[Elecraft] K4 in production

[Gary Smith]

I'm always bemused when a completely 
unexpected series of profoundly affecting 
variables, none of which are from internal 
causes, make themselves a factor in 
development and construction, appear and 
globally interfere with design, 
production, and supply. This fluid state 
appears while a specific completion date 
and time was never assured of, & in 
subsequent conversations with advance 
purchasers. 

As there was never a promised date, there 
is a Pandemic where over 100,000 people in 
the USA alone have already died, 
Manufacturing globally has taken a real 
hit, transportation has taken a major 
blow. I had a USPS 2 day package shipped 
from Michigan on Sat 11 and it is nor the 
16th & tracking shows it just left 
Michigan on route to CT. It may be here on 
Saturday. That'll be a 6 day delivery with 
a 2 day promise. That same kind of delay 
is happening to the construction of the K4 
and any new components are also affected 
in this way. There is no other choice and 
I want it And I want It Now pressure 
doesn't do anything but waste everyone's 
time. It has zero rate on accelerating 
production and if anything, detracts from 
the focus from the principals.

All this takes me back to the bemusement I 
get when reading such comments. Do they 
really believe in this arena it will move 
anything along faster, and if the company 
indeed did rush to complete while not 
having sufficient components in, on time, 
that it would behove the production run in 
any way whatsoever? 

Good friends, chill, this is an 
unprecedented time and Elecraft is moving 
along in the best way to give the best 
product they can do. We'll have our little 
beauties when they're vetted and 
competent. Till then, chill, practice some 
CW Check the antenna connections stop 
thinking of it should have been here by 
now, because it was never promised to be 
here by now. Things are moving forward 
nicely. 

And yes, I dropped the full deposit for a 
K4D and am aware I'll have to wait for the 
HD module to be created. I'm, metal 
detecting, digitizing my stereo collection 
and enjoying the Yamaha on nice days. 
Elecraft is doing their job, and I'm doing 
mine.

73,

Gary
KA1J





> Given lead times, if the Dec/Jan ship date was not BS, then parts
> would already have already been in transit before primary covid
> impacts were in place. OK, that was missed.
> 
> I understand these are not normal times. And I live in Santa Clara
> County, understand current density and watch county #s (and Health
> Orders being ignored by the public).
> 
> That they aren't shipping on time now seems most immediately
> attributable to covid, agreed. That this is the case is seems a result
> of either failure to deliver or failure to honestly communicate last
> year.
> 
> We're now reaching the window of the most recent round of delivery
> promises, yet I don't know anyone, including those who fronted cash a
> year ago on a Nov date, who has even gotten final pricing yet.
> 
> Hence my frustration. I not only am impatient about getting the Shiny
> (surprise), I feel deceived about how it has been handled by someone
> sitting on thousands of dollars of my cash.
> 
> Scott
> 
> On Thu, Jul 16, 2020 at 10:47 AM Fred Jensen <k6dgw at foothill.net>
> wrote:
> 
> > Say again?  The virus began in Asia [Wuhan China to be exact] at the
> > very end of 2019.  Many of the parts that Elecraft and every other
> > manufacturer uses are sourced out of Asia.  Everyones' supply chains
> > are disrupted now but slowly improving.
> >
> > Elecraft is based in California.  The population density in
> > California is high ... high enough that if everyone stood 1 meter
> > from everyone else, some would be standing in Nevada and some in the
> > Pacific Ocean. [:=)  From the news that leaks over the Sierra Nevada
> > to Sparks, Elecraft is really working to both resume normal
> > production AND protect their employees and families so they can
> > continue normal production.
> >
> > 73,
> > Fred ["Skip"] K6DGW
> > Sparks NV DM09dn
> > Washoe County
> >
> > On 7/16/2020 10:20 AM, Tox wrote:
> > > The parts availability issue was supposed to have been resolved
> > pre-covid.
> > > Wondering what the facts are.
> > > (not griefing you, just frustrated by Nov,Dec/Jan,Mar/Apr,Jul/Aug
> > >   string-along)
> > >
> > > Scott
> > >
> >
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> 
> 
> -- 
> Scott Small
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