*Warning, this post is a bit of a rant. The views of this post may not reflect the views of the crew of Flite Test or it's sponsors.*
This question/complaint came up not too long ago. It's a good question, even if it was not phrased as politely as I put it.
The gist of this person's complaint was that the price of the materials being used are much less than the cost that Flite Test is selling the finished product for.
He suggested that Flite Test should be selling their items at the price it cost them to buy the materials. Oddly enough the person making the observation didn't even include into the factor the cost of manufacturing (the price of the laser cutters, and other tools, the expenses of running the equipment, electricity, etc. As well as what time is being consumed by the staff working on making the products instead of filming the show, working their full time jobs, or heaven forbid, spending time with their families. None of this had a value to the person who thought the prices were too high.)
Admittedly, I think the prices listed for the items exceed these costs. A few pieces of laser cut foam, in a custom printed shipping box did not cost $29.95 to produce. But, duh!
I know for a fact that viewers have offered to send money to the guys running Flite Test to show their support of the show. Chad has mentioned, more than once that he wanted the show to be free to the viewers, and they were able to provide a professionally produced show at no cost to us. This wasn't yet another one man operation, talking into a point and shoot digital camera on a tripod in their spare bedroom/hobby room. It uses a full crew, professional video equipment, and expensive software to provide the finished product we get to enjoy. Chad, the Joshes, and the rest of the team have done this without asking for any donations from us, the viewers.
First they did it out of pocket. Then they were fortunate enough to get a sponsor, then another. But then...
Some people complained that Flite Test couldn't produce unbiased reviews while being sponsored by the people who sold the product they were reviewing. Some people just hated the cooperation between Flite Test and their sponsor(s). Maybe it wasn't for these reasons, but all of a sudden Flite Test parted ways with their sponsors and struck off on their own.
So, Flite Test provided the opportunity for us to put our money where our mouths were, (pardon the pun).
Sure these very well thought out, superbly cut, and securely packaged kits and supplies cost more than the sum of the parts, but it's not so that Flite Test can turn a profit at our expense. I for one have bought a few items from them, satisfied in the knowledge that not only am I getting a great product for the price, but that the "extra" fee that I'm paying, is going towards the production of this show, and the operations of this forum.
Maybe the actual costs per kit is only $20.00. Then awesome, I just got to give $9.95 to split between five or more guys, to help pay the hosting fees for the web site, to pay for the electricity that keeps the filming lights running, and to pay for David's airfare back and forth to Sweden. I think that's a good deal, for under $10.00 out of my pocket.
I intend to continue to show my support by buying things from the guys. Maybe it will just be a package of control horns. Or maybe I'll buy a combo kit, to gift to someone who is interested in learning to fly, but thinks it is too expensive, and doesn't know where to start.
Ok, rant over. Now I'm just waiting for the new tricopter parts to come available, so I can get my hands on that cool new tail design that Chad came up with.
This question/complaint came up not too long ago. It's a good question, even if it was not phrased as politely as I put it.
The gist of this person's complaint was that the price of the materials being used are much less than the cost that Flite Test is selling the finished product for.
He suggested that Flite Test should be selling their items at the price it cost them to buy the materials. Oddly enough the person making the observation didn't even include into the factor the cost of manufacturing (the price of the laser cutters, and other tools, the expenses of running the equipment, electricity, etc. As well as what time is being consumed by the staff working on making the products instead of filming the show, working their full time jobs, or heaven forbid, spending time with their families. None of this had a value to the person who thought the prices were too high.)
Admittedly, I think the prices listed for the items exceed these costs. A few pieces of laser cut foam, in a custom printed shipping box did not cost $29.95 to produce. But, duh!
I know for a fact that viewers have offered to send money to the guys running Flite Test to show their support of the show. Chad has mentioned, more than once that he wanted the show to be free to the viewers, and they were able to provide a professionally produced show at no cost to us. This wasn't yet another one man operation, talking into a point and shoot digital camera on a tripod in their spare bedroom/hobby room. It uses a full crew, professional video equipment, and expensive software to provide the finished product we get to enjoy. Chad, the Joshes, and the rest of the team have done this without asking for any donations from us, the viewers.
First they did it out of pocket. Then they were fortunate enough to get a sponsor, then another. But then...
Some people complained that Flite Test couldn't produce unbiased reviews while being sponsored by the people who sold the product they were reviewing. Some people just hated the cooperation between Flite Test and their sponsor(s). Maybe it wasn't for these reasons, but all of a sudden Flite Test parted ways with their sponsors and struck off on their own.
So, Flite Test provided the opportunity for us to put our money where our mouths were, (pardon the pun).
Sure these very well thought out, superbly cut, and securely packaged kits and supplies cost more than the sum of the parts, but it's not so that Flite Test can turn a profit at our expense. I for one have bought a few items from them, satisfied in the knowledge that not only am I getting a great product for the price, but that the "extra" fee that I'm paying, is going towards the production of this show, and the operations of this forum.
Maybe the actual costs per kit is only $20.00. Then awesome, I just got to give $9.95 to split between five or more guys, to help pay the hosting fees for the web site, to pay for the electricity that keeps the filming lights running, and to pay for David's airfare back and forth to Sweden. I think that's a good deal, for under $10.00 out of my pocket.
I intend to continue to show my support by buying things from the guys. Maybe it will just be a package of control horns. Or maybe I'll buy a combo kit, to gift to someone who is interested in learning to fly, but thinks it is too expensive, and doesn't know where to start.
Ok, rant over. Now I'm just waiting for the new tricopter parts to come available, so I can get my hands on that cool new tail design that Chad came up with.
