[Elecraft] Excahnge rate is excellent from Europe to $$ and inport problems

[Julian, G4ILO]

There are folks over here that do that already. They are called dealers. 
Unfortunately by the time they have added on their margins to cover the 
importation costs, paperwork, liability for the statutory rights of 
purchasers plus enough profit to make it worth their while, it works out a 
lot more expensive than buying direct from Elecraft.

I probably would never have bought a K2 kit if I'd had to get it through a 
UK dealer as it would have been much too expensive. I bought a Ten-Tec 6m 
transverter last Christmas and it cost a greater number of pounds than you 
can buy it for in dollars direct from Ten-Tec (and I haven't noticed prices 
going down as a result of the favourable exchange rate, either.) The same 
goes for MFJ stuff. A 269B costs almost as much as a budget Alinco HF 
transceiver here. Unfortunately, unlike Elecraft, MFJ clearly don't want to 
deal with foreign orders as the minimum shipping charge is $100 (according 
to the catalogue that was in November QST.)

I think the solution is for people over here to make Elecraft aware of the 
problems that occur so that they can choose the best shipping method for 
each country.

73,
--
Julian, G4ILO. (RSGB, ARRL, G-QRP, K2 #392)
G4ILO's Shack: http://www.qsl.net/g4ilo

"Michael D. Heit KD7YLA" <mheit@asisna.com> wrote:

[snip]

So, that being said, might there be the possibility of some one, or 
maybe a group forming in Europe that could become a "partner" with 
Elecraft. This group could order kits and spares in mass quantity and 
thus have them onsite in Europe for dispatch from that point.

[snip]