Shop OBEX P1 Docs P2 Docs Learn Events
why, the parallax products are too expensive? - Page 3 — Parallax Forums

why, the parallax products are too expensive?

135

Comments

  • mindrobotsmindrobots Posts: 6,506
    edited 2014-02-16 04:07
    potatohead wrote: »
    Amanda, you don't know about that *other* secret forum? :)

    It's so much better, we should call it a "fivum"!!:lol:
  • GenetixGenetix Posts: 1,754
    edited 2014-02-16 09:05
    Parallax has the best customer support I have ever seen and their prices are similar to other companies.

    I love the Daily Deal and the other promotions to buy those must have items at a discount.
  • eventsevents Posts: 27
    edited 2014-02-16 11:01
    The American people have much money to spend. And that's, is a big problem.
  • SRLMSRLM Posts: 5,045
    edited 2014-02-16 11:20
    events wrote: »
    The American people have much money to spend. And that's, is a big problem.

    Ah, the typical engineering problem: scope creep. First it was the JTAGulator, then it was Parallax, now it's Americans.
  • PJAllenPJAllen Banned Posts: 5,065
    edited 2014-02-16 11:21
    I think the "big problem" is your reckoning regarding fact and value.
  • PublisonPublison Posts: 12,366
    edited 2014-02-16 11:55
    events wrote: »
    The American people have much money to spend. And that's, is a big problem.

    As a person that donates most of my time and efforts, and lives below the poverty level, I am still able to afford some Parallax products. All Americans are not rich.

    Can you get better prices from:

    http://www.aliatron.pt/

    As I see you are in Portugal.
  • PublisonPublison Posts: 12,366
    edited 2014-02-16 12:58
    Publison wrote: »
    As a person that donates most of my time and efforts, and lives below the poverty level, as I am a one man company, I am still able to afford some Parallax products. All Americans are not rich.

    Can you get better prices from:

    http://www.aliatron.pt/

    As I see you are in Portugal.
  • NWCCTVNWCCTV Posts: 3,629
    edited 2014-02-16 14:41
    The American people have much money to spend.
    WHAT???????????? I am not sure where you got your info. If this were true most of us would just buy pre built robots and program them. You may want to do a Google search as I am not sure whare you got your info. Per capita Sweden as more billionaires than does the US. Why do the Americans get the blame?
  • PJAllenPJAllen Banned Posts: 5,065
    edited 2014-02-16 14:55
    It was 2 maybe three years ago (?), but there was some postugaller posting hogwash just like events.
    Same gutless troll, different alias.
  • Peter JakackiPeter Jakacki Posts: 10,193
    edited 2014-02-16 15:09
    events wrote: »
    The American people have much money to spend. And that's, is a big problem.

    Ah, it speaks. Not being American I can only say that if these "rich Americans" do have money to spend that you can see what results, Parallax, the Propeller chip, the P2 development etc. So everyone chips in for Chip to have a holiday he is that rich!!!!. I'd say the problem happens to be the whingers who don't contribute anything, just want someone else's hard work for a song (actually, not a song, just a whinge).
  • RDL2004RDL2004 Posts: 2,554
    edited 2014-02-16 15:25
    The American people have much money to spend.

    Lol, we should start a "who's the poorest" thread. I haven't had a real job for nearly three years.
  • pedwardpedward Posts: 1,642
    edited 2014-02-16 15:29
    Seek not for riches but for wisdom, and behold, the mysteries of God shall be unfolded unto you, and then shall you be made rich. Behold, he that hath eternal life is rich.
  • PublisonPublison Posts: 12,366
    edited 2014-02-16 15:47
    pedward wrote: »
    Seek not for riches but for wisdom, and behold, the mysteries of God shall be unfolded unto you, and then shall you be made rich. Behold, he that hath eternal life is rich.

    Wise words my friend.
  • rjo__rjo__ Posts: 2,114
    edited 2014-02-16 18:22
    Events,

    I have looked at your other posts and it does seem like you are serious about your interest in Parallax products.
    And I think you are being sincere with your question.

    But you are wrong with your basic assertion… that Parallax is expensive. If you look closely, you will find all kinds
    of open resources for building whatever it is that you want. The cost then is the cost of components, which are available elsewhere and your labor.
    You can build a complete Propeller 1 system for about $12. That is a lot of money in some places, but almost nothing in most of the world.

    As far as I know Parallax doesn't pay anyone to participate on the forum. If they do, I think they should stop:)

    My advice would be to invest your time (and a small amount of money) and learn the Propeller thoroughly.

    At that point, if there is something that Parallax produces that you can't afford, PM Ken and explain what you want
    and why you want it. There is a pretty good chance you will find it in your mail.

    There really isn't another forum like this, and there really isn't another company like Parallax.

