SKB/Gator Cases...

The Spark · 13th December 2008

I was checking out the cost of Gator and SKB rack cases for a potential portable recording setup and I started to wonder why these things are so pricey. There cant be more than $10-15 in materials there, but yet they cost many times that. I realize they have every right to charge what people will pay, but am I out to lunch thinking these things are way over priced for what they are?

magnuspater · 13th December 2008

Yes, they are a bit pricey, but they come with a lifetime warranty. I ordered a six space rack when ebay/live.com had the 25% off deal and got a rack with a broken latch. SKB was quick to send a replacement latch w/out any hassles.

christmasjones · 13th December 2008

i used to work in a factory that produced brake light housings for toyota. The cost of the plastic to make those parts was extremely high due to the fact that it takes a lot of oli to produce these plastics... so, i'm only guessing this is why they are expensive.

The Spark · 15th December 2008

Hmmm... I hadnt factored in the warranty or perhaps the plastic wasnt a standard plastic material. Shipping them from the factory cant be cheap either, they are usually fairly big after all.

Eh... Ill come to grips with my cheapness eventually and pick one up probably.

...

aussie_techie · 16th December 2008

racks/cases have to suit what you using them for and in most cases just forget the plastics, they are never good enough, gators and any other cheaper brands are never strong enough none stack nicely with anything except other plastics and the crappy latches never last. ok the bigger companies may send you a replacement latch but how much extra time is that going to cost you and in the mean time your gear is at risk.

i have found SKBs are much better than gators or anything else but still not good enough for most things.

the worst thing i find with plastics is the rails arnt recessed and the face of your gear is out in he open ready to get damaged.

i got some wooden 4U racks cheaper than a gator and much stronger and its really not much heavier.

13th December 2008	#1
The Spark Lives for gear Joined: May 2005 Location: Canada Posts: 593 Thread Starter	SKB/Gator Cases... I was checking out the cost of Gator and SKB rack cases for a potential portable recording setup and I started to wonder why these things are so pricey. There cant be more than $10-15 in materials there, but yet they cost many times that. I realize they have every right to charge what people will pay, but am I out to lunch thinking these things are way over priced for what they are? __________________ --- The Spark ---

13th December 2008	#2
magnuspater Gear nut Joined: Jun 2006 Location: la Posts: 122	Yes, they are a bit pricey, but they come with a lifetime warranty. I ordered a six space rack when ebay/live.com had the 25% off deal and got a rack with a broken latch. SKB was quick to send a replacement latch w/out any hassles. __________________ "Computer games don't affect kids; I mean if Pac-Man affected us as kids, we'd all be running around in darkened rooms, munching magic pills and listening to repetitive electronic music."--Kristian Wilson, Nintendo. 1989

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13th December 2008	#3
christmasjones Lives for gear Joined: Oct 2007 Location: Indiana Posts: 1,298	i used to work in a factory that produced brake light housings for toyota. The cost of the plastic to make those parts was extremely high due to the fact that it takes a lot of oli to produce these plastics... so, i'm only guessing this is why they are expensive.

15th December 2008	#4
The Spark Lives for gear Joined: May 2005 Location: Canada Posts: 593 Thread Starter	Hmmm... I hadnt factored in the warranty or perhaps the plastic wasnt a standard plastic material. Shipping them from the factory cant be cheap either, they are usually fairly big after all. Eh... Ill come to grips with my cheapness eventually and pick one up probably. ...

16th December 2008	#5
aussie_techie Lives for gear Joined: Jan 2004 Location: Perth, Australia Posts: 2,709	racks/cases have to suit what you using them for and in most cases just forget the plastics, they are never good enough, gators and any other cheaper brands are never strong enough none stack nicely with anything except other plastics and the crappy latches never last. ok the bigger companies may send you a replacement latch but how much extra time is that going to cost you and in the mean time your gear is at risk. i have found SKBs are much better than gators or anything else but still not good enough for most things. the worst thing i find with plastics is the rails arnt recessed and the face of your gear is out in he open ready to get damaged. i got some wooden 4U racks cheaper than a gator and much stronger and its really not much heavier.