This supply and demand concept was played out with the introduction of talking watches and calculators years ago. Originally watches started at around $50.00 and calculators about the same. A clock/calculator was about $80.00. The fortunate thing is that the general public found these devices fun and helpful and so the number of buyers grew and the costs went down. Unfortunately, in some cases, so did the quality in some areas. Kay Townsend, MA Certified Vision Rehabilitation Therapist CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: This e-mail message, including any attachments, is for the sole use of the intended recipients(s) and may contain confidential and privileged information. Any unauthorized review, use, disclosure or distribution is prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient, please contact the sender by reply e-mail and destroy all copies of the original message. _____ From: visionrehabtherapist-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:visionrehabtherapist-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Terrie Terlau Sent: Friday, November 05, 2010 11:42 AM To: 'Penny Reeder'; visionrehabtherapist@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: [visionrehabtherapist] High Prices of Products for Persons with Visual Impairments Hi Penny and all, Penny wrote to me privately about the very high prices of technology for persons with visual impairments. I wanted to share my reply with the list. I agree with Penny that products for persons with visual impairments are horribly expensive. Here is a glimpse into why this is unfortunately so. I'll use Sherlock as an example, but what I am writing applies to other products as well. First, the Sherlock uses high tech devices and materials in addition to the digital recorder. The RFID tag reader is imbedded in the end of the Sherlock. It is somewhat costly. Second, the Sherlock must combine and connect the info picked up from the RFID tag reader with a digital recording of information such that the recording is triggered whenever the specific RFID pattern is "seen" by the reader. Most other applications of RFID technology (for example, when used to identify cartons of store goods on shipping trucks and in warehouses) link the specific RFID pattern to a visual readout. So new engineering and materials were probably developed to link tag information to a segment of storage space in digital recorder memory. This is expensive and its cost needs to be added to the product. Third, the market is small. When Apple makes a new iPhone, they prepare to manufacture millions of them. You can get very cheap prices when you buy parts in quantity and manufacture in bulk. When you buy perhaps one thousand cases - plus making the injection mold for a case which is costly - you pay a great deal per case. This is true for the case and every piece of unique technology inside it. This is unfortunately true of anything that you buy and manufacture in small quantities. Fourth, consider the added expense of customer service departments, shipping departments, warehouses for storing items till they are shipped-and you can see where the high price comes from. I do not say the above to defend high prices; I wish they could be lower. It is not fair. Unfortunately, it is reality based and not about high profits. The more we can use mainstream parts and devices, the more prices will come down. I think we are seeing this trend. I hope this is helpful. Best, Terrie Terlau, American printing House Terrie (Mary T). Terlau, PhD Adult Life Project Leader American Printing House for the Blind 502.899.2381 tterlau@xxxxxxx