Your right, it is an exercise in economics. Typical American cost of
sales to sales ratios
run 3 to 1. This means that if the consumer price is 1200 dollars
then the unit manufacturing cost should be in the area of 400.00 USD.
So the question really becomes what can Ten Tec produce for 400.00
to sell to you for 1200.00? The answer is
not very much-no matter how efficient the manufaturing operation. You
might argue
with a standard cost of sales to sales ratio of 3:1 but a lot of good
ideas ended up on the
scrap heap because the product concept wouldnt carry the premium to
bring it to
market. On top of the UMC is the marketing cost, SG&A, Advertising
and a host
of taxes and hidden cost (tarrifs really) that show up as disposal
costs for toxic
substances used in manufacturing.Good things all Im sure but they
carry a burden.
Why can the Japanese sell for less? Dumping pure and simple. They use
the American
market as a lost leader to get the economies of scale up in
manufaturing to sell at
list in all the rest of the world. If you dont believe it try to shop
the internet in other
countries and check out their posted prices. We are the recipients of
much "good news"
because our marketplace is so valuable to other countries producers.
This to the
detriment of our own manufacturers. But they do have access to the
same markets as the Japanese dont they? Yup. But for some reason they
want to think and act locally
these days. I guess dealing with the Government is easier than
exploiting the "other"
world markets.
Chuck W7MAP said that.
P.S. And I dont think we are allowed to dump.....not cricket I guess.
-----Original Message-----
From: Darryl J. Kelly [SMTP:kk5ib@insolwwb.net]
Sent: Tuesday, September 15, 1998 8:30 PM
To: tentec@contesting.com
Subject: [TenTec] $1200 Problem
I would like to agree with Puck about the difficulty of
producing a radio in $1200 + range. What can you
get now for that amount of money? I wanted 160-10 meters
plus general coverage, two VFOs, SSB, CW, with
500 and 250 Hz filters for CW, and 2.0 Khz for SSB,
100 watts out adjustable, spotting tone, built in keyer,
built in quiet and cool switching power supply, 100
memories, split, adjustable and tracking sidetone, QSK,
RIT/XIT, Notch, IF Shift, Key jack on front and back,
Analog S-meter with pwr out, SWR, adjustable
AGC, lots of plugs on back for digital, computer
control, RX antenna, DC power, and the automatic
antenna tuner from the Yaesu FT-1000. I got all of the
above and more for $1250 in a mint used Yaesu FT-990.
Can't compare with new price as it is out of production,
but still readily available. According to the ARRL testing
reports it is closer to the OMNI VI+ in major specifications
than to a low end radio. Also an OMNI VI+ requires an
external power supply and antenna tuner, both additional
requirements in money and space, both of which are
very limited at my QTH. Cost of full OMNI VI+ is about
twice what I paid for my FT-990. Is it twice as good?
I can't afford to find out. I do use a MFJ digital filter
so I do have DSP also. Incidentally, the 990 I purchased
was replaced by an OMNI VI+ by the ham who sold it to me.
What am I doing on the Ten-Tec reflector? I do own a
Scout. Ten-Tec would have to produce a great radio at
a unbelievable price to beat what I have. Please no
flaming e-mail. This is primarily a exercise in economics.
73,
Darryl, KK5IB
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