The subject says it all...why do RA dimmers cost 3X more than Caseta dimmers?
The subject says it all...why do RA dimmers cost 3X more than Caseta dimmers?
Because the casetta are being sold through retail channels (amzaon, home depot, etc..) which take a margin so low they barely make any money on those items. When on sale, they probably lose money on those things.
The RAs are marketed to deep-pocketed customers who don't want to be bothered, and through a different channel: home automation installers (read: salesmans). In this case, everyone in the food chain takes a bigger bite.
Inside the boxes, they're almost the same thing though. Cost per unit produced is probably very close.
It's the same thing all over the buisness wolrd you know. Extend warranty on a flatscreen at an electronic store, fair trade coffee at a coffe shop or a decorative rear spoiler on a car at a dealership are all examples of marginal increase in value for the customer at very high price, for close to zero cost to the seller. But the margins they make on those items makes it possible for people who avoid them to get their stuff at great prices. For example, if you buy the cheapest laptop at a well-known electronic store, and don't add anything (carrying case, extended warranty, mouse, extra battery, any accessory really), you pretty much make them lose money.
I say bless the high prices on RA, they allow the whole chain providing you and me with casetta to get better prices.