Guys, I tried to avoid this as long as possible, but we just can't keep the pricing on the Candela any longer, unless we cut some corner, which I am not willing to do. It is still completely handcrafted, //populated, soldered, overnight tested with computer monitoring and printouts, etc, etc, etc. We still have a documented 10 - 11 hours of labor in each Candela.
In the past 5-6 months we have operated with such minimal margins on the unit, it is pathetic. Now, where we are coming to the end of the last of the 2nd production series (100 pcs each, so we're looking at a chunk of dough), we have to order new for 80 % of our parts, and man oh man, it's either a complete sticker shock on the costs, or you are getting Nickel'd and Dime'd to death. There is not a single part !!!!! where the cost didn't go up from our last order. Not one.
As of March 1st, 2008, we have to raise the cost of the Candela to $ 1500. Figuring that we squarely aimed to have the unit compete directly (which it does. Easily) with $ 2,400 + units, it is still a steal.
Sorry about this, but we don't have any choice.
Late,
Klaus
