[Elecraft] K4???

Fri May 15 15:34:35 EDT 2020

I'm sure when they have something worth saying, it will be said; 
continuing on what they've done to date.  They are never prone to the 
blah blah updates of other companies but give out new or updated info 
when they have it, as always.  It's clear, concise, to the point and not 
redundant; refreshing for a company to provide it's customers; with 
minimal sales ego too.

With most of the planet on hold, they're doing what can be done (with CA 
issuing one of the more Draconian mandates to it's subjects) and made it 
clear that they're as frustrated as you clearly are; they want to get 
back into the business of selling their products and helping customers.  
They're also wise enough to know that no one can DEMAND information from 
suppliers; it's bad business and no one really knows yet, these waters 
are untested.

Recap:  When they have something of merit to say, they will, as they 
always have.

[Rumbles from knowledgeable sources have been heard in CA that the house 
arrest will continue there through Aug.  That likely puts shipping off 
for this year if/when Elecraft can ramp up at that time.  But NO ONE 
knows yet.]

Suck it up, the rest of us are going through the same things with little 
to no whining.

I suggest a socially distant walk in the sunlight (which kills the virus 
AND calms the spirit); repeat often.

Try to have a better day,
Rick NK7I

On 5/15/2020 11:54 AM, David Gilbert wrote:
>
> Don't put words in my mouth ... I never said anything about lies or 
> deception.  And your post is exactly the kind of "status report" that 
> is useless to anyone who cares.
>
> I'd bet money that most of what Elecraft has ordered has some sort of 
> projected delivery date, even if it is out many weeks.  In fact, I'd 
> bet that they demand it (even if speculative) from their suppliers.  
> And Elecraft must have some idea how long it would take for them to 
> restart assembly once they get parts and supplies.  It seems like it 
> would be possible to give a rough K4 delivery guestimate based upon 
> that information even it is was subject to weekly or monthly change.  
> As it stands now, people like W4KX don't have a clue whether they will 
> get their K4 before the end of the year even if California opens up in 
> June.  That seems unreasonable to me for a $4,000 investment.
>
> You can spin this any way you want, but like I said, it doesn't 
> require hand holding from anybody other than a clerk with access to 
> Wayne or Eric to send out an update with an actual time frame 
> associated with it.
>
> Dave  AB7E
>
>
>
> On 5/15/2020 11:25 AM, Rick NK7I wrote:
>> Then here is your weekly status report:
>>
>> They're working on improving the firmware (notes posted to the 
>> reflector a couple DAYS ago made note of this).
>> They're having (like much of the world) issues in getting hard dates 
>> for the bits and pieces to make more K4 (newsletter last month).
>> When released from house arrest, they will be back at the job 
>> awaiting the parts they've ordered so they can build more (newsletter).
>> When that is going to be, is anyone's guess for CA.  (Duh)
>>
>> Repeat reading this weekly as needed, until there is a change. I'd 
>> rather they continue to make a quality product instead of hand 
>> holding.  I've gone through this a couple times for new Elecraft 
>> gear, it requires patience.
>>
>> The rest of us understand this; it is the birthing pangs of a complex 
>> new product multiplied by the COVID19 situation.  There is no 
>> deception, no lying but file it under "S" because "Stuff" happens.  ;-P
>>
>> Rick NK7I
>>
>>
>> On 5/15/2020 11:13 AM, David Gilbert wrote:
>>>
>>> All of that is true, except that it doesn't take somebody like Wayne 
>>> or Eric or any of their engineers to draft a weekly status report to 
>>> those who have put down a deposit.  Anybody who speaks with them 
>>> regularly could do it.  I haven't ordered a K4 and don't know if I 
>>> ever will, but I'd be pretty upset to have put down that much money 
>>> for ANY item with this little regular feedback on its shipping 
>>> status since I can't think of a good excuse for it.  From what I've 
>>> seen, just about every status email from Elecraft has talked about 
>>> K4 feature issues instead of when it might actually be delivered ... 
>>> so no, I don't think that's being very transparent.  A year is a 
>>> very long time to have your money tied up, and along with that comes 
>>> some measure of responsibility to account for it.
>>>
>>> 73,
>>> Dave   AB7E
>>>
>>>
>>> On 5/15/2020 10:08 AM, David Herring wrote:
>>>> A lot of us are in the same place you are, but Eric & Wayne have 
>>>> been transparent about how long this was going to take and why for 
>>>> the last year or so. Last I heard the K4 was to have been shipping 
>>>> by now, BUT that's kind of hard to do when one’s county and state 
>>>> have shut down one's manufacturing plant due to coronavirus. IMHO a 
>>>> bit beyond Eric & Wayne’s control at this point…
>>>>
>>>> 73,
>>>> David - N5DCH
>>>>
>>>>> On May 15, 2020, at 9:52 AM, Tom Doligalski via Elecraft 
>>>>> <elecraft at mailman.qth.net> wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>> It has been exactly 52 weeks since I placed an order for the K4, 
>>>>> with a full deposit.
>>>>>
>>>>> I truly understand all of the current difficulties, but would 
>>>>> appreciate a status report.
>>>>>
>>>>> Tom W4KX
>>>
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