K2 price increase

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K2 price increase

Dr. Dan Swartling
Did the K2 just go from 599 to 629 $US, or do I need new glasses?

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RE: K2 price increase

johnny-52

Yes, I also notice there are price increases in some of the options.  
Luckily, I have already purchased the required KAT2 and XV144 otherwise, I
have to spend a bit more.

73

Johnny Siu VR2XMC

From: "Dr. Dan Swartling" <[hidden email]>
To: [hidden email]
Subject: [Elecraft] K2 price increase
Date: Wed, 23 Aug 2006 23:41:23 -0500

Did the K2 just go from 599 to 629 $US, or do I need new glasses?

--
To make a difference, one must first be different.


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RE: K2 price increase

Darwin, Keith
In reply to this post by Dr. Dan Swartling
Oh Man, I wish I had known prices were going to go up!  I was planning
on buying several options over the next year and would have bought them
all at once if I'd have known they were going up.

I sure wish elecraft would have posted a price increase notice before
hand.  I guess I'll live without some options now.

- Keith KD1E -
- K2 5411 -

-----Original Message-----
> Did the K2 just go from 599 to 629 $US, or do I need new glasses?
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Re: K2 price increase

roncasa
I concur,
I was planning to purchase a K2 with some options and now that will
only be wishful thinking.
My fixed income is difficult enough as it is already!

I think the increase may hurt them in sales.

Ron, wb1hga

Darwin, Keith wrote:
> Oh Man, I wish I had known prices were going to go up!  I was planning
> on buying several options over the next year and would have bought them
> all at once if I'd have known they were going up.
>
> I sure wish elecraft would have posted a price increase notice before
> hand.  I guess I'll live without some options now.

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RE: K2 price increase

Solosko, Robert B (Bob)-2
In reply to this post by Dr. Dan Swartling
I too have been planning to add some additional options, and of course, it's disappointing to see a price increase, but let's be realistic -- it's only a 5% increase - while that could be a hardship for a few people, the additional $30 is not likely to prevent most people from purchasing a $600 piece of equipment (especially when you start adding the cost of all of the options that haven't gone up in price (yet)). The K2 is still well worth the cost...

Bob W1SRB

-----Original Message-----
From: [hidden email]
[mailto:[hidden email]]On Behalf Of ron
Sent: Thursday, August 24, 2006 10:54 AM
To: [hidden email]
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K2 price increase


I concur,
I was planning to purchase a K2 with some options and now that will
only be wishful thinking.
My fixed income is difficult enough as it is already!

I think the increase may hurt them in sales.

Ron, wb1hga

Darwin, Keith wrote:
> Oh Man, I wish I had known prices were going to go up!  I was planning
> on buying several options over the next year and would have bought them
> all at once if I'd have known they were going up.
>
> I sure wish elecraft would have posted a price increase notice before
> hand.  I guess I'll live without some options now.

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Re: K2 price increase

Gil Stacy-2
In reply to this post by roncasa
I recently read that the increased demand for copper in China and the labor
shutdown of the largest copper mines in the world have created an across the
board increase in the cost of copper dependent electronics components.
Don't know if this was a consideration or not in the first increase in cost
(5%) since the introduction of the kit.
Gil NN4CW
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Re: K2 price increase

N8LP
In reply to this post by Solosko, Robert B (Bob)-2

As I small manufacturer, I can certainly see where Elecraft is coming
from. Between the orders for my first and second runs of LP-100s, the
price of copper and aluminum have gone up considerably. I am paying 8
and 10% more respectively for my two enclosures on the current run.

I also had to switch to RoHS compliant  parts and RoHS processing of the
PCBs and SMT assembly. Shipping costs have increased recently due to
fuel increases. Elecraft is also affected as I am by trying to keep the
bulk of the kits through-hole.  As parts suppliers find a smaller and
smaller market for those types of parts, prices creep up.

If my prices increased over this short period of time, I certainly can't
fault Elecraft for raising it's prices after years.

Larry N8LP
www.telepostinc.com
"Home of the groundbreaking LP-100 Digital Vector Wattmeter"



Solosko, Robert B (Bob) wrote:

> I too have been planning to add some additional options, and of course, it's disappointing to see a price increase, but let's be realistic -- it's only a 5% increase - while that could be a hardship for a few people, the additional $30 is not likely to prevent most people from purchasing a $600 piece of equipment (especially when you start adding the cost of all of the options that haven't gone up in price (yet)). The K2 is still well worth the cost...
>
> Bob W1SRB
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: [hidden email]
> [mailto:[hidden email]]On Behalf Of ron
> Sent: Thursday, August 24, 2006 10:54 AM
> To: [hidden email]
> Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K2 price increase
>
>
> I concur,
> I was planning to purchase a K2 with some options and now that will
> only be wishful thinking.
> My fixed income is difficult enough as it is already!
>
> I think the increase may hurt them in sales.
>
> Ron, wb1hga
>
> Darwin, Keith wrote:
>  
>> Oh Man, I wish I had known prices were going to go up!  I was planning
>> on buying several options over the next year and would have bought them
>> all at once if I'd have known they were going up.
>>
>> I sure wish elecraft would have posted a price increase notice before
>> hand.  I guess I'll live without some options now.
>>    
>
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>
>
>  
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RE: K2 price increase

Darwin, Keith
In reply to this post by Solosko, Robert B (Bob)-2


-----Original Message-----
From: Bob

>... but let's be realistic -- it's only a 5% increase...

