BC346XT/BC396XT pricing

[bpsmicro]

[FONT=&quot]For those following the new Uniden BC346XT/BC396XT release (early-April), pricing is just starting to come out for pre-ordering. As I usually do, I take my two favorite sources (Durham Radio in Canada and Grove Enterprises in the US) and do some comparisons. As always, prices subject to change, especially if the exchange rate varies. Exchange rate is based on the rough current rate of 30%, and I've rounded a bit:

BC346XT:
Grove: (US$220 + US$40 USPS) = Cdn$332 + $13 (Canada Post brokerage) + GST + PST = Cdn$390
Durham: Cdn$349 + Cdn$14 (UPS shipping) + GST + PST = Cdn$410

BC396XT:
Grove: (US$520 + US$40 USPS) = Cdn$715 + $13 (Canada Post brokerage) + GST + PST = Cdn$823
Durham: Cdn$749 + Cdn$14 (UPS shipping) + GST + PST = Cdn$862

So you can still save some money cross-border, but you're looking at an extra 2 weeks delivery time. You could get it shipped from the US via UPS or FedEx, but if you've ever done that before, you wouldn't even *consider* it a second time.

Personally, I'm leaning towards the 346 myself because I don't *really* need another digital scanner.

Brad.

[/FONT]

 

[SCPD]

im my mind i wouldnt fall in to the hype at that price you will be able to get 2 396s
or 2 106s

 

[bpsmicro]

Where are you seeing 396's or Pro-106's for <US$260 (or, more accurately <Cdn$410 *after* shipping & taxes)? Even eBay pricing on used models are nowhere *near* that.

I do expect a bit of a price drop on used 396 & 246 scanners after these are out (my own 246 will have dropped in value somewhat). But I doubt *that* much.

 

[SCPD]

first off if your paying 13% taxs on a used scanner your not doing right
106s used can be had for 475ish cnd if you hunt
396s around the same again for used ones

the most i have spent on any of my radios is 400usd shipped and no tax

they will drop ie 396s to about 300usd used and i have seen 106s/197s for 299 at rad shack new just have to be in the right place at the right time.

keep looking on here you can see some deals that go real fast in that range
ps ebay sucks dont go by there pricing its a joke theres a lot of deals that go down on there that you dont see as well, Like say someone lists a 396 for 550 then someone emails them and offers 375. the seller takes it and saves his ebay final value charges and ships it to you a s value 20 bucks and a gift.
They simply pull the auction and bobs your uncle.
Been at this for 10 years its like a game

ps i have seen 246s sell on here for 120to 150 usd

 

[bpsmicro]

Yep, you're right about the taxes.

Unfortunately for us north of the border, being at a Radio Shack at the right time would involve some driving.

I have a 246T. It's a nice scanner but suffers from the one design flaw that makes it a bit irritating to use on the systems I routinely scan. So I'm looking for an upgrade. One with a warranty would be nice.

But you're right, if somebody is willing to hunt around for used, there are deals to be had. Heck, I'll have a used one for sale soon.

 

[ObiHann]

Yep, you're right about the taxes.

Unfortunately for us north of the border, being at a Radio Shack at the right time would involve some driving.

I have a 246T. It's a nice scanner but suffers from the one design flaw that makes it a bit irritating to use on the systems I routinely scan. So I'm looking for an upgrade. One with a warranty would be nice.

But you're right, if somebody is willing to hunt around for used, there are deals to be had. Heck, I'll have a used one for sale soon.

Such a shame the whole incident. Until recently, we did have 9 radio shack test stores kicking around, while intertan tested the theory of bringing them back. It is only a matter of time, since legally radio shack can not operate in there own name until 2010 (test stores were a exemption, and privately owned). In 2010 we can expect a switch from the source back to rad shack though, since the source is already closing stores that are not big sellers, and not in big urban areas (remote stores in NS have been closed, and same across the country). As soon as Radio Shack is allowed back, we will see them I'm sure

 

[SCPD]

the source was a huge a mistake there kinda like one of those mall kiosks with stupid cell phone junk.
yup i miss the shack

 

[ObiHann]

I started working for the source a few years after the switch, and I was there for a year or so. Talking to the owner that owned the shop for years even when it was the shack, he said it was changing. At least in Canada, Radio Shack started changing in the late 90s, stopped carrying the electronics and hardware it used to, and started carrying more consumer crap. They changed there buisness model to a mini futureshop basically. The source is pushing that even further, I think in the US it is similar, a lot less electronic doodads, and more laptops and printers lol.