    The longer you look, the more you will agree.

    Rich
  • prof_brainoprof_braino Posts: 4,313
    edited 2014-02-17 08:36
    events wrote: »
    The American people have much money to spend. And that's, is a big problem.

    If I got paid for talking about forth, or paid NOT to talk about forth, that might be true in my case. But I don't so its not.

    So, how do we flag events as a troll? Even though the trhead is amusing, he isn't actually asking anything, or saying anything, except these attempts to be inflamitory.

    Is there a forum equivalent of "vote-kick" and "vote-ban"?
  • Heater.Heater. Posts: 21,230
    edited 2014-02-17 08:40
    No. But trolls can be "sent to Coventry".
  • mindrobotsmindrobots Posts: 6,506
    edited 2014-02-17 08:46
    Heater. wrote: »
    No. But trolls can be "sent to Coventry".

    Wonderful!! From Wiki:
    To send someone to Coventry is a British idiom meaning to deliberately ostracise someone. Typically, this is done by not talking to them, avoiding their company and generally pretending that they no longer exist or are invisible. To have been sent to Coventry is regarded as to be absent. It is often used to punish people who, for example, refuse to join a strike.[1] The Coventry referred to in the phrase is a cathedral city in the West Midlands, England.

    Trolls can be fun for a while (like a cat enjoys playing with a mouse) but you are right, eventually, sending to Coventry is the best idea!
  • ajwardajward Posts: 1,130
    edited 2014-02-17 12:00
    potatohead wrote: »
    Amanda, you don't know about that *other* secret forum? :)

    Of course! <face palm> The one with the Propeller powered decoder ring! ;-)

    @
  • Too_Many_ToolsToo_Many_Tools Posts: 765
    edited 2014-02-17 18:40
    For such a simple statement, it has been interesting to see the response to it...
  • potatoheadpotatohead Posts: 10,261
    edited 2014-02-17 19:36
    The query was simple. Understanding how people value things and why is complicated.
  • LA6WNALA6WNA Posts: 138
    edited 2014-02-18 12:02
    I have never EVER had as much fun with electronics since I discovered Parallax. This is great products and great support, and I`m willing to pay what it costs to make my hobbie go on.
    I think the price for Parallax products are just what it should be, and beleeve me; I`m not rich.... Just a "lonesome cowboy" from the little cold Norway, haha..
    Think this is a stupid thread but anyway; The response gives the answer itself.
    I`m gonna hang on using Parallax products until one of us (me or Parallax) are gone....... (to Coventry..):lol:

    Best regards from Norway. Thank you all for the great support and a great forum where we can meet up.
  • Heater.Heater. Posts: 21,230
    edited 2014-02-18 12:34
    LA6WNA,

    Well, the most fun I had in electronics was that time we charged up a dozen or so 10,000uF electrolytic capacitors to 100v in parallel and then discharged them with a short circuit in series!

    After that Parallax products are pretty good :)

    I hope you are not in one of those villages burning down in Norway recently. What on earth was that about?
  • Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi)Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi) Posts: 23,514
    edited 2014-02-18 12:56
    One possible issue here is that items exported to other countries sometimes get slapped with huge import duties. That might be the case with Portugal. If so, it would be easy to misperceive the product itself being expensive when, in fact, the extra expense is due to a government effort to protect local industry.

    -Phil
  • TCTC Posts: 1,019
    edited 2014-02-18 13:04
    Heater. wrote: »
    LA6WNA,

    Well, the most fun I had in electronics was that time we charged up a dozen or so 10,000uF electrolytic capacitors to 100v in parallel and then discharged them with a short circuit in series!

    I am assuming before that, someone said "Here, hold my beer, and watch this!" :lol:
  • Heater.Heater. Posts: 21,230
    edited 2014-02-18 13:52
    TC,
    I am assuming before that, someone said "Here, hold my beer, and watch this!"
    Actually, that is so close to the truth it's frightening to think about it now.

    My "partner in crime" at the time had this other idea to brew beer in the cleaning cupboard of our shared university flat. It was bit cold in there so his idea of providing heating was to solder wires to light bulbs and hang them over the beer bucket. We were too poor to buy sockets for this. This practice came to an end when I asked him "What are you going to tell the authorities when they find a dead, by electrocution, cleaning lady in our broom cupboard?"

    Oh, yeah, that was also the guy who built a stereo amplifier. He then realized he could double up the power supply as a battery charger for his motorcycle batteries. A simple switch on he front panel would turn one pair of speaker terminals from audio output for a speaker into a battery charger connection.

    That was fine, ... until someone threw the switch at a party and the speaker exploded!
  • LA6WNALA6WNA Posts: 138
    edited 2014-02-18 13:58
    Heater. wrote: »
    LA6WNA,

    Well, the most fun I had in electronics was that time we charged up a dozen or so 10,000uF electrolytic capacitors to 100v in parallel and then discharged them with a short circuit in series!

