[time-nuts] Minicircuits 10% discount in December

[Jim Lux]

On 12/5/14, 4:50 AM, Dr. David Kirkby (Kirkby Microwave Ltd) wrote:
> On 5 Dec 2014 12:23, "Bob Camp" <kb8tq at n1k.org> wrote:
>
>> Shipping across the atlantic has become silly expensive over the last
> decade. There are a *lot* of organizations that are behind the curve on
> figuring out how to do it cheaply.
>>
>> Bob
>
> I ship VNA calibration kits across the Atlantic almost every week -
> admittedly in the other direction.  It doesn't cost me anything like what
> Minicircuits charge.
>
> I regularly buy thins sent via Fedex, UPS and DHL, and don't pay so much to
> ship what must be less than 2 kg - possibly less than 1 kg.
>
> I suspect that the "handling" part of the charge is the real problem.
>



There's probably some peculiarity that makes it "difficult" for 
MiniCircuits.  Maybe they have to jump through some export control hoops 
or there's some hazardous material declaration or some such; and they 
haven't figured out how to do it cheaply.

It could be as simple as "it's an outlier and a very manual process".

You could send them a nice inquiry and ask..

It is odd, but not surprising.