Price increase for Navik parts

Hello sailor!

Since the start of making replacement parts for Navik in 2010 I chose to more or less stay at the level of pricing that Plastimo had for their offerings, only adjusting prices with inflation.
I could make some money on it because of the manufacturing time I could sell this way, and I also saw a benefit in offering the Navik parts besides my own self steering systems.
Besides that, I really enjoyed making the parts and still do to this day.

However, the joy of selling these parts has dwindled, in a really unexpected way:

The Netherlands Postal service is a mess.
And with that I do not mean that the occasional package is lost or damaged, it is what happens next.

I can only ship the parts insured, there is no option of shipping these packages uninsured by post.
But when I want to claim insurance because of loss or damage, they only want to refund half the price, even though all of the selling price (except VAT) is damages.

I'm not going in to detail here but dealing with the aftermath takes so much time and energy that any profit I made in manufacturing is gone in an instant, and not just for that single order.

All in all, the energy required to keep offering Navik parts at the current price level is just too high.
That basically leaves 3 options:

- Stop offering the parts
- Stop using the Netherlands postal service
- Increase Navik prices

Option 1 is not really an option. Not for all the users of Navik self steering systems, as the demand still exists and not for the joy of making the parts.
Option 2 would mean a steep increase in shipping cost.
Option 3 is the one I have chosen.

Starting January 1st the prices for Navik parts will start rising, especially for the smallest parts.
As the new price level develops I can start experimenting with other shipping options or still use the postal service and absorb the cost off loss or damage myself. I have also started using "ridiculous packaging" to further minimize the chances of loss or damage which uses more time.

So, if you already need a part, best place the order before this year is over.

If you have any questions, please let me know.

All the best,

Sven