Bintel TV prices up

[Max Vondel (Peter)]

Just noticed that Bintel have increased their prices on TV ep's
Bought an 13mm Ethos last week $659- now $699-
The 21mm from $899- to $939-
Delos from $369- to $389
Dollar down...Prices up

Anyone else noticed recent price jumps?

[04Stefan07 (Stefan)]

Just like everywhere things just go up and up

How recent were these changes?

[Max Vondel (Peter)]

Bought Thursday
Delivered Friday
Checked today
Prices changing this morning I think

[Max Vondel (Peter)]

Maybe I should rush for the 8mm Ethos?

[Max Vondel (Peter)]

Just got $20- off a 4.5mm Delos
Worth negotiating
Onya ...Mike

[tlgerdes (Trevor)]

Very possibly, you inadvertently triggered the price increase.

With the $$ dropping in that last 2 weeks, they could have repriced based on the replacement cost of the next order from the US.

[Larryp (Laurie)]

Once the dollar started dropping, I rushed in and bought the rest of the gear I wanted last week. All imported stuff will go up now.

[Profiler (Profiler)]

I noticed the price increase in the Naglers about Wednesday last week - so it wasn't that recent.

[Max Vondel (Peter)]

Not been watching the Naglers Profiler...
THX for the update

[UniPol]

Yep, you could be paying over $1400 for the Nagler 31mm T5 grenade if we go back to 2003 exchange rates.

[Max Vondel (Peter)]

And effects in the secondary market....

[Peter Ward]

The $AUD has dropped about 6% in under 2 weeks.

So much for the reserve bank's charter to stabilize the currency.

Bintel, like all other importers, have to either cut their margin by 6%...unlikely as most US suppliers only offer a slim margin....or up the price.

I'd suggest, if you had a nice piece of kit in mind with "made in USA" on the label, you'd probably want to get it now.

[UniPol]

Well, the dollar could rise again.

[FlashDrive (Poppy)]

In other words....' How to loose customers ' in one easy price rise.

IMHO....current in store stock should remain at previous prices....then increase as necessary as new stock arrives at the dearer import costs.
That is being ' honest ' ...instead of ' ripping off ' customers for the sake of making ' bigger profits '

Please don't come back with.....but that's business ....that doesn't ' wash ' with me.....either you want to keep your customer base or you don't.

Maybe I'm ' old school ' when it comes to being honest....but that's just me.

Flash........

[Peter Ward]

Originally Posted by UniPol

Well, the dollar could rise again.

Last time I thought that...it fell to $US 0.47

So what are your thoughts on this year's Melbourne cup winner

[Peter Ward]

Originally Posted by FlashDrive

In other words....' How to loose customers ' in one easy price rise.

IMHO....current in store stock should remain at previous prices....then increase as necessary as new stock arrives at the dearer import costs.
That is being ' honest ' ...instead of ' ripping off ' customers for the sake of making ' bigger profits '

Please don't come back with.....but that's business ....that doesn't ' wash ' with me.....either you want to keep your customer base or you don't.

Maybe I'm ' old school ' when it comes to being honest....but that's just me.

Flash........

Mike Smith (aka Bintel) is a tough competitor for sure, but I have never seen him as a "rip-off" merchant.

In fact, I recently drove down to OPT, and purchased a barlow, only to discover I could have driven to Glebe and got it off Mike for
about $20 less that the over-the-counter price in the USA....hire-car cost not included.

With a floating..and volatile $AUD, keeping a lot of stock is not a great idea IMHO....particularly with juggernauts like OPT who through sheer volume can operate on slim margins ...but might also go broke (RIP: ScopeCity, Orion, Spectra et. al. ) at the drop of a hat.

But if you are dropping four figures (or more) on a scope/camera/whatever
I personally think the consumer protection we get in Oz is worth a few percent.

[Larryp (Laurie)]

Originally Posted by Peter Ward

Mike Smith (aka Bintel) is a tough competitor for sure, but I have never seen him as a "rip-off" merchant.

In fact, I recently drove down to OPT, and purchased a barlow, only to discover I could have driven to Glebe on got it off Mike for
about $20 less that the over-the-counter price in the USA....hire-car cost not included.

With a floating..and volatile $AUD, keeping a lot of stock is not a great idea IMHO....particularly with juggernauts like OPT who through sheer volume can operate on slim margins ...but might also go broke (RIP: ScopeCity, Orion, Spectra et. al. ) at the drop of a hat.

But if you are dropping four figures (or more) on a scope/camera/whatever
I personally think the consumer protection we get in Oz is worth a few percent.

I agree, Peter. I have always found Mikes prices, particularly on Televue stuff, to be totally competitive with U.S. prices.

[Allan]

Actually, it's a TeleVue price adjustment, as every dealer in the US has increased their price by a similar amount. So, nothing to do with BINTEL or the Aussie dollar. But if the dollar keeps heading south it could get ugly.

[Hans Tucker (Hans)]

Originally Posted by FlashDrive

In other words....' How to loose customers ' in one easy price rise.

IMHO....current in store stock should remain at previous prices....then increase as necessary as new stock arrives at the dearer import costs.
That is being ' honest ' ...instead of ' ripping off ' customers for the sake of making ' bigger profits '

Please don't come back with.....but that's business ....that doesn't ' wash ' with me.....either you want to keep your customer base or you don't.

Maybe I'm ' old school ' when it comes to being honest....but that's just me.

Flash........

Another way is having a vendor quote a price higher than what is advertised on the vendors website and dare question why. I did that...and lets just say I don't think I am a valued customer anymore ...real shame to as I am in the market for a new scope.

[UniPol]

Shock horror, hang onto your TV EP's & AP scopes folks, they could be worth a fortune when the Ozzie dollar falls, well, that's if anyone can afford them.