[Elecraft] European Elecraft prices
Paul Bartlett
[email protected]
Sat Apr 12 05:40:01 2003
Hi All,
This is my last post on the matter...I think.
I reworked the sums and I did indeed make a mistake. It makes it look
*worse*.
Here's a summary of the cost calculations to get a K2 to me in the UK from
both California and Germany.
Headline exchange rates (Saturday Daily Telegraph):
GBP 1 = USD 1.57
GBP 1 = EUR 1.46
California:
K2: USD 599
Shipping: USD 50
Customs charge @17.5%: USD 105
599 + 50 + 105 = 754
USD 754 / 1.57 = GBP 480.25
Germany:
K2: EUR 905 (including sales tax in EU, so no customs charge)
Shipping: EUR 23.78
905 + 23.78 = 928.78
EUR 928.78 / 1.46 = GBP 636.15
636.15 - 480.25 = 155.90
(155.90 / 480.25) * 100 = 32.xxx
So including all taxes and shipping, I'm paying a whopping 32% extra for
ordering from Europe. The German site quotes a delivery time of 14 days;
from the States it took 9.
Given that the German agent presumably buys in bulk from Elecraft at a
dealer's discount, the profit margin strikes me as being excessive. I'll
stick with the States.
This reminds me of a related situation a few months ago. I wanted to get
hold of a gadget that's manufactured in the UK. Their local dealer is about
60 miles away. I hit their web site - no online ordering facility. I
telephoned them to place an order.
Procedure:
1) I fax a written order.
2) They fax back a 'pro-forma' invoice.
3) I *post* them a cheque (check).
4) They bank the cheque and wait for it to clear
5) Once they receive payment, they post me the gadget.
Minimum time to get the stuff to me: 5 days.
Hunting about on the net I found a company in Oz (Australia) called
Dontronics. They took an online order using a credit card and the stuff
arrived 4 days later by airmail. So it was easier to order about $30 worth
of kit from half way around the world than from a dealer an hour's drive
away. (It was also about 25% cheaper).
Best,
Paul
----- Original Message -----
From: "Bozidar Benc" <[email protected]>
To: <[email protected]>
Sent: Saturday, April 12, 2003 5:51 AM
Subject: RE: [Elecraft] European Elecraft prices
> Bob,
>
> Pauli's calculation is right, take a look at it again.
> If 1 EUR = 1.0803 USD then 780 EUR = 842.63 USD.
>
> 73, Bole, 9A3RR
>
> > According to this morning's Seattle Times, 1 US dollar = 0.9257 Euro
> > and 1 Euro = 1.0803 Euro, so I suspect that you have the conversion
> > reversed.
> >
> > 73,
> > Bob, N7XY
> >
> > On Sat, Apr 12, 2003 at 12:59:29AM +0200, Pauli Nunez EA3BLQ wrote:
> > > Hi Paul and all,
> > >
> > > If I am not very much mistaken, I think that your conversion USD/Euro
> > > is wrong. Today's rate is 1 USD = 1.0751 Euro or 1 Euro = 0.930146
> > > USD so 780 Euro are equal to 838.57 USD and 116 Euro are the
> > > equivalent of 124.71 USD so the difference between Elecraft's and the
> > > European Distributor's prices is much wider.
> > >
> > > 73
> > >
> > > Pauli, EA3BLQ
> > > K2/100 #1044
> > >
> > > URL: http://www.qsl.net/ea3blq/
> > > [email protected]
> > > [email protected]
> > >
> > > "Paul Bartlett" <[email protected]> wrote:
> > >
> > > : Hi All,
> > > :
> > > : It's been pointed out to me that the European prices that I
> > quoted included
> > > : local sales tax. Sorry for that; I missed it. Prices were
> > quoted including
> > > : 'S+H' which I asumed meant sales tax and handling.
> > > :
> > > : The site I mentioned is based in Germany and I've just spoken
> > to my sister
> > > : (who lives there) in order to get a figure for the local
> > sales tax. It's
> > > : 16%.
> > > :
> > > : Revised comparative figures are thus:
> > > :
> > > : Basic K2: Elecraft price USD 599. European distributor: Euros
> > 780 (before
> > > : tax)
> > > : SSB Option: Elecraft price USD 89. European distributor:
> > Euros: 116 (before
> > > : tax)
> > > :
> > > : At today's prices Euros 780 amounts to about USD 722
> > > : and Euros 116 comes to USD 107
> > > :
> > > : This still amounts to almost exactly a 20% mark-up for little
> > perceived
> > > : added value.
> > > :
> > > : If I've made a mistake with the sums, please correct me.
> > > :
> > > : Best,
> > > :
> > > : Paul
> > > :
> > >
> > > _______________________________________________
> > > Elecraft mailing list: [email protected]
> > > You must be a list member to post to the list.
> > > Postings must be plain text (no HTML or attachments).
> > > See: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> > > Elecraft Web Page: http://www.elecraft.com
> >
> > --
> > Bob Nielsen, N7XY [email protected]
> > Bainbridge Island, WA http://www.n7xy.net
> > IOTA NA-065, USI WA-028S
> > _______________________________________________
> > Elecraft mailing list: [email protected]
> > You must be a list member to post to the list.
> > Postings must be plain text (no HTML or attachments).
> > See: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> > Elecraft Web Page: http://www.elecraft.com
> >
> >
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