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 Component prices - reasonable?
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 Return to top of page · Post #: 1 · Written at 10:37:10 AM on 28 May 2013.
Maven's Gravatar
 Location: Canberra, ACT
 Member since 23 August 2012
 Member #: 1208
 Postcount: 584

I just ordered about 20 capacitors, a mix of ceramics, polypropylenes and silver micas, from a Sydney supplier (can't find them locally). Total was nearly $40, which I reckon is pretty close to the value of my Philips 123. The Philips doesn't seem to have much collector appeal, for some reason. Same model sitting on eBay for $59 without a bid, so far.

I accept that most of the price of less common components goes to the stocking and handling, rather than the manufacturing cost. Are there cheaper sources for specialised vintage radio parts?

Maven


 
 Return to top of page · Post #: 2 · Written at 2:50:26 PM on 28 May 2013.
GTC's avatar
 GTC
 Location: Sydney, NSW
 Member since 28 January 2011
 Member #: 823
 Postcount: 6678

How much of the $40 was shipping?


 
 Return to top of page · Post #: 3 · Written at 2:59:24 PM on 28 May 2013.
Brad's avatar
 Administrator
 Location: Naremburn, NSW
 Member since 15 November 2005
 Member #: 1
 Postcount: 7290

I'm not sure that $40 isn't reasonable. I don't think you'd get them much cheaper at an electronics shop.

The thing with radio prices is that there has been a big levelling out of pricing for most receivers in the last year. No radio is fetching the price it would have in the last ten years and there is likely to be several reasons for this. One could be that raios that fetched high prices are now in the hands of people who will not let them go at any price. Another is the cost of living in general - people don't have the spare cash to fight for radios the way they did about five years ago when an auction would become a vicious bidding frenzy in the dying seconds. Another is that attitudes are probably changing due to the highly sought after coloured receivers from the 40s being pretty much no longer available.

I personally believe that radio pricing will go lower still though certainly not to the point that they are potentially worthless. Many of them were simply over-priced to begin with.


‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾
A valve a day keeps the transistor away...

 
 Return to top of page · Post #: 4 · Written at 5:00:42 PM on 28 May 2013.
Scraps's Gravatar
 Location: Blue Mountains, NSW
 Member since 10 March 2013
 Member #: 1312
 Postcount: 401

It depends what components you're buying, 600v electros are never cheap but Steve Savell is still selling them half price on his website http://www.radiorevivalparts.com/.

I buy most of my capacitors from Just Radios in Canada. They have a huge range of hard to find capcitor values for vintage radios in appropriate voltage ratings and also stock a huge range of 1/2, 1 and 2 watt flame proof resistors with a 350v rating - very hard to find in Australia.

Their prices are more than reasonable, they only charge about $7 freight to Australia and I've had orders turn up within a few days although a bit over a week in more normal.

This all sounds like I work for them but I'm just a very satisfied customer!

Warren


 
 Return to top of page · Post #: 5 · Written at 5:45:53 PM on 28 May 2013.
GTC's avatar
 GTC
 Location: Sydney, NSW
 Member since 28 January 2011
 Member #: 823
 Postcount: 6678

[Just Radios] prices are more than reasonable, they only charge about $7 freight to Australia

Hence my question about shipping. Some local shippers are very expensive, whereas others not so. Australia Post recently "rationalised" its parcel charges which means an effective increase across the board.

$7 is great. USPS has recently hiked its charges -- don't know if Canada has followed suit.

Agree that Just Radios stock range is fantastic. I've bought some stuff from there myself.

Regarding prices for old radios, I mentioned a while back that I feel that the market may have topped out for other than the models considered highly collectable.


 
 Return to top of page · Post #: 6 · Written at 8:56:43 PM on 28 May 2013.
Maven's Gravatar
 Location: Canberra, ACT
 Member since 23 August 2012
 Member #: 1208
 Postcount: 584

Interesting about freight!

This was a phone order. When I was given the total quote including freight, I asked if there was a cheaper option than the courier (about $9 - a standard package price I believe). He quoted AustPost at something over $7 but in my experience AustPost can take up to a week to deliver Sydney/Canberra, since local package deliveries are made by some questionable contractors anyway. So I took the courier option for guaranteed next-day delivery.

None of the individual caps were over $6.

AustPost is I believe the only national post office in the world that makes a substantial profit. They seem determined to kill off small businesses that could thrive on internet sales, by raising parcel rates. As well, they are trying to convince us that we would be better off going to the Post Office to collect incoming parcels rather than having them delivered (no discount , of course).

If that Canadian supplier is charging no more for deliveries than Australia Post, I'll certainly be looking at them for my next order. And Savell's site as well, thanks.

Maven


 
 Return to top of page · Post #: 7 · Written at 6:10:34 AM on 30 May 2013.
Brad's avatar
 Administrator
 Location: Naremburn, NSW
 Member since 15 November 2005
 Member #: 1
 Postcount: 7290

Australia Post recently "rationalised" its parcel charges which means an effective increase across the board.

This is because they are introducing self-serve counters like Woolworths and Bunnings has and can't be bothered with programming them with the old fairer pricing structure.

