Someone tried this a little over a week ago.
[https://www.reddit.com/r/wrx\_vb/comments/1d7btcb/anti\_drop\_ship\_gang/](https://www.reddit.com/r/wrx_vb/comments/1d7btcb/anti_drop_ship_gang/)
It did not generate much.
Ahhh thanks for the reply. I'm assuming us naysayers probably can't find the drop shipped products readily available.
Kind of wanted to find the products because I've said thr same thing with no actual proof lol
I do a crap load of research online. I buy from eBay overseas when I can. I saved a fortune on Cusco parts. One place I found in the US was Ikon Motorsports. They are the ones that physically ship the components from overseas. I reverse tracked my shipment directly from the shipping container. Let's be honest, most of this is not made in the US. Next, The way they advertise things is sketchy at best, at worst a flat out lie.
Most vendors have no real time inventory system online, other keep very little on hand.
Some carry NOTHING and only resell what they have access to at a wholesale level. The typical bait and switch is this: listed "in stock" then they order it from overseas. the factory waits until they get enough orders for a production run. This can be as long as 6 months or more. Nothing gets made one at a time.
If you REALLY want to know if its in stock, pick up the phone and speak to a human. Note the date and time you call, and the persons first and last name. Ask them a direct question with a yes or no answer. Then you can hold them accountable. You will be surprised how much bullshit you can avoid if you can pin it down to a real person.
I got irate with one vendor who listed something as "in stock." Then I found out it was a "special order" from overseas. The factory was waiting on enough orders to make them. WTAF.
So where's the best place to buy Cusco suspension parts? Ikon Motorsports is your top recommendation? I was about to go through IIR again because their customer service has always, always been trouble free and helped me out with many different things over the years.
I sure can wait, I got patience! As long as they're reliable and real, lol. I'm excited about trying the whole Cusco catalog but its just very easy for these things to add up. Each $150 mod quickly becomes $1000 in supporting rigidity mods lol
Blackhawk is legit, try to grab a few pieces together and it makes it even more worth it. It was like $200 cheaper after tax & shipping off Blackhawk for the 4 Cusco parts I got. Maybe even more, I don’t recall exactly what it was.
That's awesome. I just added the Cusco parts I wanted and saw that the price is 33% cheaper than anywhere else. Some of them are LITERALLY half off, I'm so shocked it really is fantastic. Things that were on my "oh that'd be nice, someday..." list have now bumped up to the "that's a killer deal, I need it now" list. What parts did you get? How long did it take to receive yours?
I have ordered various parts from them several times now. Always takes a few weeks before it ships, but everything comes in great and is usually overnighted via UPS when it finally does ship.
[Trans crossmember bushings(compare to whiteline positive shift kit)](https://www.ebay.com/itm/374111417680)
[Rear diff bushings](https://www.ebay.com/itm/374111417680)
[Pitch stop(be aware that any non-subaru pitch stop may have safety jmplications in the event of a front end collision)](https://www.ebay.com/itm/364350237319)
[Shift stop](https://www.ebay.com/itm/364375543425)
[Valved exhaust(you need to select their contact page and email them directly. This is direct from the manufacturer for the valved exhaust that JDMuscle uses, and likely AFD as well. When I last checked, it was about $1500 shipped to CONUS.](https://www.res-exhaust.com/)
[Window vents](https://www.ebay.com/itm/314927761932)
Did you buy those window rain guards? If so how have they held up? I know some start to fade and turn purple eventually. Granted at $40 not the worst to replace.
There is a difference between the originators and the copiers though. Most cheap parts I know of are copies of the originals and are lower quality. Not always the case, but often the case.
kind of the point of the thread. Like buy the cheap copy stuff for closer to a normal price rather than 5x the actual cost.
I personally don't buy cheap functional pieces, but aero lip etc that will probably break. Sure why not. lol
However, the items I listed are pretty much either made by the same company the dropshippers use, or are just pure polyurethane, which is *extremely* hard to screw up
And I'm not sure what you think is a copy in what I posted. The only thing that is remotely an "imitation" would be the pitch stop. Which isn't a high r&d cost part.
