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I've been tempted to try those beautiful Emporer kits from Carbatec. Went to buy some a few weeks back, but they didn't have any bushes, so I put it off. At $69 a pen, I wanted to get them right.
Today I got my new Carbatec catalogue in the mail :2tsup: , only to find the fountain is now $99 :oo: The roller ball is a little bit less at $89, but I think they are now beyond my financial justification.
I rushed to check the Timbecon website as well... sadly they do not stock this kit... :-(
They will probably be out of my reach for ever as they are far too expensive to learn on
That's a bloody big price jump. Would be interesting to see the reasons for such a big price hike
I just had a look at Carbatec's pen kits and compared to Gary Pye's kits based on the same types of pen kits I think Carbatec is over the top on pricing and shortly Gary Pye is introducing a range similar to to the Berea kits. Just on one kit alone Gary Pye is $35.00 for 5
http://gpwoodturning.yahoostore.com...._id=1107219825
Compared to Carbatec's kit $46.00 for 5
http://www.carbatec.com.au/store/ind...th=15000_15080
Then Gary Pye discounts if you buy 5 packs of 5 to $33.50 for a pack of 5
i got my catalogue yesterday too....i too was amazed at some of the price jumps. i worked out for the machinery the reason why but i couldnt think of a reason for a $30 increase on a pen:no: . so i guess i wont be trying the emperors for a long time yet.Quote:
Originally Posted by dai sensei
I thought it was a misprint, but checked it is fair dinkum, I can get the same Emperor from CSUSA for $71.00 Aus. Once again someone is being greedy:o, it would cost lest them either getting it direct from the supplier or being a reseller for CSUSA. Once again business goes to the cheaper overseas market. I will be ordering my kits that I can't get from Jim or Gary from the US now. Save for a decent order to keep costs down on freight.
My guess would be part of the reason for the increase is the increase in price of rhodium used for the plating.
Price history info at (both tables and charts)
http://www.platinum.matthey.com/pric...ce_charts.html
From the price tables on the above site
February 2006 = $US3492 per troy oz monthly average (jan 2006 was $3122)
February 2007 = $US5946 per troy oz monthly average
the price of rhodium has virtually doubled over the past year. I'm sure the price of gold has had an influence on this and other kits as well.
One of the other things I find annoying is the local pricing on bushes.
Carba-Tec charge $12 for the Emperor bushes whereas CSUSA charge US$3.99. Even allowing for conversion and CSUSA retail price, thats a significant markup.
By the way, the Rhodium / Gold plated fountain pen sells for US$55.99 at CSUSA.
Bob
Quote:
Originally Posted by bdar
Darren,
Maybe it's time to look at a bulk buy??
Bob
Looking at the price difference between us and the US, it is the price we pay because one supplier has the monoply on the kit and no competition. Bob I can not do a bulk buy due to work comittments, but if you go to www.penturners.org they are comducting a bulk buy through CSUSA at the moment. The Emperor is a large pen another alternative would be the JR Emperor, just a bit bigger than a Baron.