|   Where do YOU shop ? | LazyBoy
Nov 30, 2001 5:22 AM | | I know this topic comes up on this board from time to time.
Where would you buy your equipment at? Would you buy from a gray market online dealer? Most of these dealers offer no real wty and very sort return & DOA replacement policies, It looks like many have dropped their exchange window to 14 days instead of 30.
I've had pretty good results with the products I've bought from Accessories for less. Fast shipping, very well packaged! (Marantz factory refurbished & Acoustic Research new/discontinued) A4L is an authorized dealer for both. I've bought the Marantz MM-9000 amp, Marantz VC-8100 300xDVD and AR-11 speakers.
I also bought discontinued Boston Acoustics VR-970 + VR-12 speakers from Sound Advice/Tweeter for about 1/3 of the retail price. Still covered by full wty. I'm glad I bought the BA's through these guy's as BA completely replaced one of the VR-970's subwoofer amps with a new amp when the volume control started going bad. BA also replaced the torn front grille on my VR-12 center speaker that was a floor demo at no charge.
My spin on shopping, If you can find a 'factory' dealer doing closeouts on discontinued models, or closing out a brand they are dropping they mark them down very nicely. I saved 300.oo when I bought my 50" Toshiba @ Service Merchandise because they were getting out of A/V electronics.
It's to bad Audio Review took down the good/bad dealer board on this site. It was an excellent place to share information about our experiences with dealers and sharing places for great deals on A/V equipment. |
| I buy my things at.... | midfiman
Nov 30, 2001 5:40 AM | | I have to agree with you that AC4L.com is excellent in their prompt service and AMAZING prices on their Marantz products B stock. I have also bought some marantz products from Cambridge Soundworks because generally anything that you buy from them they will take back for an upgrade with no problem. I have only bought things from Tweeter when they have a great price or things are on clearance. Otherwise, their "sale" prices are so high (eg. Denon AVR 3300 on sale for $999 in the past). What i generally do is try to test out equipment in stores like Tweeter and then look for them cheaper online.... |
| How about... | BelgianBeer
Nov 30, 2001 6:14 AM | | Something in the middle? I understand wanting to get the best price you can. I also understand not feeling too bad not giving business to some slick salesperson in a giant national megastore. How about a mom and pop store? Somehow it seems wrong to go into a place that provides the unit for you to check out, a person to assist you with it if need be (although the way things are I've run into more salespeople that were MORONS)and go straight to the internet. How about giving the store a chance to compete and asking to work a deal? Alot of small stores belong to buying groups so they can get the same wholesale price as the chain stores. I can't imagine if they can come close to your internet price, it would still be worth the hassel to buy online. Building a relationship with a local store can lead to deals in the future, tips on what new gear is on the way, and possibly good advice and attention when trying out a new unit.
Sorry if I got a little idealistic, and no, I don't work in the business. |
| How about... | philiog
Nov 30, 2001 6:36 AM | | I agree with you BelgianBeer. There is a small business here in my town that loves to talk shop with people and are very open with advice and help. I have purchased quite a few things from them in the past and they are more than willing to try to make you as good a deal as they can. Even if it is a hair higher than you can get from online, you don't have to hassle with shipping and handling, UPS delivering it to the wrong address, or repair or service over shipping. To me it is worth researching it online and then trying to get them to work a deal with you. If there is no way they can come close to the price then I say sure, get it online, but I try to stay local when I can. One on one relationships can be a great thing. |
| To be honest... | midfiman
Nov 30, 2001 11:15 AM | | I don't know if i can agree with your post even though i DO respect it. Simply because some of these stores charge SO much to other uninformed customers that they are making lots of money on that. For example, have you ever seen the prices of TVs in Tweeter vs a best buy or circuit city? It's insane the prices they charge. I think the relationship point is good when we're talking about real hi fi, but IMO, not for the sony, pioneer, etc...