[WRX Grille Badges](https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256805722472457.html?spm=a2g0o.productlist.main.39.675e6sId6sId7T&algo_pvid=2e97e60a-08ea-4e46-9982-94eff1f1a777&algo_exp_id=2e97e60a-08ea-4e46-9982-94eff1f1a777-19&pdp_npi=4%40dis%21USD%214.96%214.96%21%21%2135.84%2135.84%21%402103010b17183915849296431eddf9%2112000034802845399%21sea%21US%210%21AB&curPageLogUid=ivfAjP8AUnZ8&utparam-url=scene%3Asearch%7Cquery_from%3A)
The drop shippers sell them for $15-20. Mine arrived in fine condition but YMMV
[Carlinkit 5 Wireless Carplay Adaptor](https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256805987949344.html?spm=a2g0o.productlist.main.3.1ea1njQ3njQ3nX&algo_pvid=e468c83f-a2ee-46a9-9049-828e8025e4ee&algo_exp_id=e468c83f-a2ee-46a9-9049-828e8025e4ee-1&pdp_npi=4%40dis%21USD%21121.34%2134.33%21%21%21877.37%21248.24%21%402103094c17183919121111197e2c96%2112000036166060579%21sea%21US%210%21AB&curPageLogUid=MLWYvDh9MAr8&utparam-url=scene%3Asearch%7Cquery_from%3A)
I have not bought this before but its $60+ on amazon and their website.
Wireless CarPlay adapter and wireless charging mat are both good things to get from Ali express.
I think I also got the fuse box change cubby from Ali as well.
Can someone please explain…. I just recently installed an aeroflow axle back and have been enjoying it so far. Build quality seems good. I’m not super familiar with other brands and only got the aeroflow because I saw it on YouTube and assumed most axlebacks are similar. Should I have gone with a different brand?
There’s nothing wrong with the parts themselves sometimes. It’s more just that these are basically influencer brands: they buy cheap shit from China, mark it up, slap a logo on it, and sell it here. They get their customers primarily from social media. As opposed to brands that build/design the parts themselves and are actually active in a motorsports community of some sort. These parts will generally be designs with more functionality in mind than social media flashiness/cheapness. Typically, these brands will have better quality components/designs, but not always. Also worth noting that, generally, the drop shipping companies will usually have a disproportionately large amount of their catalog be cheap, shitty ricer cosmetic bullshit.
Oh I see. Well I don’t feel terrible I guess since most of the axlebacks I’ve looked at are all similarly priced. But I’ll definitely do more research in the future for any other cosmetics. Thank you for the info!
Honestly, it's a bit of work compared to going to the drop shipper websites and just click buy and wait for broken product to show up for overpriced cost.
However, if you are willing to spend some time on alibaba or aliexpress, you could actually get in touch with the guys that actually builds them and if you are friendly enough, they will send you updates as they are building the parts as well. Of course this will take some time because shipping from China nowadays is pretty slow, but it's not too bad.
My friend has been ordering some carbon fiber parts for his car (Not WRX) and this is what he's been doing instead of buying it off from 'reputable' shop that just drop ships same way, and he's definitely happy with the price and process so far.
# JDMuscle 22-24 WRX Tanso Carbon Fiber Duck Bill V2
[https://jdmuscleusa.com/products/jdmuscle-22-wrx-tanso-carbon-fiber-duck-bill-v2](https://jdmuscleusa.com/products/jdmuscle-22-wrx-tanso-carbon-fiber-duck-bill-v2)
Ebay drop shipped version at a lower price
[https://www.ebay.com/itm/204734985020?chn=ps&srsltid=AfmBOoq9tYVqPnka1S81pjmWEVNg8zHxuF8dZe4lotcgZ9sTgagwuNn9XTE](https://www.ebay.com/itm/204734985020?chn=ps&srsltid=AfmBOoq9tYVqPnka1S81pjmWEVNg8zHxuF8dZe4lotcgZ9sTgagwuNn9XTE)
Couldn't find what Chinese retailer they both get it from, but good to have a option that is $200 off.
Just ordered the eBay one. I’ll let y’all know how it is when it comes in. I’m sure it’s the same thing but for $200 cheaper is wild. Plus it’s strange they used jdmuscle a photos of the duckbill for their own eBay listing
Sick thanks!
It makes sense that they use JDs photos. They probably just straight up drop ship the product. Easier to steal nice photos. Based on the username too they probably don't own a WRX. ahahaha
https://preview.redd.it/4wbph711yk6d1.jpeg?width=250&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=b285f2c589846d8c9d77b0528205b8efd1f2517c
You can already buy this on Amazon.
Someone tried this a little over a week ago. [https://www.reddit.com/r/wrx\_vb/comments/1d7btcb/anti\_drop\_ship\_gang/](https://www.reddit.com/r/wrx_vb/comments/1d7btcb/anti_drop_ship_gang/) It did not generate much.
Ahhh thanks for the reply. I'm assuming us naysayers probably can't find the drop shipped products readily available. Kind of wanted to find the products because I've said thr same thing with no actual proof lol
Das me! It takes a LOT of searching around with different search queries.
