Msg: 6014 *Conference*

09-03-95 08:40:45

From: RICHARD HANSON

To : THOMAS MCKEAN

Subj: REPLY TO MSG #6013 (RAM SCHEMATIC)

Oh my...  No, it doesn't "cost" $29.95 to put them together.  That's my retail
price.  It represents my cost and a small margin.  I hire an engineering
company to build the modules.  They, inturn, have the master for the circuit
boards, the components, and the surface-mount equipment for assembly.

They ship the circuit board master to a board company who makes the boards.
When the boards return, they test the boards, then assemble the components.
Once assembled, they ship to me.

Their retail is my wholesale.  Their risk is the cost of the circuit board
production run, the components and their labor-time.  Their markup is more then
my markup but far less than industry standards, given the size of the
production run and hand assembly required.

I do not, personally, build these modules.  I do not have the board master or
an assembly schematic.  I do not have a technical reference manual ... this is
the truth!  And, although an assembly schematic(s) might exist, I do not have
one.

I do not "geek around" with these things.  I am a merchant, not an electronics
firm, or even remotely interested in electronics.  I am not interested in how
Model "T's" work, or how to fix them beyond board swapping and testing.  I hire
out all the component-level stuff.

I did get word back from my source.  They have 6 or so on the shelf.  I have 4
more available.  That makes 10.  If you buy all 10 I will sell them to you for
$25 each.  I will make $2 on each unit ... so now you know my cost.  I am not
interested, at this time, in paying for a production run, i.e. 50 units.

Okay ... that's the score, Tom.  That's the best I can do at this point.  I've
left all our messages in the (1)Conference area for full disclosuer and
participation by the others online.  Perhaps "they" can offer alternative
suggestions.  -Rick-