Well Richard we will have to agree to disagree. Unlike you I am one of the people who helped "finance the radio's production." Therefore if anything this makes me more entitled to complain than you.
As a customer of Elecraft since 1999 I was happy to put down the deposit. I was confident they will deliver the radio I am so keen to own. I still am. Sure, it is not being delivered by the dates they originally said. But I'm still going to receive it before all those who didn't stump up the deposit, and that's all I expected. I knew there was a chance there would be a slippage in the delivery dates. That's the risk I took. I still think it was worth the risk. It's absolute nonsense to describe as "incompetence" the reasons for the delay. I suppose you would say the same about Microsoft for its delays in shipping Windows Vista? They were only shipping software, so no excuses of unavailable parts. And that delay resulting in a launch after Christmas cost their customers millions of dollars in lost sales of new computers. All the delayed shipping of the K3 is costing is a few frayed tempers. Sure you could count the lost interest on the deposit paid, or even the changing exchange rates. I'm sure the K3 is going to be worth what I pay. If I hadn't been, I'd have waited until they were shipping and I could see one, work one, read what people said about them, before making the decision. -- Julian, G4ILO K2 s/n: 392 K3 s/n: ??? G4ILO's Shack: www.g4ilo.com Ham-Directory: www.ham-directory.com On 9/14/07, Richard Beerman <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Hi Julian.... I cannot tell you how much I completely disagree with you > about Elecraft's delivery delays. Thank goodness I have not sent them any > money to date. As a previous writer to this forum wrote, Elecraft financed > this radio's production by early subscription and not by going down to the > bank for a loan as most companies would. They have indicated a number of > dates for a delivery of the K-3. While there might no tight contract > regarding delivery, they certainly implied a delivery date to induce further > sales of the K-3. I think they are getting dangerously close to a descptive > trade practice situation no matter how unintentional. Imagine that the > current excuse for non shipment is a toriod or a screw. How totally > incompetent! They should have had a qualified purchasing agent on board. > They should have had real written contracts with these suppliers to deliver > the components on time with penalties for non performance. It's a business, > for crying out loud! > > I was going to order my K-3 in March, 2008 after everything was shaken out > and the firmware perfected. I think I will be months delayed and I am really > mad about it. Don't excuse these Elecraft guys. They might be great > engineers but they are pretty poor at manufacturing a large numbers of > radios at any given time. Very poor managers in my opinion. So, when I read > all the email on the reflector from the "coolaid drinkers", the guys who > excuse poor business practices to the point of unethical, I see red and > purple! Flame at will because I am absolutely correct. > > Dick VR2/W5AK > > > >From: "Julian G4ILO" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > >To: elecraft <elecraft@mailman.qth.net> > >Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Revised Shipping date for K3 > >Date: Fri, 14 Sep 2007 15:21:08 +0100 > > > >Well perhaps you would like them to put you down for that date and let > >someone else take your place in the queue? Do you really think it > >would be preferable for them to keep the finished radios in a > >warehouse until some announced date? Why must some people always find > >a reason to complain? > > > >It only takes one part to be missing to stop the entire shipment. This > >is outside anyone's control. By keeping us informed Elecraft deserves > >some sympathy from us, not more complaints. I am sure they are just > >about as frustrated as we are, having devoted a large part of their > >lives to bringing the K3 into existence and then when it's just about > >complete being prevented from delivering it. > > > >Let's have some perspective. At the end of the day, it's just a radio > >that will be used for a hobby. It's not a key piece of equipment for a > >business project that is going to cost you money every day it's late > >being delivered. It's disappointing that it's late, but that's all. > >There are far worse things that could happen. > >-- > >Julian, G4ILO K2 s/n: 392 K3 s/n: ??? > >G4ILO's Shack: www.g4ilo.com > >Ham-Directory: www.ham-directory.com > > > > > >On 9/14/07, robert hammond <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > > > > I would rather be told that the first radios will not ship until say 6th > >January 2008, rather > >_______________________________________________ > >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 > > _________________________________________________________________ > Test your celebrity IQ. Play Red Carpet Reveal and earn great prizes! > http://club.live.com/red_carpet_reveal.aspx?icid=redcarpet_hotmailtextlink2 > > _______________________________________________ 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