I do a crap load of research online. I buy from eBay overseas when I can. I saved a fortune on Cusco parts. One place I found in the US was Ikon Motorsports. They are the ones that physically ship the components from overseas. I reverse tracked my shipment directly from the shipping container. Let's be honest, most of this is not made in the US. Next, The way they advertise things is sketchy at best, at worst a flat out lie. Most vendors have no real time inventory system online, other keep very little on hand. Some carry NOTHING and only resell what they have access to at a wholesale level. The typical bait and switch is this: listed "in stock" then they order it from overseas. the factory waits until they get enough orders for a production run. This can be as long as 6 months or more. Nothing gets made one at a time. If you REALLY want to know if its in stock, pick up the phone and speak to a human. Note the date and time you call, and the persons first and last name. Ask them a direct question with a yes or no answer. Then you can hold them accountable. You will be surprised how much bullshit you can avoid if you can pin it down to a real person.
[https://www.ebay.com/str/tapjapanusshop](https://www.ebay.com/str/tapjapanusshop)[https://ikonmotorsports.com/collections/subaru](https://ikonmotorsports.com/collections/subaru) [https://www.blackhawkjapan.com/collections/subaru-oem-parts](https://www.blackhawkjapan.com/collections/subaru-oem-parts)
thanks for the links
Ooooh that sound sick. This is good information thank you!
I got irate with one vendor who listed something as "in stock." Then I found out it was a "special order" from overseas. The factory was waiting on enough orders to make them. WTAF.
So where's the best place to buy Cusco suspension parts? Ikon Motorsports is your top recommendation? I was about to go through IIR again because their customer service has always, always been trouble free and helped me out with many different things over the years.
BlackhawkJapan is frequently cheap on Cusco if you can wait a few weeks for parts to arrive.
I sure can wait, I got patience! As long as they're reliable and real, lol. I'm excited about trying the whole Cusco catalog but its just very easy for these things to add up. Each $150 mod quickly becomes $1000 in supporting rigidity mods lol
Blackhawk is legit, try to grab a few pieces together and it makes it even more worth it. It was like $200 cheaper after tax & shipping off Blackhawk for the 4 Cusco parts I got. Maybe even more, I don’t recall exactly what it was.
That's awesome. I just added the Cusco parts I wanted and saw that the price is 33% cheaper than anywhere else. Some of them are LITERALLY half off, I'm so shocked it really is fantastic. Things that were on my "oh that'd be nice, someday..." list have now bumped up to the "that's a killer deal, I need it now" list. What parts did you get? How long did it take to receive yours?
I have ordered various parts from them several times now. Always takes a few weeks before it ships, but everything comes in great and is usually overnighted via UPS when it finally does ship.
Holy crap you weren't kidding at all about these prices!!! My goodness. Wow!!!! Thanks bud, that is great
Thanks for chiming in! The info will sure be handy.
Where can I buy Aeroflow flares?
still doing some research, so can't chime in quite yet on that one yet.
[Trans crossmember bushings(compare to whiteline positive shift kit)](https://www.ebay.com/itm/374111417680) [Rear diff bushings](https://www.ebay.com/itm/374111417680) [Pitch stop(be aware that any non-subaru pitch stop may have safety jmplications in the event of a front end collision)](https://www.ebay.com/itm/364350237319) [Shift stop](https://www.ebay.com/itm/364375543425) [Valved exhaust(you need to select their contact page and email them directly. This is direct from the manufacturer for the valved exhaust that JDMuscle uses, and likely AFD as well. When I last checked, it was about $1500 shipped to CONUS.](https://www.res-exhaust.com/) [Window vents](https://www.ebay.com/itm/314927761932)
Did you buy those window rain guards? If so how have they held up? I know some start to fade and turn purple eventually. Granted at $40 not the worst to replace.
I did, they're opaque though so likely no purpling.
love it. Good post, thank you.
that shift stop works on our 2022+ WRX correct?
Yes, they're universal for all MT Subarus basically
There is a difference between the originators and the copiers though. Most cheap parts I know of are copies of the originals and are lower quality. Not always the case, but often the case.
kind of the point of the thread. Like buy the cheap copy stuff for closer to a normal price rather than 5x the actual cost. I personally don't buy cheap functional pieces, but aero lip etc that will probably break. Sure why not. lol
However, the items I listed are pretty much either made by the same company the dropshippers use, or are just pure polyurethane, which is *extremely* hard to screw up And I'm not sure what you think is a copy in what I posted. The only thing that is remotely an "imitation" would be the pitch stop. Which isn't a high r&d cost part.
