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| KPA3 cover plate |
Those who are regular readers of this blog know I have all Elecraft equipment and enjoy it very much. My Elecraft K3 was purchased with the 100 watt module (KPA3) and up to this point it has been sitting in the rig and just adding weight. The other week it was decided to unload some unused gear then put these funds together for the purchase of the Elecraft KX3. One of the items on the selling block was the KPA3 unit. When the KPA3 is removed from the radio there is a hole in the rear of the radio were the cooling fans were located. Elecraft sells a plate (6 x 2 3/4 inch aluminum plate) that covers the hole. I called up and placed an order, the cost of the plate was 20.37. A little expensive I thought but what are you going to do. Ten days later the plate
arrived looking at the bill the plate cost 20.37 and the shipping was 10.00!!!
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| Opening when fans are removed |
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| Plastic plugs |
This is half the cost of the plate. The package weighted
ONE OUNCE and was shipped parcel rate. To add insult to injury the plate has a hole labeled "ANT 3". I believe this is for the 2m antenna out port .........if you have the 2m module!!!! Anyway I had to drive to the local electronics store to buy the plastic plug. They came in a package of 2 for forty nine cents. You know what Elecraft throw in the plastic plug and add one dollar to the cost. Back to the shipping rant........ my Elecraft KX3 according to Elecraft weights in at 1.4 LBS and lets knock that up to 1.6 pounds when you add in the shipping box, packing material,manual and bill. The cost for shipping me my KX3 is 48.00 dollars and that is more reasonable and understandable. TEN DOLLARS TO SHIP A 1 OUNCE PACKAGE.....COME ON ELECRAFT !!!!
Sometimes shipping costs drive me NUTS!!!
10 August 2012 | by 
HamRadioAuctions
Reliance Antennas
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R&L Electronics
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Ears to Our World
Hey Mike, it could be even worse than this. I bought an item that cost half of what the shipping costs.(not from Elecraft) Or put another way, shipping cost me double what the part did. With gasoline at $4 a gallon now, shipping has got to go up.
de AA1IK
Ernest Gregoire
Good evening Ernest, first off thanks for stopping by the blog and taking the time to comment. It is true costs are going up and gas is up and down daily. The other day I received a kit from A&A Engineering (the K2 QRP battery charger) it was parcel post from the states as well and weighed 1.5 pounds. That was 10.40 shipping…..may the gas price fell through the floor that day…hi hi. It’s just frustrating when the price can be all over the map.
Mike
If you feel you are being taken, but not sure it is easy to find out. Contact the shipper (USPS, USP, FedEx etc) and find out what it would cost. If the price is out of line by a little, then that is what it is. If the price is out of line a whole lot…well you have the answer you really did not want.
I love elecraft products. To date I have had and traded (it is a disease I have with ALL radios)..in any case I have had a K1 loaded, KX1 loaded, over the years (4) K2’s (in qrp/battery/atu and /100). I almost got a KX3..almost. I had my K2/10 with the 100/ATU in the second box up for sale for $1,400. And at the last second add or trade. (Silly me) Had offers that blew me away. But did get my cash offer. At the last second the guy offered a trade option.. AAAAAAAAhhhhh! It was a poor man’s K3. i.e. a TenTec 559AT Eagle. Loaded with 3 roofing filters and internal ATU. Why did I call it a poor mans K3. The specs are damn close to the K3 on the Sherwood board. And I can tell you from my new experience it blows the K2’s I had away and real SSB to boot. The K3 is great, however to get this configuration with the “OH but basic and add on” would cost me at least another $1000. Maybe someday I will try a K3 and the KX3 is in my future plans. But not now…Sorry about getting OT. But my problem with Electraft is the subtle ways they pry money from their followers. Maybe the shipping this time is real…if not… no comment. Good luck on your sales. Looking forward to hearing your adventures with the KX3 when you get it.
73
Harry
Good morning Harry, after reading your email I went back and double checked the pricing. The package came USPS bulk parcel post and my parcel was weighed in at 1 ounce. The PDF document from the USPS shows the pricing for a letter at 0.45 cents, for a large envelope at 0.90 cents and a parcel at 1.95 again this for a weight of 1 ounce. I would think my item from Elecraft fit into the letter at 0.45. BUT on another subject Harry I too am like you am an Elecraft fan. I had (just recently sold) a loaded KX1, Loaded K2 (including the internal battery) along with the remote KAT 100 and the KPA100, N-Gen kit, Dummy load kit, AF1 kit, K3 loaded, P3 and just ordered last week a loaded KX3. So I am as you can tell an Elecraft fan but I did want to blog about this unreasonable cost to send a 1 ounce package. I am going to post this on the Elecraft reflector……and ready myself for the Elecraft barracuda’s. Harry thanks very much for sharing your option it is very much appreciated. It’s great you took the time to stop by and commented.
Enjoy your weekend
Mike
You guys have it lucky. Try living here in Hawaii If it does not fit in a flat rate box or the shipper only uses UPS or FedEx the costs can be completely outrageous. For example if I want to ship a 30 lb box to the east coast if it fit’s in a medium flat rate USPS box then it is $11.35 if not then with USPS it is 37.95 and UPS is get this either $58.90 for ground or 78.55 for Second day air add a couple of dollars to FedEx. A amplifier that weighs 60+ pounds is over $200 one way ground. So feel lucky it only costs you as much as it did.
PS Parcel Post takes anywhere from 6 to 8 weeks to get to Hawaii and costs almost as much as Priority mail.
Roland AH6RR
Because they shipped your package to Canada, they had to fill out a customs declaration form, and this takes additional time.
There is more to shipping than just the shipping. There is also handling, and in your case, extra paperwork. I think that $10 was expensive, but not unreasonable. The $20.37 for a small piece of aluminum, now that’s what’s unreasonable.
Jeff
Good morning Roland, I too have used FedX and UPS for shipments and the cost can really start to go up once you get the boarder broker fees involved as well. We are lucky as you said as to our location…..for shipping things that is. BUT you to are lucky with regards to location as well…..Hawaii….what an amazing place to be. For me to vacation there for a few weeks it’s about 3,000 to do it right. Roland you have the opportunity to live there year round. For you some shipments may cost up words of 200.00 BUT for me to ship my sorry ham rear there for only a few weeks it costs me 3,000, Roland you may have the better deal in the long run….:)
Roland thanks for stopping by and commenting hope to contact you on the air one day….better yet drop in for a visit.
Mike
VE3WDM
Hello Jeff, first off thanks for dropping by and giving your input…had not thought about the leg work by those at Elecraft to get something over the boarder!! As for the piece of metal you know what they say about OEM parts.
Have a good week Jeff and again thanks for taking the time to comment.
Mike