[TowerTalk] Shipping Costs and Industrial Distributors

[Jim Brown]

It's important to understand that the vendors that sell high quality 
stuff at good prices are geared up to sell in quantity. They are what we 
used to call "wholesale" vendors, meaning that they sell to others who 
resell a few pieces at a time. If you want to do biz with them, buy 
enough quantity to get  a good discount, either by stocking up your own 
parts drawers or combining your needs with others in your ham clubs. 
I've done that many times with parts like Amphenol 83-1SP (UHF 
connectors), Switchcraft and Neutrik audio connectors, and ferrite parts.

When you do this, you save two ways. First, you get the quantity 
discount, which is often 20-80% from what you would pay a retail vendor. 
Second, shipping costs are divided between many pieces of whatever you 
ordered. And, of course, you have also done a favor for your fellow hams 
by getting them a price break on top quality stuff, as opposed to buying 
junk from those rip-off vendors who advertise in QST and CQ.

My rules for avoiding problems. Buy from first quality vendors, get 
quotes for the best price on the right part numbers. Ship to a single 
location (your QTH) and distribute the parts at club meetings. Don't try 
to re-ship -- it's a money and time sink, and with ferrites, it's a 
recipe for breakage (they're brittle).

Most industrial vendors will take a credit card, which most vendors will 
charge when they ship. This gives you time to figure out costs and 
collect for the orders.

73, Jim K9YC

On Mon,12/21/2015 6:56 AM, Jim Lux wrote:
> As buyheatshrink.com says on their website:
> "At BuyHeatShrink.com we specialize in sales to distributors and 
> medium to large OEM’s (Original Equipment Manufacturers)."