When I give thanks each night, I have a special hope that Elecraft stays smarter than Dentron (also fine hams and good people), they over expanded then dissolved. Then there's MFJ - who seem to hang around for ever, but rest their business model on cost cutting alone. Yes I own some of their stuff but (being kind) they fill that niche quite nicely. That a small enterprise like Elecraft can exist along side a relative giant like Ten Tec is quite a testament to their efficiency.
[Elecraft] Re: build rate? Jim jdunbar28 at mchsi.com Tue Jan 22 19:03:36 EST 2008 The folks at Elecraft are Smarter than anyone on this reflector as far as the reality of what it takes to conduct a successful high technology business model in the United States today, and the reality of the overhead and salary expenses of their high tech staff experts and engineers. These engineers and designers are not cheap (six figure salaries are common place in Today's engineering fields with highly experienced software, hardware, and systems engineers). Elecraft is much better off with such a limited Amateur Market to not hire a large production staff for high volume production of K3 radios just to make Hams Happy. It is business, and in order for K3 to have a profitable business with a small staff of experienced designers, engineers, technicians, and support staff, they are very business saavy to only have a production rate that they can physically support with their lean and mean company, rather than have a large production model and then have to layoff these production personnel when the Ham Bubble reaches its peak and then begins to subside to a normal delivery rate. So, the reality is that it is more important for the Elecraft business model to look out for their viability rather than make a small market of Amateurs happy with immediate deliveries. Elecraft is not ICOM America and they don't have a Japanese base of workers that they can draw on....... It is no wonder that Motorola bought Yaesu / Vertex, as even these manufacturers have to be able to justify their bottom line. Lets face it the amateur market is very small, therefore, the businesses such as Elecraft, Flex Radio, and Ten Tec have to have very innovative business models in order to stay around. Congratulations to the Elecraft staff for your successful business model and for allowing us to have the privilege to be able to take advantage of the finest in HF communications technology at the most reasonable of prices anywhere. Bravo, K4PV _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: [email protected] 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
