Quote Originally Posted by Richard View Post
The big squeeze is on, fun and bargains for everyone.

For those non ebay watchers who haven't noticed, the retailers are jumping on ebay to try and shift stock, and prices are plummeting. If you pay full retailer whack for something at the moment you are daft, 30% discount will become the norm as they steadily go bust.

Linn dealers are trying to offload stock, which is very interesting, as it is known the company has problems. Even some Naim dealers are panicking.

But it is trade ins and old stock that is mostly being put up and is also mostly going up with no reserve, and going prices are 50% less (equivelent) than last year I estimate.

So the process starts, I will enjoy watching it.
Anyway we have had our fun kiddies, now back to topic.

Now we have a burgioning community of Hi-Fi - AV - DIY forums it leaves a couple of questions.

What do we need magazines and reviewers for now - we can do it ourselves. Hi-Fi masturbation, you know what Marco does to make his valve amps sticky. OK some awkward gits like Marco and me get banned from some forums but so what! everyone has a home. Who can give you the best knowledge about product - the users? the manufacturers? the retailers? or the marketers? it really is a no brainer isn't it!

Everyone in between you and the guy who designs and makes your gear is an on cost - you pay for it, and in this industry that accounts for at least a doubling of the price you pay.

Look at ebay for the changing world. It wont always stay on ebay, monopolies always out think themselves, and manufacturers websites will be good too. But we are getting near to an internet re think and re invent which I am sure will give other possibilities. Still though very few who sell through their own websites are passing the saving to you, must are still keeping a retail price the same as if it was retailed to you. I sell at ebay at 50% off the prices I would use if I went through retail or wanted to keep those margins.

Who can stop it - well you - stand up for yourself. If you want a product approach the *manufacturer* and ask to buy it, refuse to go through a retailer, demand a trade price. Most manufacturers will tell you to sod off, but so what, if they get a hundred calls like that a day and their product is not selling in the shops what do you think will happen