Why does Maier Plastic suck!!!!!!???????
Why is it that their products are so poorly made compared to OEM plastics. For the most part they are cheaper, but not always. Most of the time aftermarket companies can offer equivalant, or better quality than OEM for less, but with Maier, this is not the case.
Is it so hard to mold in factory type mounting tabs without the need for flimsy brackets? No its not as you pay for the mold and thats, well that. The small cost factor for a mold with the supports compared to the molds they use without the supports is minimal especially at the prices they charge for their goods.
This rant is straight out to do with their poor products and the way you need to mount them. I have bought several Maier branded products over the years to replace aging or damaged plastics on 2, 3, and 4 wheeled machines. Every piece that I ever received has not fit worth a damn. Take something as simple as a 3 wheeler fender. What is so hard about haveing the mounting holes formed in the mold? Well nothing, but they were able to save about $250.00 on the mold that they makes 10's of thousands of dollars on per year. Instead they give flats and want you to drill the holes and hope you aligned and marked them off correctly.
Now lets move to rear fenders. The sport machines have a factor fender brace with stands odd molded into the factory plastics for the bracket to stick into. Again the change to the mold is very minimal in a finacial sense. Maier has forgone this little stand off for brackets which again, require you to drill a hole and hope you have it right.
Next up is 4 wheeler plastics. The rear fenders suffer the same as the 3 wheeled counterparts. The front fenders and hoods are a whole story in themselves. No factory style tabs to mount the fenders themselves. Just a few holes to attach bracketry to. The brackerty does not support the fenders near as well as the way it was done from the fcatory, plus you have ugly screws showing all over the place. The hoods are even more of a joke. On my TRX250R, the factory plastics had tabs molded for 6 screws to attach a hood from the bottom. The cost to add this to a mold is again small, but maier decided to just give you flats to attempt to line up and drill correctly. This drilling allows access for you to place a screw through the plastic to fasten it, but the end fitment and look is terrible.
Maybe its just me, but its time that this company does something to improve its products beside offering a shiny finish. I beleive that the big news from them in the past few years. I know that when you have a old 3 or 4 wheeled machine that they are really about your only choice cause the products are no longer supported by the manufacture of your machine. Even if they are support, the cost they charge becase they know they can is outragous. Take the TRX plastics. From the dealer you would pay around $600.00 for the front fender(s), hood, and rear fender. Maier, is around $350.00, which is quite the savings. Now the savings really is not worth the poor fit, but thats mu honest oppinion.
Now take a newer machine like the Honda 400EX. New OEM plastics from the dealer are only around $220.00., but the maier crap is over $300.00!!!!!! Why would anyone do this except to get colors that are not factory?
I really dont know what to say, but I do know that I am completely disappointed in the products that Maier offers.
What do others here feel? Please share.
Please note that I work with molded plastic suppliers as part of my job. I have purchased molds and I know what the cost's are.
Dave
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Originally Posted by AZ250R
