Elecraft

K3 Shipping Date Change - AGAIN

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Dave Agsten

K3 Shipping Date Change - AGAIN

I have not submitted much to this list as others in the same situation have already posted their thoughts. However, now that I see the shipping date for the second run slipping faster than the K3s are going out the door, I thought it was time to submit something. I have no idea when the radio I ordered will be shipped and I'm sure most of us are in that same boat.

I originally ordered the K3 with the thought of being able to use it for a good part of the winter 160/80 meter DX season. That seems to be a stretch at this point. It's a shame, as this winter might be the best one for many years to come. When you factor in shipping and assembly time along with the holidays to the 30th of November "start" date for the second run, it could be February before I might have a working K3. Not to mention that Elecraft states that a production run shipment takes 3 to 4 weeks. ( Note that October 18th until November 30th is a bit longer than 4 weeks for the shipping of the first run) I think the least Elecraft can do at this point is provide a few numbers. They should tell us how many K3s have actually shipped, how many are in the first run and how many are in the second run. That's the least they can do considering we've all plunked down deposits or paid in full. For those of us who would like to try and figure out just when they might get
their radio, I suggest that we in the second run post our order dates. We could then at least see where we are positioned in that run. I know that's not the real purpose of this list, but neither are a lot of other things on here. Elecraft posting those numbers would not impact their production. They have other reasons for that.

I did e-mail Elecraft and ask what the procedure might be for requesting a refund. To no surprise, that one was not answered. I'm not at that point yet, but might consider it if the date for the second run slips past November 30th. Hindsite being 20-20, I probably should have waited until the K3 mania died down and not ordered until mid 2008. The radio is not going to do me much good this winter as far as I can see.

My order date was May 25th. I'm sure a lot of folks in the second run ordered a bit earlier....like at Dayton. It would be nice to see where we stand in the second run.......

GL es 73,
Dave N8AG

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w0mu

Re: K3 Shipping Date Change - AGAIN

Like Yaesu, Icom, Kenwood and Ten-Tec make public the number of radios
shipped? Are you an owner?

How will knowing how many radios that shipped have any bearing on what will
ship in the future? Who knows what issues were responsible for the delays.
It could be parts. Which could happen again down the road.

They have no reason not to ship units. They are doing the best they can.

The demand for this radio greatly exceeds the supply. Those of us in the
3rd group would love for a bunch of you to bail out. That just moves us up
in the queue.

The delay in shipping should not be a surprise to anyone subscribed to the
list and who is paying attention.

I have to assume that most people wanting a K3 want one because it is going
to better than anything out there. If that is not the desire go to HRO or
AES and buy something off the shelf, get on the air and make contacts.

I suspect that the great majority would be willing to wait quite a while for
this radio as there is really nothing out there like it.

Elecraft put out some numbers and dates that they had hoped to meet. It
didn't happen. As the owner of my own company I hate to make commitments
that that I am unable to meet. Stuff happens.

What are your choices? Wait or bail out.

On 11/1/07 7:58 PM, "Dave Agsten" <[hidden email]> wrote:

> I have not submitted much to this list as others in the same situation have
> already posted their thoughts. However, now that I see the shipping date for
> the second run slipping faster than the K3s are going out the door, I thought
> it was time to submit something. I have no idea when the radio I ordered will
> be shipped and I'm sure most of us are in that same boat.
>
> I originally ordered the K3 with the thought of being able to use it for a
> good part of the winter 160/80 meter DX season. That seems to be a stretch at
> this point. It's a shame, as this winter might be the best one for many years
> to come. When you factor in shipping and assembly time along with the holidays
> to the 30th of November "start" date for the second run, it could be February
> before I might have a working K3. Not to mention that Elecraft states that a
> production run shipment takes 3 to 4 weeks. ( Note that October 18th until
> November 30th is a bit longer than 4 weeks for the shipping of the first run)
> I think the least Elecraft can do at this point is provide a few numbers. They
> should tell us how many K3s have actually shipped, how many are in the first
> run and how many are in the second run. That's the least they can do
> considering we've all plunked down deposits or paid in full. For those of us
> who would like to try and figure out just when they might get
> their radio, I suggest that we in the second run post our order dates. We
> could then at least see where we are positioned in that run. I know that's not
> the real purpose of this list, but neither are a lot of other things on here.
> Elecraft posting those numbers would not impact their production. They have
> other reasons for that.
>
> I did e-mail Elecraft and ask what the procedure might be for requesting a
> refund. To no surprise, that one was not answered. I'm not at that point yet,
> but might consider it if the date for the second run slips past November 30th.
> Hindsite being 20-20, I probably should have waited until the K3 mania died
> down and not ordered until mid 2008. The radio is not going to do me much good
> this winter as far as I can see.
>
>
> My order date was May 25th. I'm sure a lot of folks in the second run
> ordered a bit earlier....like at Dayton. It would be nice to see where we
> stand in the second run.......
>
> GL es 73,
> Dave N8AG
>
>
>
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Thom LaCosta

Re: K3 Shipping Date Change - AGAIN

At 10:46 PM 11/1/2007, Mike Fatchett W0MU wrote:

>Elecraft put out some numbers and dates that they had hoped to meet. It
>didn't happen. As the owner of my own company I hate to make commitments
>that that I am unable to meet. Stuff happens.

