[Elecraft] K3S Package Discounts

[Fred Jensen]

I guess it is a change from the traditionalElecraft "roll your own from 
a long list of options" approach, and your point is is valid, at least 
partially.  HoweverI suspect strongly that there are 
manufacturing/assembly/logistics/support benefits and savings to the 
company by offering several"canned" configurations.

Questions about "Which optionshould I get" often appear on this list, 
and I've watched the E-folks at Hamfests spend a lot of time helping a 
new customer figure out what they want/need. The "roll your own" option 
is still available for those who prefer it, which is not true for other 
manufacturers, at least to the same degree as from Elecraft.

My K3 is old [S/N 642] and it now has what I want and use [except for 
the DVK which I wanted, bought, but have rarely used].When the K3s 
showed up, I told myselfthat the first good reason I could come up with 
to sell it and get a K3s, I'd do it.  Still running #642.

73,

Fred ("Skip") K6DGW
Sparks NV USA
Washoe County DM09dn

On 7/29/2017 4:50 AM, Bill W4ZV wrote:
> http://www.elecraft.com/K3/K3.htm#K3SPkg
>
> I still question the wisdom of bundling the the preamp, USB, 630m
> capabilities, etc into the K3S.  This went against Elecraft's original
> philosophy of keeping base price low and choosing only the options we really
> wanted.  This resulted in inflating the base price which put it out of reach
> for many folks and further away from competing products (IC-7300, Kenwood
> 590 and Flex 6300).  That must be hurting sales resulting in discounting.
>
> A viable option is to buy a recent used K3 and sell/purchase options to
> configure it as you want.  Basic K3 prices are in the $1500 making this a
> viable alternative IMHO.
>
> 73,  Bill  W4ZV
>