I'm guessing if you get in quick there could be even bigger deals on Fyne!
Has anyone taken advantage?

www.audioreference.co.nz/

"Our new website is now online!
You may have noticed and I am pleased to announce that our new website is now up and on-line.

As you will see, it's quite a different format and concept to the past offering direct links to our suppliers’ general websites and direct links to their specific product pages so you can keep up to date with their latest information and releases. I think it's the best way to keep you in touch and fully informed.

You will also find we’ve taken the opportunity to introduce a number of new and interesting brands, some are in conjunction with our colleagues, Nirvana Sound in Australia as their NZ representative, giving you even more choice of class-leading, high-end gear.

One change you will find is that product RRPs are no longer listed.

With significant ongoing increased freight costs and unstable exchange rates, it’s problematic to keep listed prices on track. It requires virtually all pricing having to be double checked on the day. So, by not listing their RRP, there is no misunderstanding or out of date price expectations, but of course always happy to quote you special pricing anytime.

Another change you will find is our "Specials" page has been discontinued too. In future, specials, trade-ins, demo gear and on-behalf sales, etc. will be listed on Trade-Me. This keeps it all together on one site and it gives the gear the best opportunity by exposing it to a wider audience.

During the C19 period we were literally cleaned out of all stock which came as a nice surprise. However, it gave me pause to consider that with all the uncertainty ahead, was it a wise time to reinvest the $500,000 I typically carried, back into stock again. The conclusion was "maybe not". From that conclusion, we sold our Lake Rd property including the showroom and moved to a more relaxed location with a wonderful view across the harbour with the result that it’s changed my operating model going forward to one without a showroom or stock."

I'm not a fan of this sort of website, seen too often overseas, especially on high end audio websites. But hey, that's just me. 

" ...it’s changed my operating model going forward to one without a showroom or stock. "

DarkLantern blog - darklanternforowen.wordpress.com

Cant blame the retailers for not holding stock as mentioned the dollars are BIG!

The world is a global shop today and clearly we are ALL taking advantage of that fact. Whether its pre loved or online it must be very hard to a bricks and mortar shop with the rent the way it is to compete. Also with reviews online for most products Im sure alot of us buy on the opinions of others,which is clearly no crime.

Dec 24, 2020 15:37:31 GMT 12 Citroen said:

I'm not a fan of this sort of website, seen too often overseas, especially on high end audio websites. But hey, that's just me. 

 DITTO

not a fan of not listing RRP nor not having any actual stock either.

How is anyone going to audition those Magico's now ?

Contrast with The Listening Post Wellington who have moved to Lower Hutt.

New store, plenty of stock at all price points, multiple demo rooms.

No showroom = nothing to sell. No stock = nothing to buy. I might as well import whatever I fancy myself, with a known RRR plus freight plus GST. Oh well, that is what I have been doing anyway.

Agree with Michael re the likes of The Listening Post. Even if the brand you want is NOT in store I bet many of us would be swayed by a product of similar specs and price that we can touch and see in real time...and walk out with on the day!!

It's more of a consultancy really, you are paying for his advice and service and YMMV. Carrying no stock means he can offer a broader range and a better chance of having a genuinely good option for clients. I'd suspect he would have the customer base to support it. I hope so, you can't say he hasn't given it a good go over the years.

Obviously appealing to the "well heeled music lover thats not a HiFi enthusiast" market, which if memory serves is the same market Neil is pitching at, so there must be plenty of potential buyers ? As I rarely buy new HiFi and dont fit any of those criteria thats me out.

It's not a consultancy - the business model is that of an importer who sells direct to customers via a website, not through a shop or showroom.
A consultant, to successfully gain the trust of the buyers would need to be independent - meaning they would steer people towards products that best fit their needs... and not the products that they happen to have access to as an importer / retailer.

Ultimately it's just another spin on his business as he looks to wind things down and exit the industry.
If he has liquidated a majority of his stock, all he needs to do is buy a few products to fulfill any orders he can get.
Will customers be willing to wait?
Will his suppliers want someone who doesn't commit to higher stock levels / regular purchases?

Dec 31, 2020 15:24:03 GMT 12 cartridgeguyonline said:

Obviously appealing to the "well heeled music lover thats not a HiFi enthusiast" market, which if memory serves is the same market Neil is pitching at, so there must be plenty of potential buyers ? As I rarely buy new HiFi and dont fit any of those criteria thats me out.

Nah, we will sell to anyone. We don't market to any sector in particular. And we tend to actually keep stock, otherwise what's the point? It just becomes a ticket clipping exercise, which, whilst appealing on some levels, sort of defeats the purpose of an actual consultancy. But horses for courses... 

Vice deputy sub assistant at Turned On Audio

audiosatori.wordpress.com