New DNA30 by Brimstone
- Thread starter blueGrassTubb
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I agree. That said, it's not that much more than most DNA30 boxes you'll find. A Hana cost that. A ZNA cost more than that.
But I didn't pay that either. I snagged it off eBay for $180 direct from Brandon (owner of Brimstone).
I don't know what he's paying ber box in parts, but from trying to put together an SX350 box that is similar to this one, I can say that his parts are in the $120-$130 range per box:
Prepainted box: ~$12-$15
Box Machining: ~$12-$16 per box (plus whatever he's still paying to offset the setup fee at the machine shop)
DNA30 board: $50
USB charger board: ~$8
Bezel: ~$20
Buttons: ~$4
510 connector: ~$6
Battery: ~$10
Then you need to add in the shipping for each of the items which could range anywhere from free to ~$7 per.
On the low end he's paying about $122 per box in parts. On the high end he's paying $130. Before shipping costs. Then you have to factor in R&D and prototype costs.
Then there are other, unfactored costs like epoxy and hot glue used, solder, flux, his workstation costs, equipment maintenance, etc. It's probably not that much per box (perhaps $1 or $2), but it must be considered when doing a cost analysis.
And all of this doesn't even consider his own labor. He has a minimum of 12 soldering points, 6 of them on the DNA board and 2 more on the USB board, 2 to the 510 connector, 2 to the battery, and that's before he fits everything in to the box and gets it assembled. This isn't exactly easy work (or we'd all have our own homemade DNA30 boxes). It takes a skilled hand. You also have to factor in any CS costs (he paid for me shipping it back to him as well as the return to me at a cost of $5.85 each way), website server fees, . Paypal fees of ~3%. Etc etc etc.
In short, it may seem exorbitantly expensive, but there is much more than a simple parts cost to find out how much markup is on each box.
I just snagged a Brimstone Box mod in the EXACT same way that you did Bluegrass. I saw it there for $170 on eBay, and figured "what the heck" I'll bid $205 and if I get it I get it. Turns out that I got it for $175!? plus shipping. It looks incredible, and Brandon responded to my messages almost instantly.
Great customer service like you said, and although I don't have the mod in hand yet (it should arrive next week), it looks like a solid, stylish symmetrical box mod with smooth edges. It makes Hannas look amateur.
My first DNA30 as well. It's kinda crazy how we both stumbled into the same mod, and have the exact same story...................brother??
Great customer service like you said, and although I don't have the mod in hand yet (it should arrive next week), it looks like a solid, stylish symmetrical box mod with smooth edges. It makes Hannas look amateur.
My first DNA30 as well. It's kinda crazy how we both stumbled into the same mod, and have the exact same story...................brother??
Brandon is a good guy. I'm sure you'll be happy with your new box. It's currently the DNA30 I reach for when I reach for a DNA30.
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