How do they ever make a profit?

On the internet you can buy a dual-band handheld with antenna, battery, chargers(2), earpiece and belt clip for just £25.29. At this price I find it unbelievable they can make a profit. I think it is even cheaper if you buy a batch of 3.
 .
See http://www.banggood.com/LBaofeng-UV-5RA-Yellow-Dual-Band-Transceiver-Radio-Wakie-Talkie-p-947385.html  .

Shipping is just 29p. shipped to the UK by registered air parcel. It is available in a variety of case colours.

Roger Lapthorn, G3XBM, is a regular contributor to AmateurRadio.com and writes from Cambridge, England.

7 Responses to “How do they ever make a profit?”

  • VE3MIC_Mike:

    I’ve often wondered about the spectral purity of those cheap handheld radios. The fact that they readily operate out of band would suggest so.

  • K3NG Goody:

    Frequency agility and spectral purity are two different things.

  • Peter kg5wy:

    Amazing.
    I bought a 5 watt, 2 band handheld for $40 and it is GREAT.
    Can’t find a thing wrong with it.
    Amazing.

  • Fred AE2DX:

    I bought one a few weeks ago for $27 I did invest in the program and cable to program this little radio and am very satisfied with the operation I just ordered another battery for $7 to act as a spare. unbelievable.

  • Kyle N4NSS:

    Only thing that I have been having problems with is the programming of these little cheap rigs.

  • Mike KB3MJZ:

    The easiest way to program Kyle is with the software.

  • tom, KA4CSG:

    I suspect that the Chinese manufacturer makes a ton of radios for other purposes and these are just software driven derivatives. I just purchased the Jetway 10 watt 2 bander for installation in my RV toad. Size was the major consideration. Reading the manual, there are several functions available the do not seem to be of much use in a typical Ham Radio operation.

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