Strictly Ham Blog Page.

At Strictly Ham Pty Ltd, we take our customers and our business very seriously, there are just times though when you need to have a good laugh, and this page is definitely one of those times.

This page is in response to the abuse and lack of Professionalism recently advertised on Andrews Communications web site.
You can make your own mind up as to what the reasoning for these antics is all about.

Andrews Communications Tripe In Black.
Strictly Ham's response is in Red.

And I quote from Andrews Communications page, (22/5/08) By the time you read this, his page will probably change.

Andrews Communications - Lee's blog...

We import factory direct worldwide to the maximum possible and we are continually expanding our massive product range with the highest quality, newest and most innovative products available - which are always at the lowest possible prices in Australia.
Congratulations, to the maximum possible, this could have been worded more appropriately, after all you're big on English comprehension as you put it, read further below.

We absolutely guarantee the quality, durability and performance of those products.
As you should, it is part of the Trade Practices Act, you must supply a warranty.

We are factory authorised direct importers for dozens and dozens of factories around the world, including Alinco, Tokyo Hy-Power, etc. We also import from many wholesalers and distributors. We have numerous warehouses and import by seafreight most products in large quantities - to save you more dollars!
You forgot to mention, you are a non authorised factory direct importer for Icom, Kenwood and Yaesu, this is something you conveniently forget to tell all your customers, interesting statement you make, this is where parallel importation begins, Strictly Ham Pty Ltd, is also factory authorised, your point being !!!!!!!!!

We are proud to parallel import and pass the substantial savings on to you.
Not that substantial of late though eh!!!
Look at the price of the IC-7700, Andrews Price $7495.00, Little old Authorised Strictly Ham price $7200.00, where is your savings, I don't see it (Correct as of 23/5/08) (Like everything, this is bound to change on a day to day basis, how in the hell would you ever know where your at. Strictly Ham's Price is more consistant than that).
In fact, our customers continue to save hundreds, or even thousands, of dollars!
Not really, come on, you don't expect your customers to believe this do you. (Not so, look above)
Why allow "puppet" authorised dealers to coerce you into paying more? What have they done for you - anything other than the bare minimum?
Actually we concentrate more on customer service and less on dealer abuse, but if you think I'm a puppet, I can be your puppet too if you like, not likely, that will never happen.
Seems there may be a little jealousy in that statement, guess if you didn't spend 31 years
backdooring the Australian market, then you might be a puppet dealer also, as you put it.
Did they introduce the three year warranty on the major brands of amateur radios in Australia/NZ?
Actually it was Icom and Yaesu that did that, you seem to have a problem, you tend to think first all the time.
Do they offer lower prices, overall?
Yes of course we do.
Do they have any repair facilities or retain any well-qualified RF technicians or stock any repair parts? If not, what use are they - maybe just some "box" outlet for some importers?
Perfect example of exactly what you are doing, if we are a box outlet, what does that make you.

Some "puppet" dealers must truly lack perspective and/or intelligence, as they seem to be quite surprised that non-authorised dealers listed on their websites in other than an upstanding or complimentary manner would be upset. What a surprise, indeed! What dealer, anywhere, would be happy to be listed in such a manner and without their permission?
Firstly, stop talking like you are a dealer, you are not, your a parallel importer, there is a difference, if you think your a dealer, you need to read this link, Here look under the dealer links. Secondly your permission is NOT required to do this, you have this problem with puppets, was it a childhood obsession or something, interesting you make a slur on my intelligence, I'm still here, 15 years and going strong, and getting stronger day by day.
Such listing leaves those "puppet" dealers completely open to legal redress and compensation, etc.
Absolute rubbish, if you don't lie or mislead, then there isn't a problem, but you already know that, there is that word again, "puppet".

