[Repeater-Builder] How to Buy a New Repeater Station: Radio Buying 101
I want to share with this list my recent experience in buying a new and complete MTR2000 Repeater Station. One of my Personal Rules is that I never pay sticker price for cars or anything else. I digress: Several years ago, when I was shopping for a sporty car for my wife, I looked at a (then new) 1979 Mazda RX-7 that actually had a dealer-applied sticker that was $2,000 ABOVE the factory sticker price! When the salesman came out to try to sell me on the car, I informed him that not only was I NOT going to pay $2,000 above the sticker price, I was going to pay about $1,200 BELOW the sticker price. We entered into a lot of haggling, in which the Sales Manager participated, but I did get my car for about $3,000 below the window price- but I got a complete set of Mazda service manuals as part of the deal (a $250 value!) I bring this anecdote up, because I believe that many individuals and clubs (apparently) pay whatever the ONE dealer quotes them for commercial-grade repeaters. I use a different tack. I put together a specific list of equipment I require, and I ask several dealers to submit a quote for EXACTLY the equipment I specified, inclusive of all taxes and shipping charges. There is no room whatsoever for add-ins, options, and hidden charges. When I recently sent out an RFQ (Request for Quotation) for a T5544/T5766 MTR2000 Repeater Station to six different Motorola dealers, I received quotes ranging from $3923 to $5150. That's a range of $1,200! One of the dealers had the gall to claim that his quote was highly competitive. NOT! His quote was among the highest, and at a level I consider to be gouging. I have no doubt that some individuals and clubs will pay this guy whatever he asks, and if these shoppers don't have the common sense to shop around, they deserve to be gouged. If and when you or your club decides to purchase a new commercial-grade repeater, make these dealers fight for your business! I know that the dealers who do a few million bucks a month in radio sales can afford to give you a low-margin bid, but any dealer who wants to BUILD his or her business must seek out low-margin sales in order to achieve that status. Moreover, don't feel that you have to keep some shyster in business! I always include Houston Communications and Delmmar Communications in any RFQ I issue. Not surprisingly, one or the other of these two companies get most of my business. DISCLAIMER: I have no financial connection to either of these companies; I am merely a satisfied customer of both. 73, Eric Lemmon WB6FLY Yahoo! Groups Links * To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Repeater-Builder/ * To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] * Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
Re: [Repeater-Builder] How to Buy a New Repeater Station: Radio Buying 101
On Sun, 09 May 2004 19:25:42 -0700, Eric Lemmon wrote: I put together a specific list of equipment I require, and I ask several dealers to submit a quote for EXACTLY the equipment I specified, inclusive of all taxes and shipping charges. Funny, I do the same thing with cars. My first was a '78 Mustang which I still have. Called 6 dealers, 3 local and 3 in Toronto. One of the dealers in Toronto got the deal by a margin of 3 or 4 hundred dollars. Doesn't sound like much but the NEW Mustang only cost me $4200 back in '78 :) It works for a lot of things. Tedd Doda, VE3TJD Lazer Audio and Electronics Baden, Ontario, Cana Yahoo! Groups Links * To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Repeater-Builder/ * To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] * Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
Re: [Repeater-Builder] How to Buy a New Repeater Station: Radio Buying 101
Tedd, Thanks for the vote of confidence, and congratulations on your success in car shopping! 73, Eric Lemmon WB6FLY Tedd Doda wrote: On Sun, 09 May 2004 19:25:42 -0700, Eric Lemmon wrote: I put together a specific list of equipment I require, and I ask several dealers to submit a quote for EXACTLY the equipment I specified, inclusive of all taxes and shipping charges. Funny, I do the same thing with cars. My first was a '78 Mustang which I still have. Called 6 dealers, 3 local and 3 in Toronto. One of the dealers in Toronto got the deal by a margin of 3 or 4 hundred dollars. Doesn't sound like much but the NEW Mustang only cost me $4200 back in '78 :) It works for a lot of things. Tedd Doda, VE3TJD Lazer Audio and Electronics Baden, Ontario, Cana Yahoo! Groups Links Yahoo! Groups Links * To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Repeater-Builder/ * To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] * Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
Re: [Repeater-Builder] How to Buy a New Repeater Station: Radio Buying 101
As a former Motorola dealer employee, and a government purchaser of radios, Ialso found the same to be true. I bought a HT from the dealership as an employee (part-time). I liked the radio so much, I placed an order for 12 more for my fire department. The difference in price was several hundred dollars. I obtained bids from 2 other dealers, as the projected expense required it under the city rules. As a part-time employee, I bought the city radios from a competitor, at a savings of $100+ each. This was not a closed bid deal, and my employer was given the chance to match the price, but declined. On another note, I went shopping in 1994 for a Pontiac Sunbird. The model/option combination was found via the vehicle locator system, and the dealership would not budge on their price. I was able to read the name of the dealer that actually had the vehicle and drive the 70 miles to it. I bought it there, for a savings of $1400. This was not a similar car, but the exact same car! Chris Wilkie W1LKE Yahoo! Groups Links To visit your group on the web, go to:http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Repeater-Builder/ To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service.
Re: [Repeater-Builder] How to Buy a New Repeater Station: Radio Buying 101
Chris, You have given credence to what has been a little-known dirty secret. Thank you for adding a vote for consumer awareness in the marketplace. Caveat Emptor! 73, Eric Lemmon WB6FLY Yahoo! Groups Links * To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Repeater-Builder/ * To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] * Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
