Halcyon Prices

[Digger]

Salvo maybe, and Mark's got his brands mixed up? I can see Mark starting a brilliant rumour here mind Unless of course it is Solus, and Barrie is up against JJ. I can see it now. Irish grit vs Boy Wonder in the ring. I can see the fitness and muscle of the american doing well in the early rounds, but when it comes to it Barrie's going to last in the later rounds on nothing but sheer determination

[NotDeadYet]

Originally Posted by Digger

That's what comes of developing new products

I didn't realise Halcyon developed any new products? I can't think of anything they sell that hasn't been around for a number of years by other manufacturers. For example lights, Lamar English and Arnold Jackson had been making cannister lights since the 80's, Sartek developed the first commercial HID cannister light well before EE/Halcyon. The same applies for pretty much everything they sell. They might take existing ideas and change them slightly but new? Hmmmm.....

Cheers,

Stuart

[Little Pete]

The only concern I would have with Halcyon pricing is that there was a statement (though I can't find it now) that the fair trade pricing was based on a certain exchange rate (~$1.3:£1 at the time). Given that the exchange rate now runs around $1.95:£1 then the prices should have fallen.

I paid £630 for my Pro 6 18W light. At the former ratio that comes to around $820. If I exchange that with the current ratio then the price is around £420 instead of the £690 that I found on DIR Direct - Halcyon Agir Brokk DUI. It seems unfair to have your currency weaken and effectively increase your prices relative to the stronger currency.



Having said that the light is very good and I'm happy with the purchase but if buying again would have to think twice with the hike in price.

[milldog]

Personally i like the Halcyon gear and i must say I've never paid top price except at GUE in Portland but then again i have had kit exchanged without question and they fitted a new inflater for me FOC after a dive, the kit is good and the guarantees are better than most,

Brian at Aquanauts has a fantastic stock range and will do anything to help you out the best deal Ive had from him was the Agir Brokk light 21w for £650.

if you really like the kit price shouldn't be an issue but as i have an LDS that supports their customers that's never been an issue

Graham

[Howard Payne]

Distributors make very little oit of Halcyon - the margins in retail terms are crap. A more cynical person than myself might speculate as to whether this has anything to do with the importer also running the biggest retail outlet in the UK?
The equipment is excellent, whether you dive DIR or not and when the odd issue arises: it's normally dealt with promptly and FOC. If you choose to buy the stuff from GUE Instructors like Rich (they are all automatically agents) then where feasible - you'll normally get an afternoon of their time helping you to set it up right which is a great service. Don't see too many people changing Halcyon gear for other makes once they've got it which says a lot in itself.

[Fletch]

..

[Clare Gledhill]

Originally Posted by Howard Payne

If you choose to buy the stuff from GUE Instructors like Rich (they are all automatically agents)

Erm - no they are not.

Here in the UK we are invited to become dealers - but there is no compulsion to become one. I have decided not to trade in Halycon gear (I'd end up buying all my own stock )

[drysuit repair dave]

Originally Posted by Fletch

I'm not disputing your claim here on Halcyon margins as I dont have a Halcyon trade account. I've just plucked an example of an average BCD markup off the shelf, Seac Sub Pro 3000 BCD RRP £475. The trade price on this is £265 each or £235 for 6. Personaly I think this is a generous markup, BUT a pretty average one!

I dont have any particular axe to grind, but thats a good example of an unrealistic RRP, I doubt anyone actually SELLS it for that price(except to the occasional mug). If as a distributor/manufacturer you offer diveshops a large margin they will just give it away in discount. All Halcyon have done is actually quote a realistic retail price relative to the trade price. As far as I know there are no penalties to going below the fair trade price, but it would mean selling the gear for less money than it is worth getting out of bed for. If a shop sells lots of heavily discounted Halcyon gear. there is no need for penalties, they probably wont be in business that long!
cheers
dave
drysuitrepair.co.uk

[Martin Burnard]

Fair price policy is one I pretty much adopt in my business (car sales), for no part exchange I will give mycustomer a discount as reward for me not dealing with a vehicle I would probably not have really wanted.

A collegue over prices his cars, then offers a huge discount..... very few of the general public fall for that these days BUT some do, then come to me and try to get the same discount.... "wake up and smell the coffee" is often my joviall reply.

No different to dive equipment is it?

[sean0801]

Originally Posted by RichW

Well, there's a RRP, just like in other businesses. Most Halcyon dealers (myslef included) won't drop below that because the margins aren't big enough. There's nothing in the dealer agreement (that I've signed) that forces me to "fix" my prices.

The dispute you mention was to the tune of several hundred thousand dollars, IIRC. Not really in the same league as "a spat between two mates" is it?

Rich

Rick, i was recently looking for the best price i could find for an evolve mc set up. I couldn't find one for under £390, and 2 different halcyon dealers told me that they were not allowed to discount the gear. I have no problem with what Halcyon charge, the problem is with stifleing competition between it's dealers. Anyway, after finding out i could source the gear from our European cousins in the czech republic for a good £70 cheaper when postage was factored in along came good old mr knackers with his frog gear and i saved myself well over £200.
As for the salvo situation, the ammount the dispute was over is irrelevent IMO. Even when you take into consideration the wrongs and rights of both parties, only one guy went to prison, thats away from his family for a dispute between mates