Sorry to keep dragging this conversation off topic, but Jack gives a good example. The cost of including stainless hardware with all future kits is marginal. Giving free replacements to those that really need it, or even as a good will gesture to every K3 owner doesn't seem like it would be that big of a deal financially. But, to charge 20 dollars for a bag of screws is a bit beyond me.
Even items like the I/O Output Buffer mod kit which they sell for $5.00 plus shipping is only a few cents worth of resistors and diodes. Granted, being able to buy the mod kit with all parts and instructions directly from the manufacturer is convenient, but go to somewhere like Mouser and you'll see that you can buy whole rolls of this stuff for a few bucks. Anyway, sorry for the rant... I now return you to your regularly scheduled discussion. 73 de James K2QI On Tue, Oct 19, 2010 at 9:03 AM, Jack Smith < jack.sm...@cliftonlaboratories.com> wrote: > In small quantities, boxes of 100, I pay about 3.5 cents each for 4-40 > 1/4 inch stainless steel (18-8) pan head screws used in my kits. Similar > zinc plated steel screws are 1.2 cents each, for a difference of 2.3 cents. > > In a kit with 100 of these or similar screws, the cost difference would > be thus $2.30. If I were purchasing these in 10,000 lots, prices would, > of course, be less. > > All the hardware I use in kits is stainless steel. The integral gasket > head 4-40 x 5/8" stainless steel screws in the outdoor Z1501D active > antenna (needed for weatherproofing) are 60 cents each, but if properly > installed are leak proof. > > Jack > www.cliftonlaboratories.com > > > -- 73 de James K2QI President UNARC/4U1UN ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
