I think the group buy on the rods was forgone because they simply can't mark them down much......
Later
I still call BS on this Mitch.
Although I do not know what the raw material is worth or the time involved to cut a Dmax rod is, taking into consideration the cost of the gasser stuff, even the high HP gasser stuff, I think there is a fair chunk of wiggle room here if they had to turn out say 80 to 100 rods. Especially with half the money down in advance or something like that.
Like I said, the R&D is done and paid for so if it is just the cost of material and services that are keeping the cost high, then I understand, but I doubt it.
I know how big a discount my company gets when we buy 40 conn rods at a time for our 2500HP fluid pumps and it is quite substantial compared to buying one at the tune of $2500 a piece. And this is in a much smaller, more select market!!
On edit: Just to be clear I don't blame the vendors for this. They gotta eat too!!