2. amps-preamps
  3. 175246-155632

Do high end manufacturers need retail outlets?

Most of the preamp’s and amps I want to look at are not readily available in my Geographic area and many of times I have bought them without hearing them first. And even hearing them is problematic in a dealer if even possible because their systems are very different than your home system.

Further most hi end components are not on display anyway.

The hi end audio business is very small and don’t know why manufacturers don’t begin selling directly to consumers. PS audio does this end it seems there components are actually cheaper versus a retail store but I don’t like PS audio.

I think hi end market is undergoing a change. They really don’t need retail stores. For lower-cost mass market products you need retail stores. If I buy a  hi end product from a retail store it will be drop shipped from the manufacture often times. And further i don’t really like giving 40% of price to a retail seller when added value is very limited.

We all know high-end components are over priced and there needs to be a way to bring these prices way down and direct sales would go very far.

 

 

jumia

Showing 3 responses by jumia

jumia OP
528 posts
 

Installers of home theater system's or horribly insensitive to sonic quality.  The components to use tend to be second rate.  But they may offer a pretty appearance at the end of it all.  Always wondered why people invest so much money in a home theater room when it's typically not used very often. Regardless of how wealthy they are
 

In fact service from a high end manufacture is often better because the dealers tend not to know much about the products they're selling.  If their product doesn't exist in a Store then what value does a retailer have for higher end components.  Although they may still offer a better deal then a manufacture which is bizarre. Manufacturers will need to be shaken up and reduce their prices and maybe increase the volume and maybe stay in business.

Never mind the increment of value sonically for a component costing $15-$20,000 more then a mid teens product which is still pretty damn good.

jumia OP
528 posts
 

If you’re buying Macintosh B&w, marantz, Sony the new dealer is a good thing.

The whole issue here is the exceptionally over priced high end audio gear that exists which is not widely available. Most people buy on faith having never heard it. The high end industry takes advantage of those ultra rich people who don’t really care and would gullibly pay the higher price. The wealthy just don’t know no better.

So blame the rich people for the high prices. Not much of it is made and there’s more than enough wealthy people to buy it all. It never is available used because really rich people don’t have the time to sell older gear that was upgraded and now no longer use it.

 

jumia OP
528 posts
 

It would be great if a local dealer had the merchandise but the manufacturers make the dealers buy the equipment before they can show it to you, horrifying.

So manufacturers need to figure out a better way to sell much better gear then is available to the mass market. You can’t see it you can’t hear it you buy it you can’t return it and the dealer profits 30 to 40%. And then when you want to sell it you got to take a mark down by 50%.

It’s incredibly difficult to listen to gear  that is very unlike the room you’re going to use.

The market needs to change. They also need to improve the communication of the high points of gear that is being sold. Marketing descriptions of gear leave a lot to be desired. They are most often not helpful.

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