Why are prices so high?

[Tinman55]

Ok, I have been out of the mix for awhile....maybe 6-9 months....but why are all the X10 prices up so high....both on Ebay or X10...for example a RR501 transceiver is now 29.95 and they used to be like 11.00 bucks....27.00 bucks for a 20 amp wall switch....I could get a 3 pack cheaper than that last year.

So what did I miss   I did some searching here but can't believe I can't find anything about the price jump.

[Tuicemen]

X10 was forced to find another company to produce the hardware. this produced a shortage as rumors flew that X10 was going under.
Even some of the die hard x10ers rushed to grab old stock.
X10 has found a new company to produce most of thier hardware but with prices increasing for labour in china they're forced to pass the increased production cost to the end user.

[Brian H]

You may also find some X10 devices now Discontinued.

[dhouston]

X10 has found a new company to produce most of thier hardware but with prices increasing for labour in china they're forced to pass the increased production cost to the end user.

Did I miss something? I don't recall seeing anything to indicate they found a company to produce their products.

[pseeker]

Quotes from official X10 post: http://forums.x10.com/index.php?topic=26297.0
"In some cases, we found an alternate factory to produce the existing items.... Our product line of HA products is limited for now, but the core items will remain available. Over the past 6 months, we have invested a significant amount of money to have the existing modules produced again. We fully intend to continue supporting the X10 protocol"

Hopefully they were able to hire the some of critical skilled workers, and transfers existing test and manufacturing fixtures from the previous factory.

X10 has found a new company to produce most of thier hardware but with prices increasing for labour in china they're forced to pass the increased production cost to the end user.

Did I miss something? I don't recall seeing anything to indicate they found a company to produce their products.

[dhouston]

"In some cases, we found an alternate factory to produce the existing items....

Thanks. I guess I skimmed right over that statement.

[JeffVolp]

As I said in some prior posts, X10 devices have been incredibly cheap.  Often the lamp and appliance modules could be found for about the same price I pay for just similar empty plastic cases.

Jeff

[nybuck]

Ok, I have been out of the mix for awhile....maybe 6-9 months....but why are all the X10 prices up so high....both on Ebay or X10...for example a RR501 transceiver is now 29.95 and they used to be like 11.00 bucks....27.00 bucks for a 20 amp wall switch....I could get a 3 pack cheaper than that last year.

So what did I miss   I did some searching here but can't believe I can't find anything about the price jump.

I join in that...  Just visited the forums again.

Remember when "X10.COM" sold X10 products?   

[dwarnecke11]

I have to ask - what are the odds prices will stay this high?  I look with distress at my eBay X10 history showing me buying 3 packs of lamp modules for under $20 shipped... will we ever see those days again?

I'm pretty well set as far as lamp/appliance modules go, although I really would like some more X10 Decora wall switches (dimmers and on/off switches) to hardwire into a few rooms.  As of now their price has more than doubled since last year.

[Brian H]

I doubt you are going to see the prices drop.

One online X10 dealer has a web page of 39 X10 modules they where told are discontinued.

I bought two spare IR34 remotes as the page indicated last batch to ever be sold.

Smarthome dropped their short lived X10 compatible modules and many of the latest revision Insteon modules have now dropped X10 support.

Hopfully X10 will find some new manufacturing places but with them going more to Tablets, OEM wifi cameras and other third party goodies. I feel changes are on the way.

[HA Dave]

Hopfully X10 will find some new manufacturing places but with them going more to Tablets, OEM wifi cameras and other third party goodies. I feel changes are on the way.

I try to remain "hopeful" myself [but my Dad had a saying about "hoping in one hand......"]. I don't see the State Department making any progression in negotiating any trade agreements that would allow for manufacturing outside of "the favored nation of China". And the people of China can't afford to make cheap little devices anymore. Times change.... and I don't see the reasons for hope.

But this IS what we asked for. China wants to make our General Motors cars in the near future.... and if they contribute to right campaign they may get their wishes granted. (Our President has already received countless millions in small unaccountable Internet donations).

In the USA we've tripled the money supply (in the last three years)... making US dollars worth... less. Foreign goods aren't going up in price as much as the money we use to buy the goods is worth LESS. This is what bad Government looks like! Sorry... but THIS is why prices are high.

[pseeker]

The economists have been saying that over the decades China and other developing nations have been exporting deflation via the USA moving production overseas to reduce cost.   After moving all the manufacturing that makes sense to move overseas... there is only one direction for cost of production to go... that is  UP!  (Higher overseas wages, energy, material cost).    As a side note, we excel in big machinery (caterpillar truck, planes, etc)  and are premier exporter to rest of the world.

[HA Dave]

........ As a side note, we excel in big machinery (caterpillar truck, planes, etc)  and are premier exporter to rest of the world.

Yes we are! North America continues to excel in all areas of production that our trade agreements allow us to compete in. However... the current view of the global citizens is to distribute goods and services around the world in such a way that all nations are dependent on all other nations. In theory this interdependence will make wars [all but] impossible.

Of course these same One World, Socialist, global citizens also believe that trading individual freedoms and wealth for a promise of peace is necessary. [They think] It is required that a global standard of living be accepted by wealthy nations. To move FORWARD with these plans.... Americans must learn to live with less.

[nybuck]

So regardless of political views, I think it is simple economics...

They made tons of x10 modules.  There was less demand than supply, so the prices were low.
They stayed so low, with little demand that the supplier couldn't make money producing them.  Less supply, and now the prices are higher.

The X10 website simply went the way of  Radio Shack.  They will be selling cell phones before long.

[Dan Lawrence]

Radio Shack used to sell X10 Modules under their "Plug-N-Power" line.  Not any more.  I still have a couple of their modules in my spare box.