One question we are frequently asked is, "why does the Pocket Survival Pak cost what it does?" The implication being that they don't understand why it isn't cheaper. All the while, we're amazed we've managed to keep it so affordable. :-) While the high quality components that are worth betting your life on are part of the story, the other part of the story is the amount of individual labor that goes into assembling some of these components included, and then assembling and packing each Pocket Survival Pak.

We decided the best way to illustrate this was to present a slide show that illustrates many of the steps necessary to assemble both the individual components and then the Pocket Survival Pak itself. I've uploaded the show and added some commentary. Please let me know what you think. If you happen to notice any typos, I'd appreciate letting me know about those as well.

http://www.dougritter.com/psp_slideshow/pspslideshow.htm

Nicely done and very interesting, thanks, Doug.

Dave

Doug, that's a very interesting insight into the process! I'm amazed that it's almost all by hand. I suppose that machine looping the duct tape and steel wire and even the nylon cord hank would take a great deal more demand to justify the cost of replacing labor with machines.

Wow... just really impressive. And if you figure that you can buy this kit and your light for $40 (saving $7 in total) and it's still giving ETS some money, that's really rather sweet.

I have one of these kits, and I know assembling the same components costs quite a bit more individually, so kudos and thanks for the slideshow.

Awesome! We rent out commercial buildings to companies that produce and package different products. It has always amazed me to watch what they do. It's incredable how much stuff is still done by hand.

Well, I'm no master in english language .....

I would have written "principal" rather than "principle" ...
or is this an americanism ?



OTOH, I am satisfied with half dozen of PSKs I have .... <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Good catch! Thanks.

Amazing <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />, awesome <img src="/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />and just plain old cool <img src="/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />. Hopefully, it will give those who are on the fence regarding the cost; just what it takes to put a quality kit together. On the other hand, it is a very detailed set of instructions on putting a kit together, maybe a little too detailed and hope it will not give away too many of the little time saving ?secrets? <img src="/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" />.

Pete

Thanks!

Yeah, we thought about that, but if someone's going to knock us off, and sooner or later someone will, they are unlilely to do it with the same quality because it's too darn time consuming. <G> It's a risk, but...it's not exactly rocket science... <shrug>

About the cost of the PSP :
I guess anyone on this forum who has tried to assemble such a kit (should be everyone .. <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> ), knows for certain that the PSP is not expensive ; just getting all the components is more expensive ... I know, I did try...

So, add manpower, etc... and the retail price (27$ IIRC) wont look expensive at all.

This is really cool! You should contact the Made in America show (The Discover Channel???) and see if they'll do a segment on the PSP kits. It would be good advertizing!

One thought - I'm not the slowest reader, but I did have problems reading slides with longer text before it moved on to the next slide. A slightly longer time between slides would be appreciated. If there is any way to allow only the long-text slides to go longer that would be best.