RE: [APML] 12" & 14" LX200

[Alan Voetsch <critter12952@yahoo.com>]

--- Gene Horr <genehorr@houston.rr.com> wrote:
> > -----Original Message-----
> > Personally, I
> > believe there has been price inflation, and price
> > fixing, involved here for a long time.

> Nope.  Look at the EDGAR filings.  The LX200 line is
> the lowest profit 
> center Meade has as a percentage of sales and by
> gross profit.  The 
> big money is in the "cheapo" 'scopes.

Hi gene,

OK, what do you call it when all the distributors sell
products at exactly the same price? That's what I
refer to as 'fixing'. Those prices have to be included
as part of the contract with Meade, or else there
would be more of a variation. Where is the competition
among the distributors? I find that strange. Maybe
that's just the way it is among small-market items.

And still Meade can afford to lower prices $1000 each
on the 12"s and not go bankrupt. I don't know who
Edgar is <g> but the LXs are certainly a great buy
now. If I had the cash, I'd buy dozens and sell them
later after prices go back up.
 
> Now look at the competitors.  To go to a marginally
> better product
> (say a Parks OTA on a Losmandy mount) is a material
> jump in cost.

Yep, there aren't a lot of options in that range.
That's why Meade has it mostly sewn up. I know many
don't like Meade, but still you have to admit that you
can buy a hell of a product for 2-3 grand. In my case,
I still have not outgrown what the LX200 can do for
me, and I've been using them for 9 years. I do want
the option of different f/ls, which is why I've got a
TV-85 now too. RC's are in my future too... right
Greg? :-)

Alan



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