Oh, don't get me wrong, I have no problem with prices going up.
Businesses have costs and need to make a fair profit on their goods.
It's not about price increases, it's about notifying your client base
that prices will be going up so they can plan accordingly.

In my case, I wanted 3 things:  100W, SSB, 160m.  The extra $30 is cost
means for the same bux I'll be getting 100W, SSB.  Same money spent,
less hardware purchased.  


>...the cost of all of the options that haven't gone up in price (yet))

And this has me nervous.  Are other options I want about to jump in
price so I'll again have missed a pricing window, or are these prices
going to stay stable for 12 months so I can delay my purchase like I had
originally planned.  Isn't paranoia and over-analysis a wonderful thing
:-)

It would have been a nice courtesy for Elecraft to give us a warning so
we fence-sitters can get off the fence and place our orders while the
lower-cost window is still open.  Not a requirement, just a courtesy.


- Keith KD1E -
- K2 5411 -
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Re: K2 price increase

geoff allsup
Do scroll to the bottom of their home page - "Specifications and Pricing subject
to change."   All manufacturers post this sort of note; it's just one of the
realities of doing business.  :-)

72,
geoff - W1OH


Darwin, Keith wrote:

>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Bob
>
>
>>... but let's be realistic -- it's only a 5% increase...
>
>
> Oh, don't get me wrong, I have no problem with prices going up.
> Businesses have costs and need to make a fair profit on their goods.
> It's not about price increases, it's about notifying your client base
> that prices will be going up so they can plan accordingly.
>
> In my case, I wanted 3 things:  100W, SSB, 160m.  The extra $30 is cost
> means for the same bux I'll be getting 100W, SSB.  Same money spent,
> less hardware purchased.  
>
>
>
>>...the cost of all of the options that haven't gone up in price (yet))
>
>
> And this has me nervous.  Are other options I want about to jump in
> price so I'll again have missed a pricing window, or are these prices
> going to stay stable for 12 months so I can delay my purchase like I had
> originally planned.  Isn't paranoia and over-analysis a wonderful thing
> :-)
>
> It would have been a nice courtesy for Elecraft to give us a warning so
> we fence-sitters can get off the fence and place our orders while the
> lower-cost window is still open.  Not a requirement, just a courtesy.
>
>
> - Keith KD1E -
> - K2 5411 -
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>

--
*************************************************************
Geoff Allsup, W1OH     [hidden email]  or  [hidden email]
Research Engineer              Upper Ocean Processes Group
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution   Woods Hole, MA, USA
*************************************************************

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RE: K2 price increase

Craig Rairdin
In reply to this post by Darwin, Keith
> Oh, don't get me wrong, I have no problem with prices going up.
> Businesses have costs and need to make a fair profit on their
> goods. It's not about price increases, it's about notifying
> your client base that prices will be going up so they can plan
> accordingly.

I knew the prices were going up. I don't know if I saw it here, saw it on
the Elecraft Web site, or heard it at Dayton. Seems like there was another
price increase on some items in 2005 also. I bought my K2 at Dayton in 2005
and I think I bought some items at the "old" price, which either had just
been increased or was about to be increased.

The current price has been the current price for quite a while; I don't
think this happened just this week.

Craig
NZ0R


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Re: K2 price increase, RoHS

Eric Swartz - WA6HHQ
Administrator
In reply to this post by N8LP
Larry is correct - parts costs for all amateur radio manufacturers have
gone up significantly over the past 12 months. Raw materials like copper
and Aluminum have increased in cost by 20-50% over this period. As an
example, our complete K2 enclosure by itself costs $15 more to
manufacture than it did 12 months ago. In addition to basic
supply-demand competition for raw materials by China, India and the
developing world, the impact of the European Community's RoHS
requirement (reduction of hazardous substances) has been huge on all
manufacturers. RoHS primarily covers the tinning of component leads with
lead-free solder, but it also impacts the plating used on basic
hardware, the types of plastics used etc. Ironically the EC has exempted
all automobile battery, medical, telecom and military manufacturers from
this requirement..  (Fortunately the use of regular lead based solder by
individual builders is still OK.)

Elecraft has been 100% committed to converting to RoHS compliant parts
on all of our products, and this has also put upward pressure on our
costs. Many RoHS compliant parts (lead-free solder tinned leads etc.)
have increased 20-40% over their previous prices. Only aggressive
negotiating with our volume suppliers for large quantities of parts has
allowed us to keep it under control. Fortunately we have been successful
in finding RoHS leaded parts for the K2 and our other products. We
planned for this transition over 18 months ago and we put the financial
resources in place then to buy the additional RoHS inventory.

