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 On 10/19/2010 8:51 AM, Bob Naumann wrote: > Blame whomever you want, but this economy is to blame for a lot of this. > > Companies are not willing to invest in inventory not being able to know what > the future business climate is going to be like. Things like stainless steel > hardware are in short supply and very expensive. > > 73, > > Bob W5OV > > P.S. My K3's screws don't have any rust and I've had it for almost 2 years. > > -----Original Message----- > From: [email protected] > [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Sam Morgan > Sent: Tuesday, October 19, 2010 7:24 AM > To: [email protected] > Subject: Re: [Elecraft] KPA 500 > > makes sense to me > maybe 1-3% of your targeted market > lives in an environment that is so wet > lets add $20.00 to the price of our produce > for the other 97% of buyers...... > > that's the kind of marketing savvy that could bankrupted a company > > > GB& 73 > K5OAI > Sam Morgan > > On 10/19/2010 7:08 AM, James Sarte wrote: >> Sorry, but that sounds more like nickel and diming to me. For the amount > of >> money we spend on these rigs, I had hoped that Elecraft would have > provided >> replacement stainless screws for free. If a manufacturer knows that > there's >> a problem with a product, wouldn't you want them to correct it without >> charging you? Just my 2 cents... >> >> 73 de James K2QI >> >> On Tue, Oct 19, 2010 at 7:26 AM, Johnny Siu<[email protected]> wrote: >> >>> Hello Ian, >>> >>> I am very sure that Elecraft is clever in choosing both packing and >>> construction >>> materials for their radio gears >>> >>> For example, the screws of K3 rust so easily that they now give you the >>> option >>> to spend US$19.9 to replace them with stainless steel screws. >>> >>> For a radio at the price range of effectively over $2,000, you are given >>> the >>> chance to option for better screws. >>> >>> 73 >>> >>> Johnny VR2XMC >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> > ______________________________________________________________ > Elecraft mailing list > Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm > Post: mailto:[email protected] > > This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net > Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html > > ______________________________________________________________ > Elecraft mailing list > Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm > Post: mailto:[email protected] > > This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net > Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html > ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:[email protected] This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
