|   Fake equipment sold on the web | KaJac
Apr 16, 2003 10:11 AM | | I am interested in buying used/new equipment off of various websites as it seems a good way to get higher end equipment than I would otherwise be able to afford. I was curious though if anyone had bad experiences to relate or knew of sites or types of scams where the speaker insides did not match the outsides if you know what I mean. Also, what about supposedly new speakers sold at really good prices? How soon does 'too good to be true' come into effect? Do people gut equipment and put off brand stuff back in and then sell it? I am sure it happens some but is it commonplace? How do you buy and feel confident? Is feedback a good mechanism to use? How can you tell if the equipment has been altered if it still sounds good?
Thanks for reading. |
| re: Fake equipment sold on the web | f0rge
Apr 16, 2003 10:30 AM | | those reasons alone are why i would not buy used speakers. you're a lot safer with amps and receivers and cd/dvd players because it really isnt worth it to modify them.
if you still want to go used for speakers i would suggest somewhere reputable, such as www.audiogon.com , i might stay away from ebay unless the seller has really good, as in little to no negative feedback. and for sites, ask around on forums like this to see which are good and which are bad |
| re: Fake equipment sold on the web | bo130
Apr 16, 2003 6:11 PM | | I just wanted to note something that you mentioned in your post. To a limited degree, depending on brand of course, you can find some great deals on equipment over the internet. However, when you refer to "higher end equipment", I get the impression that you may be talking about relatively expensive merchandise. My point here is that there are a TON of people on the web that are refered to as an unauthorized retailer. In other words, they may or may not be scam artists. If you buy from a non-authorized internet retailer, you certainly won't get after sales support or service, and certainly not a manufacturer's warranty. What you make your purchase decisions on is indeed your own buisness, but if you are going to throw some serious $$$ at speakers or other equipment, I would make sure that whatever internet site you buy from has a spotless reputation. There are tons of examples ranging from people getting a "substitute" for what they ordered, to getting a defective product and having to wait a month or more to get it repaired, to outright robbery. Spending (or waiting and saving up) a few hundred dollars to avoid the possibility of these problems IMO is worth the money.
I think that "too good to be true" is like anything else in life. If it indeed sounds too good to be true (like speakers sold out of a van) then it probably is. |
| in addition | bo130
Apr 16, 2003 6:19 PM | | When it comes to speakers in particular, it is highly recommended that you audition as many different brands and models within your price range as you can. Speakers have a profound effect (some say the greatest effect) on the sound of your system.
IMO this recommendation negates dealing with internet retailers, unless if they are willing to offer you a no-obligation home audition. Most, if not all, will place cost of paying to have the item shipped back on your shoulders, if anything. |
| Fake audio equipment ? | Mash
Apr 16, 2003 7:11 PM | | I doubt it.
Audio gear is way too varied, and audiophiles are way too picky, to "fake" products. Misrepresentation is another matter.
Trashed, older-than-represented, older-model-than-represented, or in-worse-condition-than-represented ....Yes.
How good are you are reading between the lines, asking questions, and reading people? Buying in person is usually better but maybe it is not practical. I once went to look at a subwoofer and it was an older, previous model of the represented brand, and that model was considered far less desireable than the model that was described to me on the telephone. So, assuming you are male, you will kiss a lot of frogettes as you find your princesses.
Select watches are a favorite fake item. One ploy is to put Japanese quartz chrono movements into fake Breitling auto chronographs and peddle them for $125 or so. There are ways to spot these:
Stamped bezels instead of machined bezels;
You must know by sight the various Swiss auto chrono movements, and then you must also know that Breitling auto chronos only use the Valjoux 7750.
Everybody wants a $900 eBay Breitling for $125. |
| re: Fake equipment sold on the web | Bill L
Apr 17, 2003 2:36 PM | | Stay away from items from Hong Kong. |
| re: Fake equipment sold on the web | maxximtl
Apr 17, 2003 3:57 PM | | Here is what I did. I went to the local stores and auditioned everything until I found the speakers that I wanted. Then, I started shopping online for the speakers I had chosen.
In my case, I was able to find an internet AUTHORIZED dealer for my speaker, and saved about $300/pair vs. what I would have paid in the store. I still have the same warranty and product quality that I would have gotten for a substantially higher price at a local store.
I would mirror the comments made before. Don't make any purchace decisions without trying out the product first.
Also, if you buy online, check the Better Business Bureau for complaints against the company. Knowing as much as you can about the company will help you make the right choice. Talk to the people on the phone....are they helpful, or do they seem interested in making the sale and nothing else? Ask them about return policies, and what the protocol is for having items serviced.
Often times, the best place to buy electronics isn't the cheapest place to buy them. I will gladly pay a bit more for good customer service and support after the sale.
George Carlin put it best when he said "The person who coined the term 'Buyer Beware' was probably bleeding from the ass." |
| |
