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"Soft" factors when buying expensive HiFi?

vln

vln

Shuns mooks. And MQA.
Hi all,


do you consider "soft" factors when buying expensive HiFi?

So, suppose you like a given product (or at least are seriously interested in it), which would cost you a considerable amount of money, but:

1.) The dealer who sells the product is unfriendly / unhelpful / incompetent etc.

2.) The shop looks dodgy, i.e. you don't know if they will still be around in 1 / 2 / etc. years

3.) The shop has a confusing and inconsistent product line up and you don't know if they will still sell that particular brand in 1 / 2 / etc. years (and consequently be able to service it, or even are interested in dealing with it)

4.) The importer who imports the product looks dodgy, i.e. you don't know if they will still be around in 1 / 2 / etc. years (and consequently be able to service it)


Cheers,
Samuel.
 
If I wanted one I'd just buy the product from a different, less dodgey looking shop. An unfriendly or incompetent dealer would be unlikely to have sold me anything in the first place!

If I thought the manufacturer was wobbly though I'd certainly think twice before buying anything expensive which might break down and require specialist service.
(no chance of me buying a linn DS then!!!)

Distrubutors rarely service anything themselves and if the product range is any good a new distributor will be appointed.

so none of the things on your list would actually stop me buying something I wanted and thought was good, but if I thought the manufacturer was wobbly or unable to service what they had made only a few years ago it certainly would.
 
5) The manufacturer is a dick, and has a stable of magazine reviewers in his pocket, but the product still sounds great.
 
Yank said:
5) The manufacturer is a dick, and has a stable of magazine reviewers in his pocket, but the product still sounds great.
Click to expand...
and the reviewer has a permanent loan item from importer/manufacturer(this was certainly true in the mid 70's)
 
Why use a shop? there's a thing called t'internet :eek:

Same for getting things serviced - lots of specialists about - you can courier your kit to them if you want. And let's be honest, how much kit really needs servicing these days?
 
Let's just say that where I live the good dealers and the dealers who sell interesting products are not necessarily one and the same.

I also notice that the more I spend on HiFi, the more conservative and risk averse I get, shying away from ultra-exotic, very small brands.
 
Stu_cj said:
Why use a shop? there's a thing called t'internet :eek:
Click to expand...

Problematic if you want to audition stuff.


Stu_cj said:
Same for getting things serviced - lots of specialists about - you can courier your kit to them if you want.
Click to expand...

Problematic if, say, the thing in question weight 80kg (and there are two of those things)


Stu_cj said:
And let's be honest, how much kit really needs servicing these days?
Click to expand...

Not much, agreed, but if I were to spend a 5-figure sum, I really would want everything covered. Also makes it easier when selling stuff on.
 
So Samuel

Are you able to share what you are considering - or is it so niche that the people you speak of will instantly know you are talking of them! You could always PM me.

i think it's important to know that you have back-up in the warranty dept. if you are spending a considerable sum - since if something goes wrong it's a second cost you can really do without taking a hit on.

If you've fallen for a particular product, are there other dealers? Or importers, even if it means buying from Europe, rather than UK based.... since they may offer good back up anyway - due to the market/sector they supply to.

Nig
 
i have a great problem with lots of dealers. I met a really nice guy who then demoed a speaker in an empty room. It sounded terrible and I just didn't have the courage to tell him. Sorry. no local dealers that can offer what i want so i have decided to do my own thing.
 
In the high-end market your so called soft factors are major issues. The dealers who tick all the boxes work long hours, love their jobs, only stock brands they and their customers can trust, often offer modest discounts whilst providing fantastic service ... and make decent but not obscene profits. There are a modest number of such dealers. I no longer earn an income large enough to patronise such dealers, but many people do.

Nic P
 
vln said:
Hi all,do you consider "soft" factors when buying expensive HiFi?
Samuel.
Click to expand...

Not at all, identify the product i want then ring round a few dealers to see who will give the best discount.
Just the same as any other business transaction.

You can save a few thousand by using the telephone!
 
But buying high-end hi fi is not the same as buying a 'commodity', where price is all.You need to consider the total package, dealer, manufacturer, reliability, long term value and so on.It is an 'emotional' purchase rather than a simple rational one.Ringing round and buying simply on price won't always give you what you want. Car dealers know this, and ensure that the whole 'package' is of similar quality and image.
 
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