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brecklundin · 06-03-2009, 08:35 PM

Xiaopanda,

Don't mistake being direct with being harsh, this is the real world and sugar coating it and marketing doublespeak don't mean a whit to me. I am not here to suck up to anyone, rather to keep an eye on what is out there and what is coming. The only reason my comment should offend Astak would be if I am right.

I think you missed that it is not that Fry's is refusing to carry the new device, it is that new 5" Astak branded readers will not be sold to Fry's. At various times RobertB has expressed what can only be considered displeasure with Fry's sale pricing of the EZReader at US$239 while at the same time he was telling everyone that no way could a device be made and sold at under US$200. Yet at that same instant in time a national retailer, fry;s, was selling the EZReader for ~US$60 less than the best price around which was almost at the point Astak was claiming to be impossible for anything but a bottom of the barrel device.

Fry's sells out of online inventory in a matter of days at that price. A price which represents a threat to Astak's obvious plans to direct sell for the most part. That is what keeps prices of a device high, when the brand is sold by the "makers".

You make a good point that this is a Jinke device only with a different name silk screened on the front. So, that should me it will be had from other sources. However those sources may not truly embrace real competition and be happy with backroom minimum pricing agreements. As in, if you undercut us on price we will choke off your supply of devices. There was a recent Maryland bit of legislation which puts a stop to that for any company who even sells online to people who live within Maryland. That in itself will be quite intesting over the rest of the year and next. But that is a bit OT here.

Let's just say there has been a fair number of gaff's and marketing hyperbole from Astak US...thus causing some to question the truthfulness. Remember when just enough fact is included to put people at ease, that is when they try and slip the REAL gotcha's by you.

06-03-2009, 08:35 PM	#18
brecklundin Banned Posts: 1,906 Karma: 15348 Join Date: Jun 2007 Device: mine	Xiaopanda, Don't mistake being direct with being harsh, this is the real world and sugar coating it and marketing doublespeak don't mean a whit to me. I am not here to suck up to anyone, rather to keep an eye on what is out there and what is coming. The only reason my comment should offend Astak would be if I am right. I think you missed that it is not that Fry's is refusing to carry the new device, it is that new 5" Astak branded readers will not be sold to Fry's. At various times RobertB has expressed what can only be considered displeasure with Fry's sale pricing of the EZReader at US$239 while at the same time he was telling everyone that no way could a device be made and sold at under US$200. Yet at that same instant in time a national retailer, fry;s, was selling the EZReader for ~US$60 less than the best price around which was almost at the point Astak was claiming to be impossible for anything but a bottom of the barrel device. Fry's sells out of online inventory in a matter of days at that price. A price which represents a threat to Astak's obvious plans to direct sell for the most part. That is what keeps prices of a device high, when the brand is sold by the "makers". You make a good point that this is a Jinke device only with a different name silk screened on the front. So, that should me it will be had from other sources. However those sources may not truly embrace real competition and be happy with backroom minimum pricing agreements. As in, if you undercut us on price we will choke off your supply of devices. There was a recent Maryland bit of legislation which puts a stop to that for any company who even sells online to people who live within Maryland. That in itself will be quite intesting over the rest of the year and next. But that is a bit OT here. Let's just say there has been a fair number of gaff's and marketing hyperbole from Astak US...thus causing some to question the truthfulness. Remember when just enough fact is included to put people at ease, that is when they try and slip the REAL gotcha's by you. Last edited by brecklundin; 06-03-2009 at 08:42 PM.