here, since I just spend a bit of time figuring out where to buy my stuff, I'll summarize it for you all to save you time hopefully
Prices: I compared the total price of a transceiver, couple of antennas, mount, shipping and tax. This is for me in California, keep the tax in mind.
- lowest price on the items: hamcity. Good service on phone, good web site. Everything in stock. Fast shipping. But it's in California (tax for us PRKers). Shipping is not flat rate so could be more than some of the others guys if far away from California (check web site). Amazingly, even with tax for me and shipping (not too far), it was only a few bucks more (less than $10 out of $400) than the absolute lowest overall (Universal) which did not have what I needed in stock. I suspect that hamcity is more a wholesaler type and one store maybe, so don't expect too much support. Still, a pleasant surprise pricewise. Will let you know how they delivered. Crossing my fingers.
- lowest price overall for me: Universal. Item prices a tad higher than hamcity but no tax and flat rate shipping. Unfortunately, they didn't have 3 out of 4 items I wanted in stock. Looks like a good place, long standing store. Good service on the phone. But maybe not best if you're in a hurry. Good web site, maybe a bit less inventory.
- next up was AES. Prices higher than above, and even without tax was still a bit more than hamcity with tax. Tax in several other states. But several stores and great support apparently. Big catalog. Good online stuff.
- aars: prices same as AES. But smaller operation?
- HRO: prices same as AES but shipping included so that helps a bit. But tax added on quite a few states, including California, that jacks up the price fast. Don't get me started on the web site.
Altogether, considering both price and support, I would have gone Universal had they had my stuff in stock.
In general, seems like hamcity and Universal are worth checking for low prices. If you want more support and don't mind a bit higher total, AES and HRO are probably good bets, depending on what state you live in, taxwise.
But then, you knew all of this already, probably....
HTH a bit anyway.
Prices: I compared the total price of a transceiver, couple of antennas, mount, shipping and tax. This is for me in California, keep the tax in mind.
- lowest price on the items: hamcity. Good service on phone, good web site. Everything in stock. Fast shipping. But it's in California (tax for us PRKers). Shipping is not flat rate so could be more than some of the others guys if far away from California (check web site). Amazingly, even with tax for me and shipping (not too far), it was only a few bucks more (less than $10 out of $400) than the absolute lowest overall (Universal) which did not have what I needed in stock. I suspect that hamcity is more a wholesaler type and one store maybe, so don't expect too much support. Still, a pleasant surprise pricewise. Will let you know how they delivered. Crossing my fingers.
- lowest price overall for me: Universal. Item prices a tad higher than hamcity but no tax and flat rate shipping. Unfortunately, they didn't have 3 out of 4 items I wanted in stock. Looks like a good place, long standing store. Good service on the phone. But maybe not best if you're in a hurry. Good web site, maybe a bit less inventory.
- next up was AES. Prices higher than above, and even without tax was still a bit more than hamcity with tax. Tax in several other states. But several stores and great support apparently. Big catalog. Good online stuff.
- aars: prices same as AES. But smaller operation?
- HRO: prices same as AES but shipping included so that helps a bit. But tax added on quite a few states, including California, that jacks up the price fast. Don't get me started on the web site.
Altogether, considering both price and support, I would have gone Universal had they had my stuff in stock.
In general, seems like hamcity and Universal are worth checking for low prices. If you want more support and don't mind a bit higher total, AES and HRO are probably good bets, depending on what state you live in, taxwise.
But then, you knew all of this already, probably....
HTH a bit anyway.
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