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Can someone explain to me why : Accupahse Equipment is that expensive ?

…….I was recently looking into their Power Conditioners as well as their Amplifiers and for a company where there is very little reviews done on their products, along with a small ( here in the US anyway )  almost a cult following if someone could tell me why is their prices the way they are. I just don't understand it. I have listened to their equipment and is nice and the build quality is very good but ; I always said to myself ; '' Not for that price ". I do not mean to be in an any way inflammatory with this statement but is :  Accuphase the McIntosh of the East ?  McIntosh makes some nice stuff but is no way priced like Accuphase, however it seems to operate very much with the same business model ; you are paying for the name and the pride of ownership and the sound is very much dated. Maybe I am missing something here and the sound is very good and like Rolex you buy a piece and you are set for a lifetime. FM Acoustics is also another one of the those companies......Just looking for a really good amp and these companies come up in my search but I am just sitting here scratching my head ?           
garebear

Showing 3 responses by cleeds

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cleeds
5,711 posts
 
d2girls
I call my local store that sells Accuphase (just 10 minutes from me, PlanetofSound, they appear to be a subsidiary of parent company of the North American distributor, should this be illegal, I don’t know) ...
Why should that be illegal??
So I ask him ... would he be prepared to give me a 20 percent discount. He said no. He would not give me any discount at all not even if I paid cash. ... What I couldn’t accept was the fact he wouldn’t budge on ANY sort of discount. I can’t believe this.
Why? Do you think he owes you a discount? Perhaps the dealer never discounts. Maybe he reserves discounts for only his best customers, which is an understandable policy.

I agree that the US prices for Accuphase seem excessive, but who cares? There’s so much else to choose from!
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cleeds
5,711 posts
 
jetter
Seems pretty clear why he could expect a discount. Greedy store has jacked up the price vs Japan by over 100%.
How do you know the store or distributor is greedy? There may be agreements in place involving the manufacturer that dictates these prices, and Accuphase itself maybe charging a premium for US distribution.
Some profit is better than no sale no profit
But you don't know that there is no sale and no profit, other than in this one instance.  If the manufacturer sells all of the product that it can make, there's little incentive to discount.

Again, I agree that Accuphase pricing seems excessive in the US, but the company competes in a free market. Consumers vote with their wallets.
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cleeds
5,711 posts
 
d2girls
... Dealer was so rude, just in the tone of his voice and the way he handled things. I didn’t even talk about some other things he said. No way to treat a customer.
At one time or another, I think many audiophiles have experienced this class of "customer service" and there's no excuse for it, regardless of price. I'd walk out and never return.
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