[Elecraft] A modest proposal...

[David Gilbert]

Personally, I don't see how that suggestion saves anyone anything.  The 
great majority of those who order anything in kit or modular form are 
going to want a printed manual, and I'd bet that at least half of any 
buyer of an assembled item is going to want one as well, especially if 
it is free.  So all you get is a small reduction in printed manuals at 
the cost of more hassle and opportunity for error on the part of 
Elecraft.  From a purely manufacturing point of view, variability and 
the need for a decision (do I send a manual with this order or don't I?) 
represent complexity and opportunity for error.  How happy are folks who 
wanted a manual going to be when their item arrives without it by 
mistake?  What is it going to cost Elecraft to expedite the shipment of one?

Eliminating paper completely may or may not be a bad thing depending 
upon the situation, but if you can't do it completely it is rarely even 
a good thing.

73,
Dave   AB7E



On 8/21/2011 1:14 AM, Alastair Couper wrote:
> I would like to suggest that the good folks at Elecraft consider making
> paper manuals an optional item at check out time. It could save a little
> money and paper, and some like myself are more inclined to download the
> info in any case. Especially with radios that are evolving, like the K3,
> one ends up doing this when new firmware makes the old paper manual
> incomplete. So just being able to eliminate the paper completely would be
> a fine thing, IMHO.
>
> NH7O