[Elecraft] [K3] Disgruntled Europeans

[Ken Chandler]

Yes, quite agree Their have been a lot of guys in the uk who would  
like a uk agent to take on a bulk delivery / order monthy, this would  
lessen the hassle with rip off parcelforce, etc.
The problems I've had with these guys beggers belief.
I have sent a lengthy email to Elecraft about this, and they are fully  
aware of our problems.
Someone ( I have no connection with the company, just excellent  
service) like Ron, at VINE Antenna's,  would handle that with no  
problem.


Ken..G0ORH
K2, sn 5877,  k3 sn 3759

Sent from my iPhone




On 6 Jan 2010, at 09:02, AD6XY <m.j.willis at rl.ac.uk> wrote:

>
> Yes - we are lucky in speaking a similar language to the US. I have  
> imported
> directly from Japan, but it is more difficult to pay.
>
> Currently the exchange rate is very poor, back in 2008 when I  
> ordered my K3
> there were over $2 to the pound. At Dayton that year there were a  
> lot of
> Brits buying stuff. The "Dayton Specials" and the exchange rate  
> combined
> made equipment approximately half as expensive compared to the UK. I  
> bought
> loads, even with VAT it was a bargain. The exchange rate went down  
> to $1.35
> last Spring and consequently, US prices were only 10-20 percent  
> lower than
> UK ones, so I bought nothing at Dayton last year. Now we are back up  
> to
> $1.60 and prices are again favorable.
>
> But - this has little to do with Elecraft - who refreshingly have  
> fixed
> prices for us, excellent support and can understand English. They even
> allowed me to pay 100% up front for my K3 6 months before it was  
> ready to
> ship. I just wish we could set up some form of monthly bulk shipping
> arrangement to the UK because all the little items are uneconomically
> expensive due to shipping charges and the parcelforce extortion money.
>
>
>
>
>
> Julian, G4ILO wrote:
>>
>>
>>
>> Doug Turnbull wrote:
>>>
>>> Many EU hams look at prices in QST and CQ and just dream.   It  
>>> seems that
>>> one can
>>> purchase Japanese made radios in the States for the same price in  
>>> dollars
>>> as
>>> one pays in Euros or Sterling.
>>>
>> It's really a dream. There are so many hidden costs that much of the
>> saving gets eaten up by the time the product gets here. I just did  
>> a quick
>> example of a Yaesu VX-8R, listed by Universal Radio at $379. Add on  
>> say
>> $50 for international shipping. That comes to GBP 268 (£1 = $1.60) 
>>  You'll
>> be charged 17.5% VAT on arrival here plus a GBP 13 tax collection fee
>> bringing the total to GBP 328. Nevada Radio is selling the EU version
>> (VX-8E) for GBP 338. So ten quid gets you the EU version plus a  
>> locally
>> supported warranty.
>>
>>
>>
>>> I believe that being able to purchase the kit K3 directly is a  
>>> great plus
>>> to
>>> Elecrafter sales in the EU.   True one is a bit exposed as to  
>>> service but
>>> if
>>> one has built the kit then individual boards can be returned for  
>>> service.
>>> The K3 is small and not that heavy to ship back if needs be for that
>>> matter.
>>>
>>
>> I wonder if those who have actually had to ship a K3 back to the US  
>> from
>> Europe would agree? I know for a fact that whenever I write on my  
>> website
>> or blog about something I bought in the US I get emails from hams  
>> asking
>> where in the UK they can order. Many in our hobby are a pretty
>> conservative bunch and will not buy from outside the UK. I think  
>> Elecraft
>> could actually be losing sales by not selling through local  
>> dealers, not
>> least because there are some people with money burning a hole in  
>> their
>> pocket who go to Martin Lynch or W&S on a Saturday morning looking  
>> for a
>> new toy to take home and play with, and if there isn't a K3 there  
>> to try
>> out they'll buy something else instead.
>>
>> However I suspect if Elecraft did sell through UK dealers the extra  
>> cost
>> to us would be a lot more than in my Yaesu example because there is  
>> no
>> dealer mark-up in the price we pay from Elecraft, whereas the  
>> Japanese
>> manufacturers have local offices and dealers taking their cut on both
>> sides of the Atlantic. So carry on selling direct, please. :)
>>
>
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