[access-uk] How we could pay less for the stuff

["Ray's Home" <rays-home@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Hi Colin, and thanks for your reply.    Note the change of subject line;
yes, its 'Why do we pay so much...? with a new twist.  I thought the tone of
the message effectively declairing this thread closed was a bit peremptory.
Its quite easy to skip over stuff that doesn't interest us, so if this topic
has worn thin for some, I hope a few might stay with it.  As is my wont, I
am going to range pretty widely in my comments, so I crave your patience.

I cannot recall precisely from memory what I was refering to regarding
battery replacement.  It was in fact a Braillelite, the old Blazie Braille
and speech notetaker.  I know a fair bit of what's involved in replacing
batteries in a unit such as that, and I still feel the total cost of battery
replacement in this instance, £120, was too high.  Makes me think that if I
came on one of these units second-hand, I'd certainly feel up to doing it
myself.

I had not forgotten folk like Roger Wilson-Hines, and there are indeed a few
people, maybe yourself included, who seem to be trying to aim their products
more at the individual personal user, rather than those in an educational or
employment situation.  I might also mention Steve Nutt who has done his bit
to bring some price competition to this field;  he is also knowledgable.

I singled out PDI for comment as I do feel the UK markup is accessive, to
say the least.  Yes, they are a professional outfit, certainly to judge by
their presence at exhibitions.  In a real sense, that maybe partly where the
problem lies.  The amount of space they tend to hire, and the lavish
appearance must add considerably to their overheads.  No doubt impressive to
the professional client group I assume they want to attract most of all;
nonetheless, I think their presentation could be scaled down without
diminishing their visual appeal.  It might be recalled I did applaud them in
introducing themselves at the entrance to the SV show, something others
could learn from.

I note too you mentioning the high costs of demoing equipment.  In the past
I have had a taste of this.  imackulately dressed people, often, driving
very exspensive cars.  I cannot deny the value, in all senses of the word,
in this service.  I have, on occasion visited showrooms myself, and
especially if I fancy a day out, I am quite prepared to travel to view,
rather than them coming to me.  I've never heard any hint that, were I to
purchase, the lesser cost to them would be taken into account.

I would certainly like to consider offering reasonably priced demo space to
smaller firms, aiming their products much more at the personal user, and
helping do some of the leg-work involved in publicising it.  In the process,
I might learn a thing or two as well.  It is too early as yet to say exactly
what I have in mind, but I would like to offer preferential treatment to
those who seem to be offering a reasonable priced alternative to some of the
more well-known names.

One final impression.  I've thought for some time that whatever the margin
dealers are making on sales, the sale itself is probably the gateway to
training and support services whose price is outside the means of most home
users.  Without this, I daresay many access businesses would not exist at
all.  I am not here mounting a criticism of this, especially in the
education/employment fields.  I wonder though if, after a realistic amount
of 'free' support, a moderate charge could be made for ongoing support.
Controversial, no doubt, but if training/coaching in access and IT were more
available to VI people, they might find themselves calling on such help not
too often.  A reduction in support costs could mean, should mean? a lower
selling price for equipment.

 To judge by much of the conversations happening on this list, there is very
much to be done in bringing access and IT literacy to a higher level among
VI users, especially those very many who are not working.  I hope that with
the service provisions of the DDA coming into force, inclussiveness of IT
training opportunities at a local level will be more available to us than
they have been.

In closing I would emphasise that my comments amount to more than, 'it costs
too much'.  I hope this could be a fruitful debate.  I do not think we
should just lye back and think of England in this.  We should use the media
and any means available to us to make more public what is a legitimate issue
for us.

Ray.

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Colin @ New Vision" <cph.newvision@xxxxxxxxxx>
To: <access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Sunday, August 01, 2004 12:16 PM
Subject: [access-uk] Re: In Touch: Why do we pay so much


Hi Ray

I guess the thread will only be closed when people get the answers to all
their questions regardless of it going round in circles. It maybe the case
that someone could not answer these questions or at worst dug their head in
the sand in the hope that the thread would go away un-answered. I for one
have no problem in trying to help people understand where access technology
providers are coming from, (if that is the right terminology).

On two final notes:
No one mentioned Roger Wilson-Hinds who was also on the programme. Roger
provides and continues to research into a full range of low cost software.
These being alternatives to the more expensive screen readers etc. He and
his colleagues need a pat on the back for their efforts in this field.

I personally, have always found Alan Davis and his colleagues from Pulse
Data to be professional in their approach to this industry and one of the
better companies to deal with. They have a diverse range of products
including Braille notetakers etc. Having had very little experience with
Braille devices I am not in a position to comment on their pricing structure
but can imagine the cost of development / production to be more than say the
typical CCTV. Even the cost of replacing the battery in one of their units,
£120 in your previous posting, seems reasonable when compared to a battery
unit for the Reinecker Maxlupe (portable CCTV) at £325.

I am sure prices could be forced down if people are prepared to fight for
it.

Regards
Colin




** Going on holiday and want to halt messages? Send a message to:-
** access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
** and in the Subject line type
** vacation ## d
** where ## is the number of days followed by d for days.
** For other things like digest mode, send a message, to 
** access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the Subject:- faq

• Follow-Ups:
  • [access-uk] Re: How we could pay less for the stuff
    • From: Barry
  • [access-uk] Re: How we could pay less for the stuff
    • From: Colin @ New Vision

• References:
  • [access-uk] Re: In Touch: Why do we pay so much
    • From: Colin @ New Vision

Other related posts:

[access-uk] How we could pay less for the stuff

[access-uk] Re: How we could pay less for the stuff

[access-uk] Re: How we could pay less for the stuff

[access-uk] Re: How we could pay less for the stuff

[access-uk] Re: How we could pay less for the stuff

[access-uk] Re: How we could pay less for the stuff