[Amps] MFJ

[Michael Tope]

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Doug Renwick" <ve5ra at sasktel.net>
To: "'Jim Brown'" <jim at audiosystemsgroup.com>; <amps at contesting.com>
Sent: Sunday, December 09, 2007 1:28 PM
Subject: Re: [Amps] MFJ


> OK Mr Jim how about listing all the companies that MFJ has pushed out of
> the market.  Then we can decide, rather than you, whether it was a good
> thing or otherwise.  If MFJ has cornered the market, then why aren't
> their prices pushed higher for the same quality?  Let me suggest that
> either it is a corporate mission to keep prices low or it is competition
> that keeps prices low - Jim, welcome to the free enterprise system.  You
> are welcome to buy something with a fancier enclosure if that makes you
> happy.
> 
> Doug
> 
> I strongly disagree. When a company blankets a market with low cost low 
> quality stuff (as MFJ and Walmart do), it usually pushes other companies
> with 
> better quality stuff at a somewhat higher prices out of the market (and
> often 
> out of biz). Some may see that as a good thing, but I don't. 
> 
> 73,
> 
> Jim Brown K9YC
> 

Doug,

I think you are assuming the ham market is perfectly elastic and 
that it operates with great efficiency. If MFJ buys Ameritron and 
doesn't preserve the level of quality, but instead pursues the lower 
price points at the expense of quality because consumers decide 
that's what they want, then those with a desire for value/quality 
mix that Ameritron used to offer are left without that choice. There 
is no guarantee that a supplier with that same mix of quality and 
value will materialize. The ham market is just not that elastic. 

In other words, are consumer really winning if MFJ takes a $600 
tuner that is built reasonable well and value engineers it down to 
$450 but the knobs fall off and turns counter breaks over and 
over again? Maybe most ham consumers like fixing their tuners 
over and over again (it is ham radio after all). Personally, I don't. 

MFJ is free to do whatever is wants in terms of quality and price. 
It is free enterprise after all, but if they take a good brand and 
run it downhill, then I see no reason to celebrate that. By the way, 
I am not saying they have done that with Ameritron (just using that
as an example). Frankly I am worried they will, but I don't know 
that it is happening and I sure hope it doesn't.

73, Mike W4EF......................................