[TenTec] Hamfests in general

[Jim Brown]

On 2/18/2013 11:02 PM, Rick - DJ0IP / NJ0IP wrote:
> Jim, what you noticed is exactly what smart companies are doing.
> Instead of going to expensive hamfests,

The problem with that approach is that many (most?) hams want to SEE and 
TOUCH a radio before spending a big chunk of our hard earned savings on 
it. If the manufacturer does not sell through dealers with brick and 
mortar stores, a potential customer can only see and touch the radio at 
a hamfest or in his buddy's shack. That limits choices for most hams, 
and it yields the market to the companies with the greatest number of 
users and the biggest advertising budgets. Ten Tec is at a huge 
disadvantage by both of those measures.

Many hams also want some personal relationship with the manufacturer.  
That CAN be accomplished online, and another US mfr who only sells 
direct in North America, Elecraft, has done a spectacularly good job of 
online contact with their customers -- they run rings around Ten Tec in 
that regard. They also go to hamfests.

73, Jim K9YC