I was turned on to the site at the starting line during a race a few months back. So I waited until I had some decent finishes and pics to create my account. I get that it's not really sponsorship per se because it's only for discounts. Some are good, others not so much. I can't afford to be sponsored by any more companies right now as it is, yet they keep hitting me up. I honestly don't think I will be able to live up to the commitments to represent a good third of the companies currently "supporting" me this season. As a result I have declined a couple of offers and have been letting some stew to see if I honestly need anything from them this year. Don't even get me started on the commitment score... I guess I am wondering if I can hear from other people who know how to work the system better than me.
I haven't had any luck with it myself. One sponsor offered a discount but made up for it in astronomical shipping charges, another gave a discount but I had to buy a lifetime supply of the product and the two others never had anything in stock. I signed up with a graphics sponsor after asking if they had templates for my bike only to find out upon ordering that the templates aren't right so that one was useless (to me). I have a couple of others on my profile that I haven't purchased from yet. Some of them might be helpful, but I won't be using it anymore because when I average it all out the discounts aren't worth the hassle of having to worry about another social media profile.
I toyed with it but it's like ProMotive.com you get discounts but add the taxes and shipping and the processing fee, plus the no retunrs policy and better to buy stuff that you want to use, not just since it's a deal. A good shop sponsor can provide most of the products like parts and tires but then again some vendors have volume deals at retail. Pick the good sponsors that you like and use their products. More than anything it can be a PIA to "represent" and compete all the time. Sure it's nice to have but at what cost. You want to slack of and not be at a race... Boo :-) I would say screw Hookit and the rest. If you are good and visible you probably would well represent a shop or single vendors. Just make a race resume with results and how much you ride and where and your source of influence with local riders. Send it to all the companies you would like to work with and represent. That's what I would do as these websites do have a business model you are feeding. Let them die off and deal directly with the good firms. It's part of their marketing budget.
I have been so lucky and blesses for almost 20 years with the help of Moose Racing they have just about everything, plus there support on alpine star boots. Then there is FMF who has supported me almost 20 years also. I have never ever wore any other helmet then a Bell and they have helped me for a long time. Ty at Zip Ty Racing had helped me since 1999 since the days of the YZ 400. In the last 5 years Tim at Motorcycle Super store has also helped This year has also been great with a little help on Golden Tyres . Leatt now gives me a discount thru Hookit If I need a Husky part I call jeff at Halls a little discount is so great. I don't have any freebee from any of my sponsors just a discount support help. BUT they have been with me a long time and I will always support them. Bottom line find a few that will help you and stay loyal to there support A lot of people do not understand how it works they call up and start asking for discounts. you need to look at it from there side. What can you the rider do to help them the sponsor promote there product. It is a 2 way street they are using you to advertise and in return you are promoting there product.
Yeah I hear ya. I'm happy to have gotten some support from Factory MX (a local shop) and in a few ways, ZipTy has definitely been there for me too. I can honestly say I got a great deal from Acerbis, and O'Neal has some good prices and specials they offer me. I plan on taking advantage of what I can and will faithfully represent those companies that I get discounted products from. I should actually consider myself lucky that a slow guy like me is up to 10-11 sponsors after 6 whole months of racing. The thing that rubs me wrong is that I post sessions, pictures in the field and my commitment score just keeps dropping. Some weird software algorithm they must use I guess.
Yup, use hookit. Some offers are pretty good. I hooked up w/One Industries - never again. They won't honor their side of the deal. But, EKS Brand (45% off), TwinAir & JT Sprockets (30% off), Risk Racing (45% off) and Matrix Concpets (45% off) are all really good. AXO offered a 50% off for support. The binding issue w/their offer is EVERYTHING has to be AXO - including boots & gloves. I like my A-Stars and Deft Fam gloves. Don't sweat the commitment score. It's not like you're Taylor Robert. Just ride your races and post rides/sessions.
AXO offered me the same deal...couldn't afford to be sponsored. It's not they can really keep tabs on us "support class" anyway. Worst thing that could happen is that they don't extend to next season simply because I didn't buy from them. I do plan of using what I can though. I'm well stocked on air filters now with the Twin Air deal.
