Rip off British Hi-Fi Industry

[Marco]

Sorry but this is complete and absolute nonsense.

I'm sorry, but it isn't - it's the result of my (and others) experience!

Read what Rob has to say.

Richard, you do your things your way; that's fine. But I would not buy and sell hi-fi equipment the way you describe, and I know plenty of others like me who agree

Good luck to those who do it your way, and enjoy it, though!

Marco.

[WikiBoy]

I'm sorry, but it isn't - it's the result of my (and others) experience!

Read what Rob has to say.

Richard, you do your things your way; that's fine. But I would not buy and sell hi-fi equipment the way you describe, and I know plenty of others like me who agree

Good luck to those who do it your way, and enjoy it, though!

Marco.

OK, so pay 100% more than it is worth - your loss!

[Marco]

Not at all, and I don't mind paying extra for good service and peace of mind.

If you audition equipment carefully enough in the first place, and make sure what you're buying is what you want (long term), then there is no such loss. I'm not into 'box-swapping', like Jerry. Good luck to him, though!

It's the reason why I rarely change my equipment - because I'm thorough and time to make sure I've made the right decision when making a purchase, and as such am 100% satisfied with my system.

When the times comes to sell equipment on, it won't owe me anything

Your way is risky and too much of a bloody headache (for me anyway)!!

Marco.

[WikiBoy]

Not at all, and I don't mind paying extra for good service and peace of mind.

If you audition equipment carefully enough in the first place, and make sure what you're buying is what you want (long term), then there is no such loss. I'm not into 'box-swapping', like Jerry. Good luck to him, though!

It's the reason why I rarely change my equipment - because I'm thorough and time to make sure I've made the right decision when making a purchase, and as such am 100% satisfied with my system.

When the times comes to sell equipment on, it won't owe me anything

Your way is risky and too much of a bloody headache (for me anyway)!!

Marco.

Again nonsense - zero risk with new product and fun with second hand product.

By law you have to have 30day return for full refund if entering into an on-line contract. Your loss with some people is P&P, but that is about the same as petrol etc to go for dems, and dems mean nothing. You name me a retailer who will allow you to return goods at 30days for full refund If any few and far between. You really do not know much in the first few days let alone hours and minutes. Any hi-end piece of equipment will take at least a week to come on song and show its potential, so infact on-line would be a far more accurate and safe way to assess product.

Headache - sitting on computer, listening to others talk about the product you are interested in, maybe going round to a fellow member and having a listen, buying on line and knowing you can return at 30 days for full refund AND paying half the price.

Headache - Phoning around retailers for advice, reading magazines. Selecting a retailer, going to the shop for dem, having the gear at home for a couple of days before having to return it, AND paying twice the price.

I ask the forum which headache is the more acceptable, as I said - a no brainer.

[Mike]

If budget is any consideration at all (and it always is with me), then IMHO on-line wins every time.

I know other won't agree, but..... <shrugs>

[Steve Toy]

OK, so pay 100% more than it is worth - your loss!

Richard,

You have now clearly answered my question; you are indeed one of those fellows who knows the price of everything and the value of nothing.

I suspect however that yours may actually be a jaundiced view - one that stems from too many temper tantrums that may have cut you and your products off from the market place via the more conventional routes.

[Marco]

Richard,

What are you like!

Why is everything you don't agree with always "nonsense"?

There *is* a risk doing things your way because you never know 100% for sure if you'll manage to sell unwanted equipment, and whether or not you'll take a loss on it. I can't be arsed farting about like that, unboxing stuff, boxing it back up, and shipping it. I don't consider it "fun"!!

I know people who do things your way and their living rooms look like dealer demo rooms with all their unwanted (unsold) gear strewn across the floor!

If I'm going to use a dealer my buying procedure is thus:

1) Identify equipment wanted and find a dealer who stocks it.

2) Phone up or email said dealer and arrange an audition.

3) Listen to said equipment with my own music and if it shows promise arrange a home trial to assess said equipment in my own system (minimum period one week).

4) After trial period is over, decide to buy equipment or not. If I decide to buy equipment I return the demo stock to the dealer and place an order for said equipment and pay, or buy the demo stock (if available) at a reduced price. He might even have some second-hand equipment I like that is fully guaranteed

5) When in possession of said equipment, set it up, press 'play' and enjoy beautiful music

I don't care what it costs or what inconvenience this procedure entails in the short term, because in the long term I know if I've been thorough that I'm guaranteed musical satisfaction and thus will save a fortune on constant 'upgrades' and/or buying and selling unwanted equipment

Marco [Who's owned his CD player for 3 years, his preamp and power amp for 4 years, his T/T for 1.5 years, and his speakers for 8 years, and NEVER complains on forums about problems with his system]

[Prince of Darkness]

Richard,

You have now clearly answered my question; you are indeed one of those fellows who knows the price of everything and the value of nothing.

If anything, I would have said the reverse was true.

[Marco]

If budget is any consideration at all (and it always is with me), then IMHO on-line wins every time.

Of course budget is a consideration. With me, though, if I can't afford what I really want then I save up until I can, otherwise I do without.

Marco.

P.S One other point I would add for everyone is that dealers are very good at sussing out serious buyers from time wasters, and this is reflected in their willingness or not to offer (longer) equipment home-demos. Fortunately, I've somehow managed to have no problems arranging such demos

[Mike]

OK... no problem.

Let's try a little experiment. Recommend a piece of equipment to me, say, a cartridge for instance. And tell me how much you would expect to pay for it?



P.S. Isn't this getting a bit off topic ?