Do you "Get What You Pay For" In A Cable? by:Andrew Lang

We've all heard the phrase "you get what you pay for" in regards to different products: televisions

, computers, car audio systems. The question is, does this rule apply to cables? To some extent it certainly does, but not in the same way as a television. A major reason for this is that its not easy for the average consumer to evaluate the quality and function of the average cable. When we go out to buy a TV or computer, we can compare specifications, performance, picture quality, speed, etc. There are many quantifiable characteristics for these products that we can compare and contrast. When we buy a cable the same isn't always true. The quality aspects that go into making a cable are usually impossible to see by the consumer. Most of the materials and processes that drive up cost in cable manufacturing are underneath the exterior that we all see. Pre molds, over molds, insulation, strain relief design, connector design and plating, and quality control are all aspects of cable assembly manufacturing that the consumer never sees. Evaluating these aspects of an assembly will require lab testing and tearing into a cable. These are things that most customers will never bother even looking into.

So how do you know which cable is the best value? Most people find it hard to believe that a cable that sells online for 15 dollars could be the same quality as a cable that sells in stores for 200 dollars. In order to uncover the true cost and value in a cable one has to know about the industry. Most of the "high end" cables found in retail stores are sold by what we like to call "marketing companies". These companies typically purchase cables from a manufacturer that brands the cables for the marketing company. This means that not only does the manufacturing company have to make a profit on the sale, but also the large company has to mark up the cable from the manufacturers price to cover all of their marketing costs. You can begin to see why a cable that has a manufacturing cost of 2 dollars might end up retailing for 200 dollars. So where should someone buy a cable to know they are getting the best value. Imagine that one of the companies that was manufacturing cables for these large international "marketing" companies also decided to sell cables directly to consumers online, using the same manufacturing processes and material used for that 200 dollar cable. Because they don't spend money on advertising and distribution, the only costs they have to cover are manufacturing, transport, and the relatively small amount of cost involved in operating an online store. Now you are getting that same 200 dollar cable for 15 dollars. You may have to sacrifice the convenience of buying at a retail outlet, but the money saved is usually worth it for most consumers.

In the other direction there are many cables online that are priced very low. At some price point you do begin to sacrifice quality in a cable. It's cheaper to manufacture cable without good insulation or strain reliefs and this cable will still work, but it might also develop a loose connection internally after cycles of plugging and unplugging. There's also a cost involved with warranties, does the cable come with a 1 year warranty? A lifetime warranty? No warranty? After sale support is another major cost in cable sales and can play a part in the initial cost of the cable.

To Summarize:

Why Are Your Prices So Low? -- because our prices accurately reflect the cost to manufacture rather than any marketing costs like packaging, placement in retail stores, and advertising for brand name recognition.

Why Are Your Prices So High? -- because quality does indeed cost money to make, and most generic cable assemblies cost so little to import that they retail for less than the cost of high quality cable assemblies that come with a lifetime warranty and a company who stands behind their product.

About Us:

Circuit Assembly is a manufacturer of connectors, cable assemblies, and adapters. Circuit Assembly eStore sells cable assemblies and connectors directly to the consumer at a price they wouldn't be able to find at a retail store or even other ecommerce websites. By purchasing direct from the manufacturer, the customer gets an incredible value, as well as the assurance that our reputation for perfect quality and customer service rests upon every individual product we sell.

Link - http://estore.circuitassembly.com/

About the author

Andrew Lang is the marketing manager for Circuit Assembly eStore. Andrew works in a variety of areas for Circuit Assembly. This includes the full spectrum of product development and marketing, beginning at product conception, continuing with engineering, and ending with marketing strategies.

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