Some authorised dealers don't seem to have a high degree of English comprehension, as their dealership agreement with some factory subsidiaries specifically states that warranties are NOT transferable.
Yet another slur on my name, is this all you can do, I don't recall you reading my dealer contract and signing it on my behalf, how in the hell do you know what is in my dealer contract............. Verbal abuse is fine, after all I have broad shoulders, I think we can handle it....
Don't you be "left out in the cold" with no warranty, under the terms of those dealer agreements!
Hang on, I have a Alinco dualbander here, been back 3 times to Andrews Communications, never fixed, where's the warranty you seem to be so proud of, was returned with the wrong cases and a callsign engraved with a VK2 amateur call on the top cover, when the radio belonged to a VK3, oh, and yes it was returned to Andrews Communications for warranty repair, and never fixed, the radio is still here if you wish to look at it, maybe i should post a pic of it at the bottom of this page for all to see, this makes a very interesting topic as we sit around all day eating cakes and drinking coffee as you put it.
Some dealers must think their customers are even dumber than themselves when they try to explain situations on their websites in very simplistic terms.
Clarity is like a fine red wine, you just can't do without it, did I see another slur on my name, surely not.

Who really cares if a dealer is an authorised dealer of some importer or factory subsidiary, or not,
Is that what you think of your customers, the customer cares of course, after 31 years in the business I thought you of all people might know that already, the little 15 year old "puppet dealer" knows it, what's your excuse. if they provide excellent service, warranties, product knowledge, RF technicians, have  plenty of product, lower prices, etc.? In fact, if they provide such product and support then that's "true competition".
True competition already exists, otherwise I would be the only one left in business, hang on, nah there is competition i'm not the only one left after all.
The products are made in the same factories and we ensure they compatible with Australian conditions, anyway.
What about commercial and Marine transceivers, they need type approval, or didn't you know that, guess that is because you're not part of the Authorised Dealer Network, also didn't you mention something about comprehension up the page a bit......... Seems I might be able to teach you a thing or two about comprehension.
Most dealers can easily purchase from us at our low prices then re-sell to you at their higher prices!
Why would they do that if you're the cheapest retailer around? wouldn't that be ripping off your customers, something your so proud of that you don't do, then why suggest ripping them off? I don't recall buying radio gear off you, I'm a Authorised dealer, and you're not that cheap.

Did you know that authorised dealers continue to have their dealerships cancelled when they have been found to supply ourselves and other non-authorised dealers?
Further info required, I can't recall that happening, well at least not to me.
Why support those who strive to stifle true competition?
Who does that, not Strictly Ham.
Why pay factory subsidiaries' recommended retail prices (RRP)? Such RRPs had, some years ago, been set at up to triple the current competitive pricing for the same radio. E.g. Icom IC-706MkIIG price was set around A$3600 RRP.
Refer to my Authorised Vs Parallel page, all the answers are there, guess the same applies to parallel importers then doesn't it.

We visit many factories and wholesalers around the world every year. In fact, we scour the world to find you the lowest pricing. However, as we didn't win the $1.5m+ that "Slim" won we can't afford to sell many products below cost.
Yikes, you're a little behind the times here, since then, 1987, I have won the lotto another 3 times, the total is up to 7.25 Million, weren't you told. hahahaha. Seriously, you can't be that gullible, surely, you don't beleive everything you hear, then again it appears you do!!!!!!!
You're correct, I do sell products below cost, refer to the menu above, it's called New Old Stock, if you cant find the link here it is New Old Stock "Slim" can easily afford to introduce true parity pricing on amateur radios, at any time.
Sounds like you're suggesting to fix the price on products, are you aware this is against the Trade Practices Act, and hefty fines are payable for doing this, Strictly Ham Pty Ltd will never, "Price fix" on any product.
A well-needed course in English grammar would be helpful, too.
If you're teaching it, I think I'll pass, refer above, do I detect another slur hidden in there.