We have been holding off changing prices for over two years in an effort
to see where things settle out. We finally concluded her had to adjust
things last month. In fact, the $30 change on the K2 does not cover our
total increase in costs and our overall percentage margin is slipping in
order to keep it affordable for everyone.  We run a tight ship and this
just means that we have to manage it even better as we move forward.  
Fortunately sales actually increased after the price change. :-)

If the current component cost trends continue I can see a similar rise
in prices 6 months out. We'll work hard to contain this. Fortunately the
K2, K1 and KX1 still provide the most fun and performance for the dollar
on the ham radio market. :-) We'll keep building them as long as you
keep buying them and telling your friends about us!

73, Eric   WA6HHQ
http://www.elecraft.com



Larry Phipps wrote:

>
> As I small manufacturer, I can certainly see where Elecraft is coming
> from. Between the orders for my first and second runs of LP-100s, the
> price of copper and aluminum have gone up considerably. I am paying 8
> and 10% more respectively for my two enclosures on the current run.
>
> I also had to switch to RoHS compliant  parts and RoHS processing of
> the PCBs and SMT assembly. Shipping costs have increased recently due
> to fuel increases. Elecraft is also affected as I am by trying to keep
> the bulk of the kits through-hole.  As parts suppliers find a smaller
> and smaller market for those types of parts, prices creep up.
>
> If my prices increased over this short period of time, I certainly
> can't fault Elecraft for raising it's prices after years.
>
> Larry N8LP
>
>
>
> Solosko, Robert B (Bob) wrote:
>> I too have been planning to add some additional options, and of
>> course, it's disappointing to see a price increase, but let's be
>> realistic -- it's only a 5% increase - while that could be a hardship
>> for a few people, the additional $30 is not likely to prevent most
>> people from purchasing a $600 piece of equipment (especially when you
>> start adding the cost of all of the options that haven't gone up in
>> price (yet)). The K2 is still well worth the cost...
>>
>> Bob W1SRB

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Re: K2 price increase, RoHS

Gil Stacy-2
Eric,
What percentage of the increase is devoted to R&D on the K3, 4 and 5? ;)
73, Gil NN4CW
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Re: K2 price increase

Tony Morgan-2
In reply to this post by Craig Rairdin
FWIW, the Elecraft ad in the Sept '06 QST has the K2 listed at the old
price.

73,
Tony W7GO
_______________________________________


 The current price has been the current price for quite a while; I don't
 think this happened just this week.

Craig
 NZ0R

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RE: K2 price increase, RoHS

John A. Ross [Ecraft]
In reply to this post by Eric Swartz - WA6HHQ
Eric

So are you saying that all Kx kits are now RoHS compliant?

Except the solder preference of the builder?

As soon as Lead based solder is used on the Kx kit it will automatically
loose its compliant status. Should probably ass that to the manual ;-)

Sorry I cut out all the other post you made, it’s the only point of interest
to me as I don't see any RoHS statement in the box or on your web site.

Is RoHS compliance really an issue for you? Other than the cost?

All my surplus inventory, especially semiconductors are being gobbled up
left, right & centre by US sales agents, passives are starting to interest
them also, especially chip inductors.

As you are based in US and that’s where the products are placed on the
market, it’s the EU importer (customer) who is actually responsible for
compliance. As the importer is not actually taking the product to
manufacture for commercial gain I am not sure how that goes, or if the
legislation even applies.

At the end of the day you are selling parts, with instructions, not a
consumer product as such.

But if you want to talk about solder issues, a typical hike in solder costs
(lead based, say £5 UKP/Kg) is now hiked to £15 UKP/Kg (SAC305) and that’s
based on 100Kg+/Month usage and as the majority of it is tin & copper you
can guess where the demand has come from on the tin.

But I have not seen any significant increase in parts costs, in UK anyway.

Sorry for OT and straying a bit here, I avoided the money issue as I still
thing your products are good value for money even if you increase the cost
again.

John









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Re: K2 price increase

Bernard Gaffney, N8PVZ/QRP
In reply to this post by Dr. Dan Swartling
That's what it looks like to me too in the price
listing on Elecraft's web page. About 5%. Probably
chalk it up to the Demon of Inflation.

   72 de N8PVZ
     ---bernie

--- [hidden email] wrote:

Message: 22
Date: Wed, 23 Aug 2006 23:41:23 -0500
From: "Dr. Dan Swartling" <[hidden email]>
Subject: [Elecraft] K2 price increase
To: [hidden email]


Did the K2 just go from 599 to 629 $US, or do I need
new glasses?


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Re: K2 price increase

k0wa@swbell.net
In reply to this post by Dr. Dan Swartling
 
   
  Still a bargain for what you get and the satisfaction thereof....
   
  Lee Buller
   


In our day and age it seems that Common Sense is in short supply.  If you don't have any Common Sense - get some Common Sense and use it.  If you can't find any Common Sense, ask for help from somebody who has some Common Sense.
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