[Elecraft] User's Dilemma

[Joe Subich, W4TV]

On 12/15/2023 3:09 PM, Bob McGraw wrote:

> There were other reasons as well, but I agree with Joe, W4TV, the
> expert knowledge base is in Watsonville.
My cost/benefit analysis did not even consider the knowledge base
that exists in Watsonville.  Time to repair (TTR) would likely be
15 to 20% longer in a remote/independent facility.  The remote
facility would not be likely to have access to any repair history
(or saved manufacturing configuration files) for the device being
repaired that exist in Watsonville nor would technicians in the
remote facility have the benefit of the experience (institutional
memory) of the more experienced technicians.

Again, manufacturers are regularly finding it more cost effective
to add repair technicians at a central location (*IF* they can find
qualified technicians) than to establish remote maintenance facilities
- that has been true for 20 years or more at this point.

Unfortunately, Elecraft are in a difficult situation ... they are in
a very high cost environment with significant competition for skilled
technicians.

73,

    ... Joe, W4TV

On 12/15/2023 3:09 PM, Bob McGraw wrote:
> I can totally agree with Joe, W4TV.   At one time I was repairing radios 
> for various companies.  I was doing warranty and non-warranty repairs. 
> The companies decided it was cost ineffective to maintain independent 
> repair services.  Hence, I no longer repair radios, and no longer have 
> test equipment to do so. There were other reasons as well, but I agree 
> with Joe, W4TV, the expert knowledge base is in Watsonville.
> 
> 73
> 
> Bob, K4TAX
> 
> 
> On 12/15/2023 11:57 AM, elecraft-request at mailman.qth.net wrote:
>> Message: 5
>> Date: Thu, 14 Dec 2023 13:03:23 -0500
>> From: "Joe Subich, W4TV"<lists at subich.com>
>> To:elecraft at mailman.qth.net
>> Subject: Re: [Elecraft] User's Dilemma
>> Message-ID:<c45ff819-bde7-400f-b461-012a99b70f01 at subich.com>
>> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8; format=flowed
>>
>>
>>> They clearly aren't interested in setting up a third party repair
>>> center.
>> Given the cost of setting up and running a second "factory
>> warranty/repair center" it just doesn't make sense.  Notice
>> that none of the other radio manufacturers offer duplicate
>> facilities on the east/west coast ... even those that did so
>> at one time have pulled back.
>>
>> The cost of facilities, duplicate test equipment, duplicate
>> spare/repair parts, etc. simply can not be amortized economically
>> across one or two technicians.  It's far more efficient to simply
>> add another technician or two (*IF*  one can find a qualified tech)
>> "at the mothership".
>>
>> 73,
>>
>>      ... Joe, W4TV