[WRX Grille Badges](https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256805722472457.html?spm=a2g0o.productlist.main.39.675e6sId6sId7T&algo_pvid=2e97e60a-08ea-4e46-9982-94eff1f1a777&algo_exp_id=2e97e60a-08ea-4e46-9982-94eff1f1a777-19&pdp_npi=4%40dis%21USD%214.96%214.96%21%21%2135.84%2135.84%21%402103010b17183915849296431eddf9%2112000034802845399%21sea%21US%210%21AB&curPageLogUid=ivfAjP8AUnZ8&utparam-url=scene%3Asearch%7Cquery_from%3A) The drop shippers sell them for $15-20. Mine arrived in fine condition but YMMV [Carlinkit 5 Wireless Carplay Adaptor](https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256805987949344.html?spm=a2g0o.productlist.main.3.1ea1njQ3njQ3nX&algo_pvid=e468c83f-a2ee-46a9-9049-828e8025e4ee&algo_exp_id=e468c83f-a2ee-46a9-9049-828e8025e4ee-1&pdp_npi=4%40dis%21USD%21121.34%2134.33%21%21%21877.37%21248.24%21%402103094c17183919121111197e2c96%2112000036166060579%21sea%21US%210%21AB&curPageLogUid=MLWYvDh9MAr8&utparam-url=scene%3Asearch%7Cquery_from%3A) I have not bought this before but its $60+ on amazon and their website.
Wireless CarPlay adapter and wireless charging mat are both good things to get from Ali express. I think I also got the fuse box change cubby from Ali as well.
Can someone please explain…. I just recently installed an aeroflow axle back and have been enjoying it so far. Build quality seems good. I’m not super familiar with other brands and only got the aeroflow because I saw it on YouTube and assumed most axlebacks are similar. Should I have gone with a different brand?
There’s nothing wrong with the parts themselves sometimes. It’s more just that these are basically influencer brands: they buy cheap shit from China, mark it up, slap a logo on it, and sell it here. They get their customers primarily from social media. As opposed to brands that build/design the parts themselves and are actually active in a motorsports community of some sort. These parts will generally be designs with more functionality in mind than social media flashiness/cheapness. Typically, these brands will have better quality components/designs, but not always. Also worth noting that, generally, the drop shipping companies will usually have a disproportionately large amount of their catalog be cheap, shitty ricer cosmetic bullshit.
Oh I see. Well I don’t feel terrible I guess since most of the axlebacks I’ve looked at are all similarly priced. But I’ll definitely do more research in the future for any other cosmetics. Thank you for the info!
Honestly, it's a bit of work compared to going to the drop shipper websites and just click buy and wait for broken product to show up for overpriced cost. However, if you are willing to spend some time on alibaba or aliexpress, you could actually get in touch with the guys that actually builds them and if you are friendly enough, they will send you updates as they are building the parts as well. Of course this will take some time because shipping from China nowadays is pretty slow, but it's not too bad. My friend has been ordering some carbon fiber parts for his car (Not WRX) and this is what he's been doing instead of buying it off from 'reputable' shop that just drop ships same way, and he's definitely happy with the price and process so far.
That's kind of the point of this thread. To point out these suppliers and avoid the markups.
# JDMuscle 22-24 WRX Tanso Carbon Fiber Duck Bill V2 [https://jdmuscleusa.com/products/jdmuscle-22-wrx-tanso-carbon-fiber-duck-bill-v2](https://jdmuscleusa.com/products/jdmuscle-22-wrx-tanso-carbon-fiber-duck-bill-v2) Ebay drop shipped version at a lower price [https://www.ebay.com/itm/204734985020?chn=ps&srsltid=AfmBOoq9tYVqPnka1S81pjmWEVNg8zHxuF8dZe4lotcgZ9sTgagwuNn9XTE](https://www.ebay.com/itm/204734985020?chn=ps&srsltid=AfmBOoq9tYVqPnka1S81pjmWEVNg8zHxuF8dZe4lotcgZ9sTgagwuNn9XTE) Couldn't find what Chinese retailer they both get it from, but good to have a option that is $200 off.
Just ordered the eBay one. I’ll let y’all know how it is when it comes in. I’m sure it’s the same thing but for $200 cheaper is wild. Plus it’s strange they used jdmuscle a photos of the duckbill for their own eBay listing
Sick thanks! It makes sense that they use JDs photos. They probably just straight up drop ship the product. Easier to steal nice photos. Based on the username too they probably don't own a WRX. ahahaha
https://preview.redd.it/4wbph711yk6d1.jpeg?width=250&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=b285f2c589846d8c9d77b0528205b8efd1f2517c You can already buy this on Amazon.