In a message dated 10/07/2000 3:06:26 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
vcf_at_siconic.com writes:
> http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/2/13785.html
Talk about shoddy journalism! The Z80A included in these kits is certainly
*not* a "1 MHz" processor, and the kits -- like all ZX81s -- have only 1 KB
RAM onboard, not 2 KB as stated in the article.
Also, this piece claims that the kits were obtained from Timex when in fact
they were not. They were sold to Zebra by Sinclair Research USA when
Sinclair discontinued sales in the USA.
> These guys are a bunch of clowns. They used to be selling these for
> $29.95 until the eBay phenomenon hit. Then they jacked up the price to
> $99.95. I guess they must be selling these at that price because they
> haven't backed it down.
Zebra raised the price incrementally, from $29.95 to $39.95 to $49.95, then a
big jump to $99.95. The *big* increase occurred when Zebra sold a
substantial portion of their inventory to Chris Cowley, head of Grok
Developments (mentioned in the above article). Cowley has to sell the kits
for over $100 US in order to cover the cost of the kits plus freight and
import duties, plus his profit. So, Zebra just jacked up the US price to
match.
Price fixing, anyone?
BTW, back in March I was on the phone with Stewart Newfeld, head of Zebra,
and he mentioned some unusual high-res graphics boards that he had. We
settled on quantity and price, and I sent my payment. Everything arrived
except the HRG boards, but a note in the box stated that they would forward
them "as soon as possible." To date they haven't delivered, won't return my
e-mails or phone calls, and still owe me $60 worth of merchandise.
> Is an unassembled ZX-81 kit worth $99.95 to me? Hell no.
Especially since the kits sold by Zebra do not include the original Sinclair
BASIC manual or original assembly instructions (instructions are included --
they're just not the original issue). Additionally, Zebra themselves sell
these kits on Ebay for $50 - $70 all the time.
Clowns, indeed.
Glen
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Received on Sat Oct 07 2000 - 21:37:32 BST