EPIRB prices coming down

[murf]

just received a new catalogue in mail and noticed that the price of the 406 GME EPIRB has dropped down to $449 from $549 3 months ago. Thats a big drop in price.
I wonder how low they will go when it gets closer to the change over to 406 only?

Cheers Murf

[fez]

More than likely go the other way for a few months either side of the change over as it will be law to have the new 406's. Everyone will leave it to the last minute to change over as normal. In that sense the manafactures are holding us to ransom a bit. but it is our own fault for not upgrading sooner.


Fez

[PADDLES]

my old one is coming due for replacement pretty soon so i'm glad the price is dropping a bit. :)

[Fat_Chilli]

murf - #recieved the same catalogue, nothing else in it ever really changes though (price wise) :-?. Although they had some self inflating PFD's for $79.
Still glad I grabbed a 406 at the Brissy boat show for $399 and the free 12 month fishing magazine subscription #:D. Keeps the wife off my back if I tell her I got something for free.

I'm sure they'll drop more, it's when though?

[Kerry]

Considering the cheapest 406 a few years ago was $1600 I would say the price has dropped considerably ;).

With 406's there is that many more different options and models available than the anologue 121.5. Not that many users here would need/require built-in GPS or connectable GPS.

Considering the 406 capability over the 121.5 a price of just under $400 is comparable with 121.5 model costs at the height of their popularity. What is occuring now is that 121.5 costs are also dropping, which in today's terms make the 406 look more expensive than what it really is.

Regards, Kerry.

[fez]

Fair call, didn't know where they started dollar wise.

Essential saftey gear and at the end of the day who cares what it costs, I will always have one (wish I had waited until this new price though) as the cost of my families lives are priceless.

Fez

[Bashir]

I will probably upgrade mine when it expires, the 406 is a good thing to had and its great they are phasing out the older models. I got the small personal GME MT310, I paid $70 for it from dick smith, pretty sure they marked it incorrectly considering bias still sell them for $238. Went back the next day to buy the rest of them and someone beat me too it, the salesman seem surprised that someone would want so many lol :o

[Spaniard_King]

Still a way from being affordable to most boaties ::)

boaties mostly see these as minimum requirements so they dont rate too highly on the shopping lists.

personally I think they will drop dramatically around the change over time

Garry

[seatime]

Fair call, didn't know where they started dollar wise.

Essential saftey gear and at the end of the day who cares what it costs, I will always have one (wish I had waited until this new price though) as the cost of my families lives are priceless.

Fez

;) agree totally fez, I can't put a price on my family's lives either.

Steve

[oddbudman]

I went through the process of picking an epirb just last week.

I just need one for my tinny so I can chase mackerel this summer off the Gold Coast.

I went the old MT300 (121.5). Basically i took the guess that by 2009 the 406's will be a little cheaper - fingers crossed.

oddbudman

[PADDLES]

is that when the changeover is? 2009? i checked mine yesterday and it expires in january. whaddayarekkon? should i go with one of these new ones or stick another MT300 in her? :-?

[murf]

Hi Paddles
Feb 2009 by my book for change over
I have to get one before May next year and am personally going to get the 406. The 121.5 at $150? thats $75/year that you could put towards the better 406. keep a close eye out for specials.
Murf

[Kerry]

Feb 1, 2009 is the day the system is terminated and authorities (at this stage) are only recommending that users should upgrade by this date.

In other parts of the world some countries legislated and were making it illegal to use a 121.5 after Jan 1, 2007 and could not be purchased after Feb 1, 2003.

It makes a lot of sense to actually have a compliance date well before the system is terminated so the day it is terminated the impact is zero.

[PADDLES]

rightyo, thanks mr murf, i think i'll get the 406 then. i've got till january so i'll keep an eye out for one at the right price, might have to talk to santa and tell her how good i've been all year. ;D

i know that the boat shops have been trying to flog all the 121.5's pretty cheap now that they know the changeover is occuring. i'm with ya kerry, it should probably have been legislated here to make the 121.5's unavailable for purchase well before the changeover so it affects no-one.