From: eastin@locus.com (Dick Eastin)
Newsgroups: alt.religion.scientology
Subject: Re: Scientology questions
Message-ID: <1991Jul26.155437.736284@locus.com>
Date: 26 Jul 91 15:54:37 GMT
References: <55326@apple.Apple.COM> <1991Jul24.222243.6342@cs.sfu.ca>
Distribution: alt.religion.scientology
Organization: Locus Computing Corp, Los Angeles
Lines: 42

In article <1991Jul24.222243.6342@cs.sfu.ca> thomson@cs.sfu.ca (Brian Thomson)
writes: (etc.)
>Would any (current) Scientologists care to respond to the fact that they
>are paying extraordinary prices for goods and services that could be
>delivered at a fraction of the price.
>-BST.

I don't think I can give a satisfying answer to either the cost
of an e-meter or the cost of books or the size of donations.  Money
and values are subjects which have a lot of differences of opinion
and produce a lot of argument.  Many are aware that there
are a lot of factors which affect the pricing of any manufactured
article.  Some of the most basic are cost of labor and materials,
the nature of automation in production, and "economy of scale" factors
in manufacturing and shipping.  Market factors like scarcity and demand
also have their effect.  In the case of a group struggling under the
growing pains of very rapid expansion due to its workability, value, and
popularity, there are organizational support factors which affect
the economics of things, as well.

So, even though the e-meter originated from the basic Wheatstone
bridge, just like the ohmmeter did, with the addition of an
amplifier, rechargeable battery, recharger, digital clock, digital
control readouts, and special meter movement, it
is so different as to not be comparable to a $20-50 ohmmeter.
For example, call around and find out what what the quantity 1000
price is for an injection molded plastic case, in six colors.
Or see what costs are for a top line, Zero Halliburton aluminum case
with combination lock. Or, how about the cost of a 30 page,
8-1/2 by 11, high quality, full color, with pictures on most pages,
owner's manual?  Or take the meter movement - 6 inch oval face with
glare coated optical glass and jeweled movement.  I don't have
a catalog handy, but finding a movement like that is not a
negligible item, if you can even find one.

So, concern over the cost of meters or donations may be just a
lack of familiarity with the actual items in question, and
their practical value to a person who does value them and who is
interested in his personal gain and the improvement of life more
than cost factors.

Dick