A little birdie has also told me that Steve is getting some more 600v electros in soon and that is good news. If your order is big enough Steve may even throw postage in though his postage pricing has always been only what is charged at the post office.


‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾
A valve a day keeps the transistor away...

 
 Return to top of page · Post #: 8 · Written at 8:24:42 AM on 30 May 2013.
Scraps's Gravatar
 Location: Blue Mountains, NSW
 Member since 10 March 2013
 Member #: 1312
 Postcount: 401

I've just placed another order with Just Radios in Canada, the freight to Australia with exchange rate etc is probably closer to $10. Still very reasonable though.


 
 Return to top of page · Post #: 9 · Written at 1:39:59 PM on 30 May 2013.
GTC's avatar
 GTC
 Location: Sydney, NSW
 Member since 28 January 2011
 Member #: 823
 Postcount: 6678

By way of comparison, I just received via Australia Post four 8-pin ICs from a guy who is 10 Km from me. He charged me $15 shipping.


 
 Return to top of page · Post #: 10 · Written at 6:00:22 PM on 30 May 2013.
Scraps's Gravatar
 Location: Blue Mountains, NSW
 Member since 10 March 2013
 Member #: 1312
 Postcount: 401

A taxi would've been cheaper. Total order for about 60 capacitors in various values, including electro's and micas as well as about 70 resistors (they only come in packs of 5) was about $52 US including the $10 freight.


 
 Return to top of page · Post #: 11 · Written at 6:12:23 PM on 30 May 2013.
Redxm's avatar
 Location: Tamworth, NSW
 Member since 6 April 2012
 Member #: 1126
 Postcount: 466

True that caps from US/Canada have cheap shipping.
What happens when ALL the local suppliers shut shop.

Have a think who aren't operating now that were 10 or even 5 years ago.

Steve Savell has a lot of knowledge and experience in the vintage radio field, And he sells more than caps.

Just radios do provide a good service, however I suspect that Australian sales are just the cherry on top, for what he would sell into US.

Like it or not, vintage radio is a pretty specialised market.
If we dont support local vendors then dont complain when there aren't here anymore.

I also dont think that $2 a cap is unreasonable, particularly HV stuff. If you saw the price some of the components I use at work you would be horrified.

And of course, if you buy in bulk...........

My stock of HV caps would be around 1000 items, not to mention all the other 'consumables'


 
 Return to top of page · Post #: 12 · Written at 6:53:14 PM on 30 May 2013.
Scraps's Gravatar
 Location: Blue Mountains, NSW
 Member since 10 March 2013
 Member #: 1312
 Postcount: 401

I agree we should support local suppliers, I only ever buy overseas what I can't source in Australia. My wife runs a couple of mail order businesses and we find Australia Post's charges are not unreasonable for the service they provide. What is unreasonable is local businesses and others charging exorbitant hidden "handling" fees and blaming Australia Post for the high cost of freight.


 
 Return to top of page · Post #: 13 · Written at 11:20:30 PM on 30 May 2013.
GTC's avatar
 GTC
 Location: Sydney, NSW
 Member since 28 January 2011
 Member #: 823
 Postcount: 6678

A taxi would've been cheaper.

I would have collected personally except that he's mail order only.

What is unreasonable is local businesses and others charging exorbitant hidden "handling" fees and blaming Australia Post for the high cost of freight.

That's it, right there.


 
 Return to top of page · Post #: 14 · Written at 12:10:15 AM on 4 June 2013.
Viccadillac's Gravatar
 Location: Perth, WA
 Member since 7 May 2012
 Member #: 1140
 Postcount: 157

Sorry Guys but the Australian sellers don't have the range that I need for the repairs I do .

They certainly don't stock capacitor cans that I use .

And prices for all parts are cheap to me as my capactitor cans I fit to all my Jukebox amps cost around $34 to $36 each.

But no way will I use small cheap capacitors to replace my cans like other dealers do. You want reliability you pay for what you get.

Plus you can add more cost if you use high quality caps , not generic radio replacement caps. And I was the first to say they were a waste of money but untill you use them and hear the sound difference,you never know.

So for all my customers that buy my amps they get the best whether they like it or not.

So $40 dollars to me is nothing when it only buys me one cap.

Cheers
Vic


 
 Return to top of page · Post #: 15 · Written at 9:52:37 AM on 7 July 2013.
Maven's Gravatar
 Location: Canberra, ACT
 Member since 23 August 2012
 Member #: 1208
 Postcount: 584

I recently did an order with Just Radios and was very impressed with component price and efficient online service.

Postage worked out less than the minimum price available from the Sydney-based suppliers!

Only issue for me was the $20 minimum order. My selection of caps and resistors came to about $14, so I padded out to $20 with some spaghetti tubing and shrink tubing.

With computer restorations as well as radio, I find the main problem with Australian suppliers is the difficulty in getting less common values of components - and the few who do stock a full range charge significantly more.

I guess this reflects that Australia is a relatively small market for these items, so stocking a wide range for the occasional customer is costly.

Maven


 
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