We genuinely appreciate the many, many years of Strictly Ham Pty. Ltd. supplying us Yaesu, Icom and Kenwood product, etc.
????? Yaesu, think you need to come into the 21st century and get your system on Computer, if you did, you would realize you have made a massive blunder here, you also forgot to mention the thousands of dollars worth of Diamond Antennas.
Thanks, Ross!
You're Welcome, glad I could help, but i won't anymore.
Lucky you didn't lose all your dealerships over all those breaches, eh?
Yet again I will repeat myself, another thing you might not know, this action is also against the trade practices act, if not written into the contract, and it isn't in mine.
Curiously, we have not recently sent or received any emails re Strictly Ham, so I guess some dealers may not be all that relevant or important in the market place...
You're not the only retailer in the country you know........ Sorry, i forgot, you think you are.

Some competitors are under the strange impression that products "magically" become second hand when they are simply imported by other than a factory subsidiary. Some foolishly believe everything a factory subsidiary tells them.  Some are even under the delusion they're the greatest or largest amateur radio dealer in Australia, when that claim is an outright falsehood. 
Products are second-hand in this respect, refer to the Authorised Vs Parallel page yet again, it's no delusion, it's a fact, if you can't handle that fact, then I guess the word is, "Tough"

Some competitors have websites poorly depicting Australian employees of Japanese factory subsidiaries. When those Japanese factories and offices around the world view those images they may well be upset with their Australian image.
Sounds like a dig at Peter VK3TQ from Icom, unlike you, I'm sure the Japanese would have a sense of humour and see the funny side of it, after all, it was after a suggestion you made, that all we do is sit around and drink coffee and eat cakes all day, that's why Coffee Time now exists, thanks for the idea, it has had a brilliant response, my customers love it, it is the 5th most viewed page on Strictly Ham's Website.
By the way, Peter passes on all his best, and likes a good laugh from time to time.   

Why should you pay much more for amateur radios in Australia simply because the Australian market is much smaller than the USA and European markets?  Smaller markets have lower sales and smaller distribution networks with lower overheads - whilst larger markets have higher sales with greater overheads. Some competitors don't understand simple logic - they want you to pay more!
refer to the Authorised Vs Parallel page yet again.

We continue to successfully repair amateur radios, scanners, accessories, etc., to factory specifications (or better) as we have done for 31 years.
Interesting statement, how can you repair something to "better than factory spec"? You must know something that all RF designers don't know.
Our RF technicians are amongst the best in Australia.
Not so, refer up the page as already mentioned.
Also, we repair radios purchased overseas. Why accept refusal elsewhere? At times, we source spare parts from overseas due to their local unavailability or excessive pricing. Be aware that there are almost no Australia-specific HF or HF+ transceivers. Wrong yet again, indeed Australia does have specific models, if you didn't know, ask your techs they will explain it to you, Australia does have it's own specific band plans and models to suit, you must be getting confused with the Alinco and the Chinese stuff you import.

We are indeed privy to most service updates and also to restricted service information which no authorised dealers are normally permitted to view.
So you say, but you say a lot, and not really say much at all.

The rapidly improving quality and enormous range of products becoming available from China is virtually mind-boggling!!! We are delighted with the quality of the products we choose and the service from those manufacturers!
Speaking of China, where are the Chinese Icom copies? If they are that good, why are you not selling them anymore? I don't think you would want to get into the reasons why here I'm sure, could it have something to do with Copyright infringment? Just a stab in the dark.

Be aware that most amateur/commercial radio and antenna manufacturers around the world are sourcing more and more products and parts for those products from China, Taiwan, The Philippines, Mexico and other countries.
Yes yes yes, we know, old news, so what.

Yaesu manufactures some amateur transceivers in their China factory. Kenwood manufactures some amateur transceivers in their Singapore factory. Alinco manufactures some amateur transceivers in their Philippines factory.
Yes yes yes, we know, old news also, again so what.

Laugh's Had.

This page may be removed when the following criteria has been met.

1/ A written apology has been received by Strictly Ham Pty Ltd
2/ A written apology to my customers, for the contempt held in saying
they are dumb, this apology is also to be placed on the offenders web page.
3/ This apology is to be avertised on the offenders site, time frame to be set by Strictly Ham.
4/ A personal assurance of no further attacks of this nature are to be made, on a
personal or business level.

Yeah right !!!!!!! One can only dream, it'll never happen.