Just an opinion, nothing to live by |
| As they say in "Life of Brian"... | BelgianBeer
Nov 30, 2001 6:26 PM | | "Don't you want to haggle?" Tell the guys at tweeter you saw it cheaper on line. Heck, ther'se a hole-in-the-wall family owned TV shop down the street who came down to the same price on a Panasonic 27" superflat as the GoodGuys because he pays the same wholesale price and has less overhead. I've looked at some of those "deals" on the net, and frankly, some aren't that much less. If people are that set on paying full price in a store, that's their loss. But I think prices dealers post are a little flexible, especially these days. I do think there is a place for internet shopping. The stuff I DO buy online are computer parts. Comp USA is the only place around and they're dorks! 15 day return policy, 10% restocking if it's open, they won't let you try things like scanners and the snot-nosed salespeople are retarded.
Happy Weekend!! |
| HiFi -vs MidFi | LazyBoy
Nov 30, 2001 7:11 PM | | Generally stores like Tweeter-Sound/Advice are selling the higher end units from the same mfrs. Even with that the store in town usually sells at full retail price on the models that they carry, no local competition helps them. Of course they are dealing with folks that can afford to spend 20k or more on a HT. They do mail out circulars to previous buyers with fairly reasonable sales from time to time. But a sale price of $500.oo off on a $3500.oo receiver or buy one speaker @ $2000.oo or more, get the 2nd @ 1/2 price begins to bring it down into the price range of the gray market internet dealers. I guess helps if you do your research know the competetive prices of the equipment you are getting and what service and wty policies you can expect from the dealer you are buying the equipment from.
Right now I'm torn between trying out the new Outlaw 950 Pre-Pro @ $900.oo or the Marantz AV9000 for about the same $$. The AV9000 will plug right into my current system. BUT, I'll probably give the 950 a look first since Outlaw has an unconditional 30 day return. That means another amp and speakers for full 7.1 surround, DAMN I hate it when that happens! Might even be able to get a B-stock from Outlaw after while and save a few hundred $$. I would like to see some of the pro and user reviews on this site first. Second choice would be the B&K ref30 but at 3 times the cost? Maybe one of these days ;-)
I guess it helps that I have not rushed into my purchases.
Untill then I'll keep shopping for a "bargin"
Steve |
| Generally factory direct | Bryan
Nov 30, 2001 7:51 AM | | Companies such as nOrh, SVS, Outlaw, Shamrock Audio, just to name a few. Also have had good luck with JandR.com. |
| re: Where do YOU shop ? | Doug C.
Nov 30, 2001 9:57 AM | | Audioadvisor.com has an excellent return policy. I order here if I think I may want to return something. Not the least expensive but being able to return with absolutely no hassle is worth it.
Many manufacturers that sell direct via the internet provide great products, service and return policies (SVS subwoofers, Outlaw Audio, Homegrown Audio Cables are a few that come to mind).
Doug C. |
| re: Where do YOU shop ? | ptt660
Nov 30, 2001 4:32 PM | | i second the vote for cambridge soundworks. i decided to buy the marantz sr-7200 there, despite the negative review from sound and vision as well as reports of defective units being purchased. with their liberal return policy, there is no risk. i just happened to get a good unit anyways. i would NOT shop at onecall.com on the net. they are one of many companies who charge you 15% of your purchase price for open box non-defective returns. i would not shop at any store or web site with that kind of policy. i got burned at onecall for 15%. i e-mailed to tell them that they will lose a lot more money than what they screwed me out of. i'll be telling anyone who asks about onecall here to shop somewhere else with a better return policy. |
| re: Where do YOU shop ? | Peter R
Nov 30, 2001 8:21 PM | | Ibuy all my cables from Crutchfield (don't trust my components being sent through the mail). Circuit City is useless. I have been mant times, and all of those times the salesperon did not even know how to work the switchboard to compare and contrast recievers. Now, I have given up, and work it myself when I go there. The best place I have been at so far is Tweeter. I have built a relationship with the store people, and can trust their advice. The only thing I would advise is to make sure you know what your talking about when you go in. If not Tweeter will try and sell you the store, and convince you that you need it (I am exaggerating, but you get my drift).
Pete |
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