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High End is Dead?

Browsing used audio sites such as Audiogon and the Marts, high end gear ads are dominated by several dealers. Non-dealer ads are usually people trying to push 15+ year old off-brand junk at 60-70% of MSRP (when they were new). They don't sell anything. You could slash Wilsons, Magicos, etc, 50% off retail and no one will buy them.

No one buys if it costs more than 1k. It's not that they're not interested -- the ads get plenty of views. It's that the asking prices are just way over the ability of buyers to pay. Fact is, if you see a high end piece for sale it's probably by a dealer, often times trying to push it at 15% off retail because its a trade in, but also often they are taking a good chunk off the price 30, 40 sometimes 50% off. They can be famous brands with a million positive reviews. No buyers.

Are we just poor, and that's all there is to it? 
madavid0

Showing 1 response by bjesien

bjesien
1,373 posts
 
1. People do care about equipment. Perhaps more than the room, or even music, so puts all manufacterers immediately on the hot seat.
2. People who are successful in the audio business are working hard and have to play on the world stage because only something like 20% of revenue comes from their home country.
3. Salesman have always gotten a bad reputation for only caring about those that will make them money. They naturally weed out the time robbers but I’m sure make some mistakes. The few that embrace the web and play it well are rewarded.
4. Reviewers seem highly networked with manufacterers and are selling opinion on top of that. They have an audience too. Seems hard to build a career on this and I wonder how many live on this paycheck or is it a hobby? Again those that embrace technology seem to do well. Umpire or pimp? or a weird combination? 
5. The market will decide who has the right mix of talent and accumen to survive. I’m sure some of these guys have generational wealth and others came from more successful careers and shifted passions. They must balance their own books and figure it out.
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