Getting most of the blame is the dollar's constant fluctuation with the Japanese yen. Sales of so called big ticket items, HF rigs, which bring the most profit are off sharply. It's not enough to counter the much smaller profits made from sales of handheld radios. In the past when the yen was 250 yen to the dollar, it wasn't much of a change when 10 or 15 yen either way in fluctuation. Now days it is about a 100 yen to the dollar, when the yen changes 1 or 2 either way it makes a big difference on radios.
Sales are off so sharply that some dealers are selling below cost.
Again, Evelyn Garrison. They're takin' their fast pay discount or if somethings are fairly old product and has sat there for a while, and haven't paid the manufacturer they are definitely turning it around on a cost or below cost. Which means the one trying to make a little profit to stay in business has to sell at that price too. Garrison That may seem like good news if you plan to buy, but Garrison warns about long term consequences. The industry is staying afloat thanks to the no-code ham.