Alt-BEAM Archive

Message #03518



To: sbolt@xs4all.nl
From: JVernonM@aol.com
Date: Sat, 22 May 1999 05:10:15 EDT
Subject: [alt-beam] Re: Evolution Comparison


In a message dated 5/22/99 4:10:41 AM Eastern Daylight Time, sbolt@xs4all.nl
writes:

> At $300,- surely it can't be targeting the educational market?
> It seems to be intended as a `collector's item'.
>
Agreed! Signed and all. Come on Dave, 300 bucks for two servos, a custom PCB,
and the components to make a microcore. It's no wonder I've never seen one
displayed on a personal web gallery. We all know the cost of these
components, we buy them retail and they come far shy of your kit price. You
seem to be operating at a 3-400 percentage markup as near as I and my
accountant can tell. In a monopoly, that could be considered gouging. Walmart
operates at a 50 percent markup. Most next level boutiques operate at a 100
percent mark up because of higher overhead. I usually clear a 35 percent mark
up on my T's, but that's because the competition here is cutthroat and
overhead is high. I know your grumbling, "Well, if you can do better...." I
got big plans. Big plans. You argued once that the popper SHOULD be more than
Craig's Cybug because of quality. I don't buy it. The components of the two
kits alone make the Cybug cost more to produce, yet it is comparable in price
and far more functional. Your not selling kits, your marketing Tildenesque.
Or, perhaps I'm mistaken, and the heads your producing will be your own
design and not yet another Tilden clone. As for the educational aspect, don't
you think more bright minds could be educated if the kits were more inline
with the idea of affordability as well as quality? Isn't that at the core of
BEAM philosophy? Dave, you sell caps that cost less than 1.00 in quantity for
9.00. You sell motors that cost around 3.-5.00 a piece for 15.00. You can
charge what ever you like and in the present monopoly, you'll probably get
it. But the campers are grumbling, and not usually to your face. And keep
your personal attacks off the list, I'm tired of hearing them.
Jim

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