And an additional comment from me: I assume that all the other manufacturers
will not be able to compensate the price increase, at least when they change
to ROHS compliant production and follow all laws (e.g. the new recycling
regulations). E.g. the 3.5 mm sockets used by many other modular
manufacturers as well are manufactured by Cliff/England and they had a 43%
price increase (!!!). Same is valid for the rotary potentiometer but with
"only" 25% price increase. And even the production company had to increase
their prices as the old solder machines have changed to scrap metal. Because
of the higher solder temperature for the lead-free solder process the old
machines can be used no longer. And of coures the lead-free solder is more
expensive ...

In addition another new law has become valid since November 2005: each
manufacturer has to guarantee that all products sold after November 2005 are
taken back for recycling from the customer without any costs for the
customer. To make sure that this is true even if a company becomes insolvent
or simply ends one has to pay for each kg into a guarantee funds in advance.

I have to point out that our price increases do not cover all these
additional charges. But I'm aware that the customers would not have accepted
price increases that cover all additional expenses. So we do a middle course
(i.e. price increases less than our real price increase) and loose a little
bit of our profit as we do not want to annoy our customers more than
necessary.

Sorry if I bother you with these details but I wanted to explain our
position concerning the price increases.

Best wishes
Dieter Doepfer

P.S. All these regulations are valid for imports as well. If a company or a
privat person imports goods into the EU they/she/he has to guarantee that
all regulations are kept. I suppose that the customs will check this in the
future.

> -----Ursprüngliche Nachricht-----
> Von: Doepfer_a100@yahoogroups.com
> [mailto: Doepfer_a100@yahoogroups.com ]Im Auftrag von n keller
> Gesendet: Montag, 9. Januar 2006 21:59
> An: Doepfer_a100@yahoogroups.com
> Betreff: RE: 1 Module Price Increase --- can doepfer
> confirm.
>
>
> From the Doepfer site:
>
> Many of our suppliers have increased their prices - some up to 30% and

more.

> Most of the price increases are caused by the ROHS/lead-free directive

(ROHS

> = restriction of hazardous substances). As we are not able to compensate
> this we have to increase some of our prices from January 01, 2006.
> Especially the analog modular system A-100 is affected (price increase by
> about 3 to 20% according to the module in question). The prices of the
> keyboards and OEM/DIY products remain nearly unchanged. The price increase
> of the other products (MAQ16/3, MCV4, MCV24, MSY2, Drehbank, R2M) is more
> moderate (5% or less).
>
> So Dan, Andy's not trying to pull a fast one. Are you part of his

"owners"

> club If not, that will help..... I know the increase hurts, but don't

let

> it dissuade you from getting into Doepfer. They still have the best

prices

> for the specs and for the number of modules! And they have a good amount

of

> stuff still being developed all the time. I've been using Doepfer

products

> for over 4 years and I've seen minimal price increases. Keep an eye out

for

> used modules on this forum and on auction sites. You can do it!
>
> respectfully,
> n keller
> cymru am byth
>
>
> >From: "danfarmer19732003" < danfarmer@... >
> >Reply-To: Doepfer_a100@yahoogroups.com
> >To: Doepfer_a100@yahoogroups.com
> >Subject: 1 Module Price Increase --- can doepfer confirm.
> >Date: Mon, 09 Jan 2006 12:37:46 -0000
> >
> >Here in the UK, the local distrubutor for doepfer says that they've
> >raised the cost of the doepfer modules from January 1, 2006 onwards (
> >some by 20 pounds!!!! ) because of new EU legislation and that Doepfer
> >themselves were passing the cost onto them....
> >
> >Can anyone confirm this from Doepfer
> >
> >I must say I'm feeling pretty negative about this as this has just
> >shot my budget and I'm rethinking getting into this system at all if
> >prices are going to be rising in such dramatic ways.
> >
> >Really dissapointed to hear this. Saddended even.
> >
> >
> >
> >
>
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