[Elecraft] Free shipping

[Dale Chayes]

Free shipping is an interesting idea.

First of all, I don’t have a boat in this race, I don’t have one on order and I don’t  see a K4 in my future. I see my Elecraft future as being portable, temporary setups when time (magically) appears in my future….  I _assumed_ that would happen when I (mostly) retired but it hasn’t yet - too many other interesting things that I’m still physically capable of doing - more serious radio will come later.

I understand that folks paid serious money quite a while ago to get a spectacular radio and the combination of “typical” delays in getting such sophisticated gear through production and shipping has been seriously extended by parts availability. All that is incredibly frustrating - I spent a couple of YEARS being customer technical representative for a couple of $1M+ ship-mounted mapping sonars that never really worked “right.”  It was a mess and I don’t expect Elecraft to go down that road but it puts me in the position of understanding both sides of the problem. 

From my perspective as an owner of a well configured but rarely (yet) used KX3, I think about priorities like this:

#1 - I want this (all) high quality manufacturer(s) of equipment I own to continue to be in business (if/when I need support some day)

#2 - I also want them to have the resources (money, time , staff, tools, etc.)  to continue to innovate while continuing to support older gear as long as parts are available

#3 - To achieve #1 and #2, they also need the resources to mange the business, personnel, finances, etc. in addition to the engineering effectively.

#4 - when I purchase their product I want to feel like I got a good deal.

Achieving all of those is tough.

As I often remind myself: “Patience is a virtue, I’m gona get me some someday."

-Dale <KB1ZKD>


> On Jul 31, 2020, at 11:05 , Joseph Trombino, Jr <w2kj at bellsouth.net> wrote:
> 
> Howdy Gang.
> 
> For all those Elecrafters who have plunked down kilo-bucks for the first K4’s coming off the line (when—grin?), let’s all ask Elecraft to reward out good faith by providing free shipping on said K4’s.
> 
> Certainly would be a nice gesture, not sure about it being a good business practice though (grin).
> 
> Looking forward to receiving my K4, hopefully before my 76th birthday in September!!
> 
> All the best to Elecraft in these trying times in getting a product to market.
> 
> Getting ready to put my Flex 6600M up for sale (grin).
> 
> Stay healthy and enjoy.
> 
> 			73, Joe W2KJ
> 			I QRP, therefore I am
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:Elecraft at mailman.qth.net
> 
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
> Message delivered to dale at ldeo.columbia.edu