Post by Owen Y on Feb 14, 2020 13:50:40 GMT 12
Steve Guttenberg AUDIOPHILIAC & Andrew Singer from Sound by Singer, don't think so..... SOUND BY SINGER claim to be " THE WORLD'S BEST HIGH-END AUDIO STORE" Sound by Singer has been operating in New York City for 41 years, founded by Andrew Singer, a former musician & lawyer. " In the past 10 to 15 years... there's tremendous amounts of misinformation on the internet. " " Nobody in their right mind would go into selling high-end and audiophile components and systems, for the purpose of making money. " " You have to be a.... life coach.... an audio coach. "
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Post by Owen Y on May 7, 2020 16:20:36 GMT 12
Steve Guttenberg AUDIOPHILIAC interviews Kevin Deal, owner of Upscale Audio in California: He is upbeat about the future of 'brick & mortar' audio stores... " We are busier than stink...! " " There are dealers that are doing really good business right now that have brick and mortar stores.... but they are doing value-added things. " However most hi-fi dealers... " They're doing it because they love it. Nobody opens a hi-fi store because it's a good business. Most of them eke out a reasonable living, if that, just an OK living. "
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Pundit
Post by Skinny Puppy on May 7, 2020 20:46:38 GMT 12
The question that's a little more pertinent...
Is what effect will this have on NZ HiFi stores?
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Post by andrewp on May 7, 2020 23:24:31 GMT 12
I wonder how many places actually stock what they sell..? Ive seen retailers selling their wares on Tm that they dont have in stock...but we can get it. Ok fair call if its having to be made by the seller. (Pure Audio for example) Freight is going to push up the costs of bringing gear in also...massively in many cases for heavy items.
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Post by Owen Y on May 8, 2020 15:00:44 GMT 12
This is tending to be the trend now - witness PS Audio, Naim Audio.... ie.' Drop Shipping'. " Naim Audio offering direct order for UK customers during COVID-19 lockdown " ( Naim Audio press release)
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Post by cartridgeguyonline on May 8, 2020 16:03:48 GMT 12
Personally I think the bigger question is: can high end audio survive with this arms race in stratospheric pricing ?
Ive been pondering this one since Owens post on the Cambridge Audio turntable RRP $3250 ?. Now 40 years ago pretty much this exact amount would have bought you one of the worlds best Turntables. Then as now you could argue what that might be but all around this figure were a fully kitted LP12 (Ittok, Asak, lingo and valhalla at the that stage iirc), a Sota Sapphire, Oracle Delphi with Dynavector arm, and various models from Michell, Micro Seiki etc. The top Technics linear tracker SL15 inc the technics 205 cart would have left you a reasonable amount of change. In other words you could have had one of the worlds best tables for the price you would now pay for a plug and play ! To buy one of the worlds best tables now you would probably have to add a couple of zeros to that figure.
At about the same time, the top of the range KEF speakers (R105, the ones with the speakers in the plastic pod on top and a 15 inch driver), ran out at $4500.00. Top of the line KEF speakers now would be 10 times that ? And then theres a whole plethora of Magico/YG/Wilson models far in excess of that.
Just my thoughts. YMMV
BTW Upscale audio have been doing online stuff for years.
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Pundit
Post by beeman on May 8, 2020 17:15:03 GMT 12
Not that I operate in the world of Hi End Audio but probably only 5% of what I have owned has been auditioned & bought from a "shop". Been doing it since forever ;-)
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Post by cartridgeguyonline on May 8, 2020 18:54:32 GMT 12
Not that I operate in the world of Hi End Audio but probably only 5% of what I have owned has been auditioned & bought from a "shop". Been doing it since forever ;-) To be honest I cant think of too many shops worldwide that would stock your equipment Beeman. Part of the problem with shops is that they are tied to distributors and are wont to only stock those distrubutors products. Hence there might be some very nice sounding combinations that never get to dance because they are handled through different distribution channels. An example of this I remember well is that of the Plinius SA100 with the Spendor SP2/2, which imo and others who heard it a superb combination. But not ever likely to occur as were sold by disparate outlets who were mortal enemies.
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Pundit
Post by Skinny Puppy on May 8, 2020 19:59:40 GMT 12
...and then there's brands that anyone can get, yet no one wants, because everyone can get them!
