[Elecraft] Re: For Sale: K2 (Mike McCoy)

[fkamp@attbi.com]

Randy Tompson wrote:
> 
> I've been tracking Elecraft sales on eBay since August, 2001.  Of 24 K-2's
> offered for sale, 9 have not sold because the reserve was not met.  Of 8
> K-1's offered, 1 did not sell because the reserve was not met.


Getting fair prices for equipment built from kit has always been a
problem.  The seller nearly always overprices based on his recollection
of the assembly labor and effort to make the device work as advertized.

Most buyers are more adverse to buying kit built equipment than factory
built equipment.  They know that some of the value of the kit, the 'fun'
of building, has already been used up.  They also have concern as to
quality of construction.  

Professionals do not normally build kits.  Kits are usually built by
amatuers seeking to gain practice in attaining assembly skills.  That is
what makes kit building 'fun', the feeling of accomplishment in doing
something no one thought the kit builder could do.  Don't expect a
prospective buyer to share in your sense of accomplishment by offering
you more than what the kit cost.  

Kit building is fun but trouble shooting is work.  The chances that a
buyer is going to end up with unfinished trouble shooting is greater
when a kit built device is being considered.  Then there is always that
nagging question...'if its such a good radio, why are you selling it?'

Frank Kamp