[Elecraft] European Elecraft prices

[Tony Wells]

Paul wrote:

> I reworked the sums and I did indeed make a mistake. It makes it look
> *worse*.

Hi Paul,

The figures make sense *I think*.

I did a quick calc in my head working on the basis that $1 is about equal
1Euro and it seems about right.

I still have this nagging question - why bother to buy from a dealer in
Europe when it is cheaper to buy from the US?. There is no support advantage
that I can see and the website has no added value that I can see.

I'm not trying to detract from the distributor in any way. I would expect
that they are entirely competent, and hope they make some money out of it.
I'm just seeking clarification of added value.

The Internet has been identified by some as a leveler of markets, in that
one is able to quickly identify prices from different suppliers and enable a
potential buyer to make an informed choice. I think this is one example
where this works well.

Regards,

Tony

All mail in and out checked lovingly by hand, character by character.

----- Original Message -----
From: "Paul Bartlett" <paul@fulking.freeserve.co.uk>
To: "Bozidar Benc" <benc@benc.hr>; <elecraft@mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Saturday, April 12, 2003 10:33 AM
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] European Elecraft prices


> Hi All,
>
> This is my last post on the matter...I think.
>
>
> 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" <benc@benc.hr>
> To: <elecraft@mailman.qth.net>
> 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/
> > > > ea3blq@menta.net
> > > > ea3blq@qsl.net
> > > >
> > > > "Paul Bartlett" <paul@fulking.freeserve.co.uk> 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: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net
> > > > You must be a list member to post to the list.
> > > > Postings must be plain text (no HTML or attachments).
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> > > > Elecraft Web Page: http://www.elecraft.com
> > >
> > > --
> > > Bob Nielsen, N7XY                          n7xy@n7xy.net
> > > Bainbridge Island, WA                      http://www.n7xy.net
> > > IOTA NA-065, USI WA-028S
> > > _______________________________________________
> > > Elecraft mailing list: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net
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> > >
> > >
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> >
>
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