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 1 response by paradisecom

paradisecom
346 posts
 

There are 2 different business models.  The business model where a luxury manufacturer does not sell direct-to-consumer is purposefully built to drive traffic to the retail space so the prospective customer can see/ touch/ experience the products in person.  This happens quite often in "pull" lines from luxury manufacturers such as Chanel, Rolex, McIntosh, etc.  Driving down a retail price for an item isn't a deciding factor as much as creating a positive buying experience and creating relationships with their customers for them.

Neither model is wrong compared to the other, just different, imo.

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