    After that Parallax products are pretty good :)
    THIS IS THE ANSWER OF THE THREAD...: Test criteria for Parallax products, is to be between those short circuit wires you describe here, as the cap`s discharges... And they can stand it.
    I hope you are not in one of those villages burning down in Norway recently. What on earth was that about?
    I live in the same area, right in the middle of those two bigest fires. One, abt 150km south-west of us, the other abt 120km north-east of us. Luckily no fire right here.
    One fire started by children and matches, the other started by glowing parts falling down from a 22kV power line.
    Today is the first day with heavy rain since before x-mas. The ground and all where very dry until now, Could`nt even have a idleing Propeller going outdoor without risk of fire...:lol:
  • Ken GraceyKen Gracey Posts: 7,392
    edited 2014-02-18 17:39
    One possible issue here is that items exported to other countries sometimes get slapped with huge import duties. That might be the case with Portugal. If so, it would be easy to misperceive the product itself being expensive when, in fact, the extra expense is due to a government effort to protect local industry.

    -Phil

    Yes, this is often the case. But people living in these countries (which most often include Brazil, China, India, Argentina and most of Latin America) are fully aware of the fact that their government will assess an import fee of 100-500% on the value of the product. And these situations become complex, and sometimes you may not even receive the product if it travels by the country's domestic postal service.

    I'd be happy to sell events a reduced-cost JTAGulator just to win him over to Parallax. . .as long as he sends Joe Grand a minor appreciation royalty via PayPal. Joe has to be paid for his work, no matter what we do.

    Ken Gracey
  • Peter JakackiPeter Jakacki Posts: 10,193
    edited 2014-02-18 17:48
    Ken Gracey wrote: »
    Yes, this is often the case. But people living in these countries (which most often include Brazil, China, India, Argentina and most of Latin America) are fully aware of the fact that their government will assess an import fee of 100-500% on the value of the product. And these situations become complex, and sometimes you may not even receive the product if it travels by the country's domestic postal service.

    I'd be happy to sell events a reduced-cost JTAGulator just to win him over to Parallax. . .as long as he sends Joe Grand a minor appreciation royalty via PayPal. Joe has to be paid for his work, no matter what we do.

    Ken Gracey

    But Ken, I know that while this is a generous gesture and typical of Parallax I somehow think that this is pandering as it encourages certain ones to act rudely to get their way. Although the OP might have good intentions he doesn't show it and he hasn't once apologized for his remarks nor does he respond to the responses, it's almost troll-like in nature. Can I be rude too and get a discount? What about the rest of us?

    BTW, the OP reminds me of a certain user by the name "falf" from the same country that used to speak in a similar manner.
  • Ken GraceyKen Gracey Posts: 7,392
    edited 2014-02-18 17:54
    But Ken, I know that while this is a generous gesture and typical of Parallax I somehow think that this is pandering as it encourages certain ones to act rudely to get their way. Although the OP might have good intentions he doesn't show it and he hasn't once apologized for his remarks nor does he respond to the responses, it's almost troll-like in nature. Can I be rude too and get a discount? What about the rest of us?

    BTW, the OP reminds me of a certain user by the name "falf" from the same country that used to speak in a similar manner.

    Thank you Peter for providing that statement and possibly even setting me straight. Even I loose my senses once in a while with a far-liberal business policy. I still refuse to have our business practices dictated by abusers, and although we encounter them from time to time they shall never dictate our policies. Not sure where this one falls, but I'm still willing to lend support.
  • potatoheadpotatohead Posts: 10,261
    edited 2014-02-18 18:15
    I think the intent is solid Ken. Good to have a check in there so nobody gets gamed.

    Personally, I think some chatter about what the products will do for them, or how they want to learn, etc... would go a long way toward understanding on all sides. I like to give and receive in these things. Making a product happen for somebody is great, but it's also nice to see how it all ended up too. If anything, that's yet another solid testimonial and potentially a few others joining in the fun, good for everybody kind of thing.

    And I also personally dislike discounts and such without some reason. It could be the daily deal kind of reason, just a promo to prime the pump, or adjust inventory in a way that benefits everybody. Could be somebody is on the edge really needing a little boost to get going too. Something. Done that way, the product itself isn't devalued, and that's important! Over time, we see value losses anyway. The march of progress does that. Adding to it is tough to manage, because a part of that value is needed to bring the next products to market.

    When it's simply, "I want to pay less" there usually is a reason. Sometimes that reason is the game of it. Can I get it for less? Fine, but not really the sort of thing I would feel good rewarding, if that's all it is. "I don't have money" can play out with, "but look at this cool thing I want to do, or learn about!"
Sign In or Register to comment.