Rip off British Hi-Fi Industry

[YNWaN]

The very concept of 'rip-off hi-fi' is ridiculous. Hi-fi is a luxury item, nobody needs it to exist so nobody is obliged, or forced, to buy anything. If you think something is poor value for money, don't buy it - it's not difficult (works fine for me). If you believe that God has given you a mission to point out all wrongs (real or imagined) that exist in the tiny universe of hi-fi then A/ get a grip, B/ seek psychiatric advice.

You can't be 'ripped off' on purchase prices. One only pays what one chooses to!

No doubt poor after sales service occurs, warranties, etc. That may be the rip off!

Exactly.

[DSJR]

Yeah, but the business has shrunk further and the rise and rise of online sellers in the meantime has definitely changed the game I think.

One issue with SMALL online sellers is that those that change or 'update' their products regularly, may not be able to afford to keep backup service stock of components from previous versions. On the other hand, other makers maintain excellent reliability and a ready willingness to service/conserve older product when necessary.

[Gordon Steadman]

Out here in France there is very little evidence of hi-fi at all. I haven't seen a proper dealer since we have been here. Our French neighbours look at our hi-fi as if it came from outer space. Like 99% of the population, they have a small Sony or the like, all in one unit with women's speakers. The supermarkets sell them. Even the bigger electrical retailers only stock Samsung black plastic stuff.

Obviously the is an industry here as the French produce some very expensive gear but its such a small market that they, like anyone else in the business need a healthy mark up to survive.

I agree that its nonsense to talk of rip off. If I think something is too expensive, I don't buy it. If I think an expensive item is justified in looks/performance, then I have to pay the market price of buy second hand - which is what I do.

Teufel (sorry to name them again) only sell on line but if I hadn't been offered the kit free, there is no way I would buy a pair of speakers without hearing them first. In theory, they reduce their prices accordingly. Same goes for any kit, money back guarantees or not. If I heard it at a dealer, thats where I would buy it - if I had the necessary asking price, otherwise I wouldn't buy it at all.

I remember the overheads I used to have when I was paying business rates etc. I don't know how anyone survives on the high street these days. The level of markup is no surprise to me.

Rip off - nope. If they survive, someone thinks its worth it.

[Dauntless]

Like a lot of folk have already said, if you think it is a rip off don't buy it. Nobody is forcing you. I myself have not bought anything from a Hi-Fi dealer since the early 90's. I buy on line and don't have a problem with that method. I consider myself reasonably experienced and can research to come to a conclusion. I would never go to a dealers and have a demo. This is an approach that has been strongly suggested by the Hi-Fi mags in my view which is in their interests but not mine.

[rubber duck]

The very concept of 'rip-off hi-fi' is ridiculous. Hi-fi is a luxury item, nobody needs it to exist so nobody is obliged, or forced, to buy anything. If you think something is poor value for money, don't buy it - it's not difficult (works fine for me).

Isn't the issue more about price discrepancies for the same item in the UK and elsewhere? Or for that matter, UK-made hi-fi which can be bought cheaper overseas, even after factoring in VAT, etc?

[Joe]

Is buying a new car a rip-off, when it loses a huge chunk of its value as soon as you drive it away? If so, then the same applies to buying new hifi from a 'proper' dealer; if not, then not.

[Peter Galbavy]

One problem is that of "new blood". If all the so-called high end HiFi is either found to be or even seen to be a rip-off then this discourages new entrants into the consumer space which in turn reduces the size of the market which in turn makes prices even higher as the manufacturing runs get even smaller. I'm not talking about stereo-typical spotty teenagers looking for something better than their phone to play music on - who will typically understand ebay et al - but instead later in the lifecycle, the employed consumer with some disposable income, the "John Lewis" shopper if you like.

Goose, golden egg, roasting tray.

[Elephantears]

Isn't the issue more about price discrepancies for the same item in the UK and elsewhere? Or for that matter, UK-made hi-fi which can be bought cheaper overseas, even after factoring in VAT, etc?

Yes, this is what people should be looking into. If you look at prices in Japan, there are some real shocks, and not just when looking at Japanese products. I've seen British hi-fi so cheap over there that I would seriously consider booking a flight to Tokyo and spending some time there just to get some speakers posted back, if I had the time.

[YNWaN]

Isn't the issue more about price discrepancies for the same item in the UK and elsewhere? Or for that matter, UK-made hi-fi which can be bought cheaper overseas, even after factoring in VAT, etc?

Can it? I honestly don't know, you would have to give me specific examples I'm afraid. Stuff imported from abroad has long been subjectively poor value for money than in its home country - but it's still up to the buyer whether to fork out for it or not (I haven't). Value for money is ultimately in the pocket of the spender (as opposed to the eye of the beholder ).

[DSJR]

What the OP was trying to weed out, I think, isn't so much the dealer (he states hopefully ) but the distributer, who bought in cheap from Japan and now China (most often), added a good few hundred percent (quite often) before trade-pricing it to a retailer. Even now, how much or little do you think the spate of £300 - £400 active 'monitors' come into the UK for? I'm told around £60 to £75 and the dealer doesn't have a huge margin on them, which I understand is more in line with computer products than traditional 'High Fidelity' gear...

Back in 1975, a cassette deck selling typically for £120 would leave the factory for no more than £25. Dealer would buy it at around £85 to £90 back then if they bought in quantity.