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If you had to pay full retail, would you...???

I recently got the Music Direct catalog in the mail. Lots of cool gear, interesting tweaks, awesome LPs. Looking over the catalog several times, I said to myself, "man, there are a lot of expensive tweaks which the un-initiated must think is simply crazy". What also struck me is that all the stuff I want, is ultra expensive and the stuff at "real-world prices" are nothing really spectacular. Even at the low end side of "high-end" gear, I would be laying out considerably more than if I went to Best Buy and bought an All in one system.

So, here is where I am headed. I have put together a pretty nice system, almost entirely found here on Audiogon, over back in the day at Audiomart. I scored my amps which retail for $13,000 for $4000. My speakers retailed for $7500 and I got em for $1500. My turntable was $500, which retail was $2500. If, I bought a new $500 turntable, I would get like a Music Fidelity MF, entry level one.

if you bought most of your system used, if you had to start from square one and had to buy Full retail, would you still be into this hobby?

Entry level high end gear really does not interest me. it lacks pizzaz, like the Avid Reference has. For what I paid for my AudioLogic tube DAC, I could only afford a Mid-level Marantz. I beleive I would still be a Music lover, but if forced to spend Full retail for high end gear, I think I would opt for mass market mid-fi, or simply do a laptop based digital system through a mass market company.
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gliderguider's avatar
gliderguider
294 posts
 
I'm quite comfortable paying full retail for the gear I buy from my local dealer. He's one of those rara aves who has complete integrity, stands behind everything he sells and has the technical backup to fix it if something goes wrong. He also has proven to have the insight and experience needed to make recommendations that are good both for my system and my tastes. The hobby isn't just about buying and selling components. Helping a dealer make a living in return for a solid set of tangible and intangible value-adds beyond the moment of sale has a great deal of value for me.

It doesn't take many "discount mistakes" to offset the cost of a paying a good dealer his markup.
240zracer
121 posts
 
In the days before Audiogon and Ebay there were better deals to be had locally on used equipment. These are better days in most ways, but I don't plan on finding another MC-2205 for $500 in my local newspaper. I wonder what the discount is on a Magico Mini? Do folks pay $22,000 for a hot item that is about to go up in price?
duck944
1 posts
 
Audiogon exists because of all the wrong mis-matched equipment/set-ups. Many people spend way more in the long run by not just going to a dealer and getting it right to begin with. It amazes me that people who say they love this hobby won't support a local dealer...and then will one day wonder why there is NO place to look at/hear all the stuff and have fun and share their hobby by making a lasting relationship. Why would you want to lose places like these is beyond me...Must be this website sums it up: www.officialdudley.com
johnjbarlow's avatar
johnjbarlow
175 posts
 
Music Direct will discount to repeat customers. They also have really great vinyl for sale. They have an abundance of affordable tweaks, and a knowledgable and friendly sales staff. They also provide excellent shipping and service. This is why they stay in business. BTW, I don't work for Music Direct.

IMHO. There seems to be as many high end companies as there are audiophiles. That translates to sporadic sales, necessitating large profit margins. Is that too simplistic?

I am a just a humble working stiff. I started out buying from a now defunct audio salon in the woods of northern Wisconsin. The internet and a paper mill closing which decimated the local economy, led to their demise. If it weren't for Audiogon and a few high end retailers that get the new paradigm, I wouldn't be able to stay in this hobby. At least not at the level of quality of gear that I own.

In the last decade, the price for gear in the upper echelon has sky rocketed. Too me it seems excessive. My deep passion for good sounding music keeps me in the game. Alas, I will problably have to put off retirement for another ten years. Oh well, things could be worse.
jaybo
4,478 posts
 
the notion that a manufacturer's retail list price is even valid today is 'imaginary'. just like the benefits of many upgrades.
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