Note: I put the discussion here so that it is easier for all of you to ignore if you don't want to read my ramblings. Key_Metric
Discussion:
Suppose someone new to audiophile equipment sees an ad in a magazine for the new Melodic Cobalt amplifier from Acme Electronique. The person might next go the manufacturer's website, acmeelectronique.com to find out more information. If the website has no dealer list, just phone number, this person may just give up at that point and go to his local Discount Electronic Box store instead and asks for something "similar" to the Melodic Cobalt amplifier.
Now suppose the website does have a dealer list. Instead of calling the dealer, this person decides to stop by after work one day to check out the equipment in person. Since in this scenario the website did not have suggested retail prices, this person thinks the most that this amplifier could cost is around $1000 because that is the most he has ever seen an amplifier go for at Discount Electronic Box. To his surprise, this person soon finds out that the Melodic Cobalt amplifier sells for $5000. Since he asked to see the amplifier in the first place, he listens to a few tracks from the salesman's CD. He is too embarrassed to ask the correct questions of the salesperson that would have directed him to other products in the store that fit his budget. His impression is that all of the equipment in the store, all brands he has never heard of, is too expensive for him. (Most of the general public, and even many of the Discount Electronic Box store employees have never heard of the brands that we talk about every day.) He leaves the store and later jokes about the absurd prices to his friends, assuring that none of them will ever enter that store even though it may carry many excellent products that fit into a smaller budget. The next day he goes to his local Discount Electronic Box store instead and asks for something "similar" to the Melodic Cobalt amplifier.
These two scenarios illustrate some of the reasons I think that all audio and video manufacturer's websites should list prices and dealers. Being a member of Audiogon gives us access to some prices, but people new to higher end audio do not necessarily belong to audiogon. Also, for some products I have resorted to looking a the product reviews linked through the manufacturer's website just to find if a product is in my price range. What a pain!
The last two items on my essentials list are there to for the convenience of informed customers. The multiple view pictures, such as high resolution front and back panel images, can sometimes answer simple questions that are hard to answer without looking at the actual product. It is nice to know if a product will work before making a trip to a dealer, especially if travel is necessary because there is no local dealer for the product.
Discussion:
Suppose someone new to audiophile equipment sees an ad in a magazine for the new Melodic Cobalt amplifier from Acme Electronique. The person might next go the manufacturer's website, acmeelectronique.com to find out more information. If the website has no dealer list, just phone number, this person may just give up at that point and go to his local Discount Electronic Box store instead and asks for something "similar" to the Melodic Cobalt amplifier.
Now suppose the website does have a dealer list. Instead of calling the dealer, this person decides to stop by after work one day to check out the equipment in person. Since in this scenario the website did not have suggested retail prices, this person thinks the most that this amplifier could cost is around $1000 because that is the most he has ever seen an amplifier go for at Discount Electronic Box. To his surprise, this person soon finds out that the Melodic Cobalt amplifier sells for $5000. Since he asked to see the amplifier in the first place, he listens to a few tracks from the salesman's CD. He is too embarrassed to ask the correct questions of the salesperson that would have directed him to other products in the store that fit his budget. His impression is that all of the equipment in the store, all brands he has never heard of, is too expensive for him. (Most of the general public, and even many of the Discount Electronic Box store employees have never heard of the brands that we talk about every day.) He leaves the store and later jokes about the absurd prices to his friends, assuring that none of them will ever enter that store even though it may carry many excellent products that fit into a smaller budget. The next day he goes to his local Discount Electronic Box store instead and asks for something "similar" to the Melodic Cobalt amplifier.
These two scenarios illustrate some of the reasons I think that all audio and video manufacturer's websites should list prices and dealers. Being a member of Audiogon gives us access to some prices, but people new to higher end audio do not necessarily belong to audiogon. Also, for some products I have resorted to looking a the product reviews linked through the manufacturer's website just to find if a product is in my price range. What a pain!
The last two items on my essentials list are there to for the convenience of informed customers. The multiple view pictures, such as high resolution front and back panel images, can sometimes answer simple questions that are hard to answer without looking at the actual product. It is nice to know if a product will work before making a trip to a dealer, especially if travel is necessary because there is no local dealer for the product.