Yes - we are lucky in speaking a similar language to the US. I have imported directly from Japan, but it is more difficult to pay.
Currently the exchange rate is very poor, back in 2008 when I ordered my K3 there were over $2 to the pound. At Dayton that year there were a lot of Brits buying stuff. The "Dayton Specials" and the exchange rate combined made equipment approximately half as expensive compared to the UK. I bought loads, even with VAT it was a bargain. The exchange rate went down to $1.35 last Spring and consequently, US prices were only 10-20 percent lower than UK ones, so I bought nothing at Dayton last year. Now we are back up to $1.60 and prices are again favorable. But - this has little to do with Elecraft - who refreshingly have fixed prices for us, excellent support and can understand English. They even allowed me to pay 100% up front for my K3 6 months before it was ready to ship. I just wish we could set up some form of monthly bulk shipping arrangement to the UK because all the little items are uneconomically expensive due to shipping charges and the parcelforce extortion money. Julian, G4ILO wrote: > > > > Doug Turnbull wrote: >> >> Many EU hams look at prices in QST and CQ and just dream. It seems that >> one can >> purchase Japanese made radios in the States for the same price in dollars >> as >> one pays in Euros or Sterling. >> > It's really a dream. There are so many hidden costs that much of the > saving gets eaten up by the time the product gets here. I just did a quick > example of a Yaesu VX-8R, listed by Universal Radio at $379. Add on say > $50 for international shipping. That comes to GBP 268 (£1 = $1.60) You'll > be charged 17.5% VAT on arrival here plus a GBP 13 tax collection fee > bringing the total to GBP 328. Nevada Radio is selling the EU version > (VX-8E) for GBP 338. So ten quid gets you the EU version plus a locally > supported warranty. > > > >> I believe that being able to purchase the kit K3 directly is a great plus >> to >> Elecrafter sales in the EU. True one is a bit exposed as to service but >> if >> one has built the kit then individual boards can be returned for service. >> The K3 is small and not that heavy to ship back if needs be for that >> matter. >> > > I wonder if those who have actually had to ship a K3 back to the US from > Europe would agree? I know for a fact that whenever I write on my website > or blog about something I bought in the US I get emails from hams asking > where in the UK they can order. Many in our hobby are a pretty > conservative bunch and will not buy from outside the UK. I think Elecraft > could actually be losing sales by not selling through local dealers, not > least because there are some people with money burning a hole in their > pocket who go to Martin Lynch or W&S on a Saturday morning looking for a > new toy to take home and play with, and if there isn't a K3 there to try > out they'll buy something else instead. > > However I suspect if Elecraft did sell through UK dealers the extra cost > to us would be a lot more than in my Yaesu example because there is no > dealer mark-up in the price we pay from Elecraft, whereas the Japanese > manufacturers have local offices and dealers taking their cut on both > sides of the Atlantic. So carry on selling direct, please. :) > -- View this message in context: http://n2.nabble.com/Disgrunteled-Japanese-tp4250692p4259763.html Sent from the [K3] mailing list archive at Nabble.com. ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
