I agree that's part of the dynamic at work here. But I also think it's no different than any other used piece of equipment. I am willing to pay 50% to 70% of the retail price for a current model of some piece of electronic or computer equipment. I might go as high as 80% if it's a hard-to-find item. Above that, the benefits of buying new outweigh the savings -- that is, I get a warranty of some kind and I get to know I'm the first owner so I know how the equipment has been used.
That maps pretty well to what I see with the Elecraft kits. People count the kit price as the retail price, and discount from there. I think the fact that someone has been successfully using the K2 for a year or two is proof that it's built well enough, and I think some people figure the builder is more experienced than they are, otherwise they wouldn't have built a kit. So the same market forces apply and people tend to pay no more than about 80% of SRP for a current piece of electronic gear. I believe, but can't prove for sure, that radios sold here on the list command a higher price than when sold on eBay. It's hard to say since I don't have the same visibility into the final selling price when the item is sold privately here on the list. Craig NZ0R -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Vic K2VCO Sent: Monday, December 25, 2006 3:47 PM To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Assembled radio prices (was: KPA100 Elimination?) Brent Sutphin wrote: > You seem to be correct on your price assessment. It is a shame that > such a great radio goes so cheap. I have built several and I enjoy > building but just am not willing to lose 20- 30% per kit. There was a > time when it was easy to get the kit price for a newly built kit. Well, it makes sense. I wouldn't buy an assembled kit as complicated as a K2 unless I knew the builder and was assured of his competence. Do you really want to look for someone else's poorly tinned toroid leads? -- 73, Vic, K2VCO Fresno CA http://www.qsl.net/k2vco _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