So, as owner of your own company...would you promise your customers
status updates on a schedule you deleveloped, and then not deliver on
the updates?

I think there are many folks who understand delays, but not the lack
of information about the delays given as promised.

It's very much like appointments....if I make an appointment to see
you Friday at 2 p.m. and show up Tuesday at 3 p.m., would you have
any reason to complain?

73,
Thom - k3hrn

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w0mu

Re: K3 Shipping Date Change - AGAIN

In reply to this post by Dave Agsten

This is getting silly.

I am sorry for saying anything.

On 11/2/07 6:16 AM, "Thom LaCosta" <[hidden email]> wrote:

> At 10:46 PM 11/1/2007, Mike Fatchett W0MU wrote:
>
>> Elecraft put out some numbers and dates that they had hoped to meet. It
>> didn't happen. As the owner of my own company I hate to make commitments
>> that that I am unable to meet. Stuff happens.
>
> So, as owner of your own company...would you promise your customers
> status updates on a schedule you deleveloped, and then not deliver on
> the updates?
>
> I think there are many folks who understand delays, but not the lack
> of information about the delays given as promised.
>
> It's very much like appointments....if I make an appointment to see
> you Friday at 2 p.m. and show up Tuesday at 3 p.m., would you have
> any reason to complain?
>
> 73,
> Thom - k3hrn
>

johnny-52

Re: K3 Shipping Date Change - AGAIN

Hello Mike,

I didn't realise you were in this group.

It is lucky that Elecraft does have a big group of loyal customers.
Perhaps, its past goodwill and production quality lead to such a group of
patient and loyal customers. I think Elecraft will eventually learn
something and improve in future.

Having battled with the big brands, Elecraft is in fact not bad.

I think the shipment of K3 will eventually improve as Elecraft moves a long
further in the learning curve. We are born to make mistakes. However, if
we can really learn from mistakes and improve, the cost paid for the
mistakes is not wasted.

Like some of the others in this group, I am still waiting for my K3 and not
feeling good. However, I would give some chance to Elecraft because there
is not much similar kind of kit business in the amateur radio world. Let
them make profit and survive and we get more choices.

With Kenwood departing the amateur radio world and Yaesu's fluctuated
quality control, there are really not much left in the amateur radio world.
We need healthy product competition in order to force the manufacturer to
improve their products.

73,

Johnny VR2XMC
----- Original Message -----
From: "Mike Fatchett W0MU" <[hidden email]>
To: "Thom LaCosta" <[hidden email]>; <[hidden email]>
Sent: Friday, November 02, 2007 9:38 PM
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 Shipping Date Change - AGAIN

> This is getting silly.
>
> I am sorry for saying anything.
>
>
>
>
> On 11/2/07 6:16 AM, "Thom LaCosta" <[hidden email]> wrote:
>
>> At 10:46 PM 11/1/2007, Mike Fatchett W0MU wrote:
>>
>>> Elecraft put out some numbers and dates that they had hoped to meet. It
>>> didn't happen. As the owner of my own company I hate to make
>>> commitments
>>> that that I am unable to meet. Stuff happens.
>>
>> So, as owner of your own company...would you promise your customers
>> status updates on a schedule you deleveloped, and then not deliver on
>> the updates?
>>
>> I think there are many folks who understand delays, but not the lack
>> of information about the delays given as promised.
>>
>> It's very much like appointments....if I make an appointment to see
>> you Friday at 2 p.m. and show up Tuesday at 3 p.m., would you have
>> any reason to complain?
>>
>> 73,
>> Thom - k3hrn

Simon (HB9DRV)

Re: K3 Shipping Date Change - AGAIN

Johnny,

Kenwood has not left Amateur Radio - there was an official statement a few
weeks ago, new products are in the pipeline.

With new radios from ICOM (IC-7700, IC-7200 tba) and the FlexRadio range I
don't think Amateur Radio has ever been more alive.

Add to this Elecraft bringing out the K3 and I think the future is very
rosy.

Simon Brown, HB9DRV

----- Original Message -----
From: "johnny" <[hidden email]>
>
> With Kenwood departing the amateur radio world and Yaesu's fluctuated
> quality control, there are really not much left in the amateur radio
> world.

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