 

[VE3RADIO]

As someone who worked at Radio Shack in Ottawa for 5 years during high school and college I can tell you the change was incredible. We went from selling resistors, diodes, CB Radio and Scanners to nose hair trimmers and coffee cup warmers made by NEXTEK in China. The store is a joke now, anyone who worked at any real Radio Shack (prior to the Source) will tell you just that. I'm not joking about the nose hair trimmer either.. they actually sell one.

As for RS USA, they had a store at Dixie outles mall and Pickering town center but closed them down.. I highly doubt they will be back in Canada ever.. the relationship with Intertan in Barrie is just too bad from what I understand.

As for Radio Shack USA.. if your in Ottawa or Toronto its not very difficut to get to one.. Toronto has the luxury of Buffalo and Ottawa has Ogdensburgh-Watertown-Syracuse.. Ogdensburgh being the closest at a 45 minute drive from Kanata.

 

[ObiHann]

As someone who worked at Radio Shack in Ottawa for 5 years during high school and college I can tell you the change was incredible. We went from selling resistors, diodes, CB Radio and Scanners to nose hair trimmers and coffee cup warmers made by NEXTEK in China. The store is a joke now, anyone who worked at any real Radio Shack (prior to the Source) will tell you just that. I'm not joking about the nose hair trimmer either.. they actually sell one.

As for RS USA, they had a store at Dixie outles mall and Pickering town center but closed them down.. I highly doubt they will be back in Canada ever.. the relationship with Intertan in Barrie is just too bad from what I understand.

As for Radio Shack USA.. if your in Ottawa or Toronto its not very difficut to get to one.. Toronto has the luxury of Buffalo and Ottawa has Ogdensburgh-Watertown-Syracuse.. Ogdensburgh being the closest at a 45 minute drive from Kanata.

The owner of the store I worked at here in Nova Scotia told me that they started selling that crap, and stopped carrying all the good stuff a few years before they changed the name.... I know I noticed that myself, the rad shack when I lived out west went down hill for years before it got a new name :S

 

[hfxChris]

Isn't The Source being purchased by Bell? I thought I heard something about that...

 

[ObiHann]

That would be neat... they are buying and destroying so much else around here, why not get into retail lol

 

[fire4117]

Here is the link:

Bell to buy The Source stores in Canada

 

[ObiHann]

I get it now, since the source only sells rogers crap, bell buys them and kills off a dealer for there biggest competitor. That's just dirty :S

 

[mrscanner2008]

for those of you interested in buying the new bcd396xt, BT Products, INC - uniden scanners, nascar scanner, weather radios, is selling it for 497$ + 30$ shipping = 527$ USD and as today its 662.93$ can, no tax, no duty fees.

Bpsmicro: how do you obtain the price from Durham? I call them yesterday and didn't know yet a price for the 396xt.

Mrscanner2008

 

[ObiHann]

for those of you interested in buying the new bcd396xt, BT Products, INC - uniden scanners, nascar scanner, weather radios, is selling it for 497$ + 30$ shipping = 527$ USD and as today its 662.93$ can, no tax, no duty fees.

Bpsmicro: how do you obtain the price from Durham? I call them yesterday and didn't know yet a price for the 396xt.

Mrscanner2008

No duty? How do they do that, pay it themselves?

 

[mikewazowski]

No duty? How do they do that, pay it themselves?

There's no duty on scanners to begin with.

Only taxes and brokerage fees.

I suspect they are taking care of the brokerage themselves.

 

[bpsmicro]

Bpsmicro: how do you obtain the price from Durham? I call them yesterday and didn't know yet a price for the 396xt.

I was warned that there was a possibility that the 396 price might vary from what they told me by "$10 or $20 either way". I've been dealing with them for a number of years, and I asked via e-mail. It culd be they're just minimizing the quotes over the phone to people they don't know. Or, perhaps you got one of the minions who really doesn't know.
Unfortunately all the Canadian retailers are hostage to their distribution channel, who like to play their own cards close and try to see just how far they can push things.

Brad.

 

[vabiro]

Hi,

I just checked on the Grove website, and the prices have gone down significantly from the OP for the 396:

BC 396XT US $489.95
BC 346XT US $219.95

I get it now, since the source only sells rogers crap, bell buys them and kills off a dealer for there biggest competitor. That's just dirty :S

Just like Rogers bought Fido and took out their only GSM competitor. As a result got monopoly on in-roaming revenue and lions share of out-roaming.

Victor

 

[hfxChris]

There's no duty on scanners to begin with.

Only taxes and brokerage fees.

I suspect they are taking care of the brokerage themselves.

How is that one shipped? If USPS, the brokerage fee is quite reasonable to begin with.