XJet

Alan, Compare apples with apples:

[link=http://www.acehobby.co.nz/OSSB2/Root/OSSBEC1/ShowItem.asp?PID=54235]Eclipse 7 with QPCM receiver[/link] = NZ$599 incl GST (from *your* shop)
[link=http://www.acehobby.co.nz/OSSB2/Root/OSSBEC1/ShowItem.asp?PID=53607]Optic 6 with QPCM receiver [/link] = NZ$549.90 incl GST (from *your* shop)

If you want a synth (transmitter only) then add another [link=http://www.acehobby.co.nz/ossb2/main/Productfinder.asp?ID=54845]$115.90 for a Spectra module[/link] and you're up to $714.90 for the Eclipse and $665.80 for the Optic. It gets a *lot* worse if you want a 72MHz Spectra which lists at [link=http://www.acehobby.co.nz/ossb2/main/Productfinder.asp?ID=261]an incredible NZ$199[/link].

Of course with Hitec you're still only getting a 7/6 channel radio with a PCM resolution of just 9 bits (512 steps) and non-ball-bearing servos.

As we all know, JR's official NZ prices are *outrageous*, which is why places such as TopRC and PeakModel are bringing the stuff in direct with massive savings.

The JR 9X II with synth transmitter, synth 10-channel receiver and 4x BB servos is just (at today's exchange rate) NZ$649.35. Even once GST (if charged) and freight is factored in, the total cost to my door comes to NZ$781.56 -- a mere $66 more expensive than that Eclipse 7 setup with a Spectra module, fixed-frequency receiver, two fewer channels, very limited mixing/assignments, lousy PCM resolution, non-BB servos and a handle attachment that some have found to be sadly lacking.

Mind you, I admit that the prices I've quoted for Hitec gear are also *outrageous* and are probably really killing the potential sales of Hitec gear in this country.

For example, I recently bought a fist-full of HS5955TG servos. [link=http://www.acehobby.co.nz/ossb2/main/Productfinder.asp?ID=55460]The NZ price is $263.90[/link] which (at today's dollar rate) is around US$203. Having already asked AceHobby NZ a while back if they'd be prepared to offer a *little* discount on the purchase of multiple servis and been told "*NO*, no discount at all", I just bought mine direct from the USA where I paid US$80 each (NZ$103) in a ServoCity sale. A friend just bought 10 of them from TroyBuilt models for US$89 each when the dollar was at US$0.80 and effectively paid about NZ$112.

There are a *lot* of folks doing likewise because, although they don't mind paying 20-30% more than the US list price, they do object to paying twice as much and not being offered *any* discount for purchasing a fist-full at one time. I'm all for supporting local suppliers (and I do spend quite a bit of money with the likes of The 436 Model Shop, but I refuse to be gouged.

Hitec USA's policies in respect to their product faults is awful. Hitec's NZ representative's policies in respect to price-gouging are similarly awful.

I suspect our Aussie mates are getting similarly nailed to the wall -- AussieSteve?