaps changing to subscription based models. Most clubs in the UK use timekeeping decoders with software updates from MyLaps that won't work with the cheaper TAG/Chronolec transponders.
It isn't a fault of the MSA, but that of MyLaps changing to subscription based models. Most clubs in the UK use timekeeping decoders with software updates from MyLaps that won't work with the cheaper TAG/Chronolec transponders.
Lets not make life complicated!
When I purchased said transponder for 120 quid company selling them/running timing at the track was making a living. So how come they are not now! Too many sold/no new sales? I guess not. Technology has moved on so they should be cheap as chips and that includes the software. Take a typical weekend race meeting 15 races over the two days each with a grid of 25 cars(conservative entry) 375 entrants so lets charge them £5 each for transducer hire makes 1875 quid for the weekend. - very nice thank you! That would cost each entrant 50 quid for their 10 race championship. Now lets half that, timing guy gets over 900 quid for the weekend - do you know someone who would work for 450 a day? Of course you do and we pay £25 for the year, all happy - except the MSA cos we have not added their cut!
When I purchased said transponder for 120 quid company selling them/running timing at the track was making a living. So how come they are not now! Too many sold/no new sales? I guess not. Technology has moved on so they should be cheap as chips and that includes the software. Take a typical weekend race meeting 15 races over the two days each with a grid of 25 cars(conservative entry) 375 entrants so lets charge them £5 each for transducer hire makes 1875 quid for the weekend. - very nice thank you! That would cost each entrant 50 quid for their 10 race championship. Now lets half that, timing guy gets over 900 quid for the weekend - do you know someone who would work for 450 a day? Of course you do and we pay £25 for the year, all happy - except the MSA cos we have not added their cut!
sheepdip said:
Lets not make life complicated!
When I purchased said transponder for 120 quid company selling them/running timing at the track was making a living. So how come they are not now! Too many sold/no new sales? I guess not. Technology has moved on so they should be cheap as chips and that includes the software. Take a typical weekend race meeting 15 races over the two days each with a grid of 25 cars(conservative entry) 375 entrants so lets charge them £5 each for transducer hire makes 1875 quid for the weekend. - very nice thank you! That would cost each entrant 50 quid for their 10 race championship. Now lets half that, timing guy gets over 900 quid for the weekend - do you know someone who would work for 450 a day? Of course you do and we pay £25 for the year, all happy - except the MSA cos we have not added their cut!
Do you have any idea how Motorsport in this country is organised ? When I purchased said transponder for 120 quid company selling them/running timing at the track was making a living. So how come they are not now! Too many sold/no new sales? I guess not. Technology has moved on so they should be cheap as chips and that includes the software. Take a typical weekend race meeting 15 races over the two days each with a grid of 25 cars(conservative entry) 375 entrants so lets charge them £5 each for transducer hire makes 1875 quid for the weekend. - very nice thank you! That would cost each entrant 50 quid for their 10 race championship. Now lets half that, timing guy gets over 900 quid for the weekend - do you know someone who would work for 450 a day? Of course you do and we pay £25 for the year, all happy - except the MSA cos we have not added their cut!
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