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Post by Owen Y on Mar 9, 2021 11:49:30 GMT 12
Well (some) 'high-end' audio manufacturers seem to be taking different routes now & post pandemic, taking a more front-line role in initiating contacts with potential customers... We've seen PS AUDIO switch completely to factory-direct sales in 2019 (ditching their dealers in USA) - having worked hard to build a direct relationship with their customers, largely through Paul McGowan's personable public profile. VPI INDUSTRIES, like others, now have a customer/dealer portal/e-commerce website, where (USA) customers who cannot or do not wish to visit a dealer retail store, can purchase direct from VPI & VPI will 'drop-ship' direct to the customer on behalf of a local dealer. VPI say that the dealer is thus still supported & still gets a share. Again, the customer-dealer relationship is lessened. BOWERS & WILKINS, now part of the Sound United group since late 2020, " have begun selling products online or expanding existing online sales." McINTOSH sells some of its products through 'authorised online dealers'. MAGNEPAN have started selling their smallest LRS model loudspeaker online " while keeping dealers in the loop". (See - STEREOPHILE, 4 Mar '21) BRYSTON (Canada) are another example, offering an 'online shopping' page, where customer 'Purchase Requests' can be received & eventually passed on to dealers. Again, for USA & Canadian customers only. 
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Pundit
Post by peter0c on Mar 9, 2021 12:45:49 GMT 12
When I started my hifi obsession in the late 1960s there were relatively few components (Amcron, Phase Linear, McIntosh, Harmon Kardon, Dynaco and Quad amps, Tannoy, B and W, Wharfedale, Bose, AR, Quad speakers) to drool over in shops, at least in NZ because of the high import duty. Sensible people hung onto their Leak TL10s and tannoy MGs. Over the years this number has increased by at least a factor of 10 (not counting boutique manufacturers) but there are approximately the same number of bricks and mortar shops. I don't think therefore that there will be enough choice available in shops added to which online sales for everything else is growing exponentially. This trajectory is unlikely to change.
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Post by Owen Y on Mar 24, 2021 11:59:07 GMT 12
Further on the above.... BRYSTON in Ontario, Canada, in response to the recent downturn in customer traffic through dealer stores, are actively increasing their online presence 'and reach' - by encouraging 'online shopping' through their website & hiring of more factory 'sales' people. The manufacturer-customer relationship could also become more critcal as products become more 'software driven'. But, BYSTON want to maintain trust with & support for their dealers & are still referring enquiries to dealers for prompt follow-up. BRYSTON is also able to 'drop ship' to the customer directly, reducing the need for the dealer to invest in stock. So, BRYSTON is maintaining the manufacturer-dealer & dealer-customer relationships, whilst trying to develop & a stronger & easier manufacturer & dealer online relationship with customers. However... " (BRYSTON owner James Tanner) expects the number of dealerships to shrink: "I see factory [sales] people becoming more the norm, given their knowledge base." See - STEREOPHILE (22 Mar '21). " Brick'n'mortar audio stores may become fewer and farther between, but there will still be people who want to go into a store and listen. " 
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Post by andrewp on Mar 25, 2021 7:52:01 GMT 12
I think there is definitely room and a place for them. But they have to have stock or they sre just a place to collect a glossy pamphlet. And gone are the days when for the most part you can trial a product at home. Not criticizing here just stating facts. Ok Im sure thee are places that do offer that service but I bet you would have to be one heck of a client for that to happen...and thats totally fair.
So...what does the shop offer..? Advice and after sales services clearly. As far as advice goes thats what forums are for in my view. Apart from people I know who I have leant on alot through the years. And after all is said and done its just ones person opinion to another! The guarantee side of things is different obviously but in the world of social media companies dont want a bad rap from dis gruntled customers because man alive the keyboard can cause alot of problems if people feel done by.
Also,obviously firms are chosing to deal direct. Cutting out the middleman and go it alone for sales. As we all know the world is a global shop now and we all want to save a dollar. Ok there are risks also. You buy from XX retailer and your amp gets lost or the boat sink in the Suez Canal ypu have protection....Buying privately you dont!
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Post by jon on Mar 26, 2021 8:00:16 GMT 12
And gone are the days when for the most part you can trial a product at home. Not criticizing here just stating facts. Ok Im sure thee are places that do offer that service but I bet you would have to be one heck of a client for that to happen...and thats totally fair. Not my experience... When I did my audition for a new cartridge, I went and asked! Simon sent me a Hana ML without any qualms! Terry sent me a Jo no5 as well. I did my audition and all was well. When I bought Beeman's phono stage I asked to audition, he let me do that without any qualms (and I bought it after 15 minutes at home in my system).
I believe people are shy about asking, thinking they would never be able to audition things in there home system! However if you are going to spend a lot of money, then it makes absolute sense that you can do so. Vendors who do not do this are cutting their profits and will go out of business.
And maybe I'm lucky! 
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Post by andrewp on Mar 28, 2021 14:19:49 GMT 12
Pleased it worked out for you. I would suggest that as you say younwee lucky!
Trialing kit through contacts here is obviously different as people are known.
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