[Elecraft] Disgrunteled Japanese

[K9ZTV]

A couple of thoughts:

1)  "Distributor jacking up the price" . . .

Heathkit did the same thing forty years ago.  You had your choice of 
buying direct from the factory at one price (lower), or with the 
convenience of buying from a local (more or less) distributor at another 
price (higher). There is not a thing wrong with this kind of 
merchandising or its resultant mark-up in price.  The distributor has to 
stock parts, devote inventory space, hire staff, do billings, handle 
returns, etc.  That's why "factory direct" (regardless of the product) 
is usually cheaper than through stores (although with some manufacturers 
it's often just a marketing ploy resulting in little if any discount in 
price).

2)  "Exclusive Dealerships" . . .

When Yaesu first started importing to the United States all sales were 
exclusively handled through Spectronics USA ("East" or "West").  There 
was never an option of buying factory-direct from Japan.  Those FT-101s 
we so eagerly bought up (and in so doing put our American companies out 
of business) always cost more in the US than they did in Japan.  To 
those of our JA brothers who are complaining about Elecraft doing the 
same thing, I merely remind them that "what goes around comes around."  
It's their turn now.

73,

Kent  K9ZTV