I wasn’t trying to Troll ya. But ya, I want a DSD Sr. but I’m looking to purchase that used next year to save some coin. My Stellar Stack (2x m700’s and a SGCD/Preamp) is to my ears the McIntosh killer (and I like my Mac’s - 2x MC50’s). Yes Mac’s are pretty and built like a “Brick Shxt House”. But I can’t afford $5k USD new for a Stereo Amplifier that only puts out 150WPC @ 8ohms when PSA gives you 350W (x2 monoblocks) and an excellent Analog Preampwith a nice sounding DAC with I2S inputs for $4k !
1 Like
Paul,
My question has probably been buried so I’ll ask directly. Will the speakers, when they become available, be part of the free shipping home audition program?
The smart money would have been - as a first step - on chopping all the box shifters, drop shippers and on-line sales channels and maintain relationships with B&M dealers who exhibit a specified minimum level of excellence and product on display in a showroom. All geographically sensibly located. Pricing would be MSRP, with provision to discount 5-10% for customers making multi-item system level purchases. All support requests must be channeled via the dealer on record. There must be some lingering doubt in company minds whether the decision to chop the whole dealer network was the best alternative.
1 Like
Good luck… not being cynical, but seriously… good luck.
For speakers… I can not see me buying without hearing them first.
Ain’t going to do it. I have read too many rave reviews over the years only to go into a shop and just be totally confused as to why so many liked them. These experiences (I am 59 years old so I have a few of these under my belt!) will not allow me to buy a speaker without hearing them first. Electronics are a bit different… but not by much. But if this is the way it will work, then so be it… I am not happy.
I purchased my current Focal speakers from Overture in Deleware… I had no specific desire for Focal… I went through a whole bunch of demos and walked out with these beautiful Focal speakers. While I am happy, I wonder what other brands/models I would have liked more. I will never know because of lack of brick and mortar stores.
Peace
Bruce in Philly
4 Likes
this is the best comment in this saga so far
2 Likes
It will be interesting to see what happens to the market short term:
- Prices will drop significantly as dealers want to clear their stock (bad news for you)
or
- Prices will slightly rise as dealers believe that PSA will not be as flexible on pricing with direct sale model so they will do the same with their remaining stock.
Per Paul’s post 179 above you will still have a dealer network in Canada. On a related note, Parts Connexion (near Toronto) has been advertising they are starting a new “store” called Audio Connexion and among the many brands they have become authorized dealers for, PS Audio is one of them. So you can get PS Audio in Canada and even mail order.
And, before I forget, welcome to the forum!
3 Likes
+1 on Parts Connection (PCX)
Consumer fair trade trade laws here in the "States makes this a tricky proposition. Manufacturers are NOT allowed to determine the final price to consumers. They are allowed to determine at what price the goods may be advertised. This had lead to all sorts of work-arounds like “call for price” or “add item to shopping cart to see price” that you see on line.
That said, some brands like Oakley, Apple and a few others have managed a tight reign on retail pricing, but they have an army of expensive lawyers to back up their policies and aren’t afraid to drag small mom & pop operations into court and ruin them in the process.
Sopra 2’s?
Same here.
Guy at Asperia Audio is extremely customer focused and great to work with.
1 Like
If PSA did this in Europe they would probably be breaking the law and have to pay their distributors compensation.
See: Council Directive 86/653/EEC of 18 December 1986
Dealer systems work well in Europe because it is small and one is usually fairly near. However I think UK customers will be put off by the price premium, lack of any real service and uncompetitiveness against local competition.
I suspect this will be good the local USA business.
Steven - this isn’t Europe. Any time Harbeth is willing to sell me their speakers at UK cost, I will be ordering a shiny new pair of 40.1’s ; )
Correction: “euro discounted dealer selling price plus shipping to the US”
The law protects European distributors. If they build a business and the manufacturer takes it away, usually by selling direct, the distributors have a right to compensation.
I am sorry, who deleted your post? Sorry, just getting back onto the forums. What was your post?
Well, to add a useless post to this thread:
Living in Japan, I wish there was a trade in program and in home 30 day trial policy you guys enjoy; be it from dealer or direct.
So @Paul, please consider Japan should you decide any change to oversees distribution.
It happens anyway…I’ve heard from 3-4 EU distributors who stopped carrying a brand because they found out manufacturers also sell directly. I read (also here) from EU distributors selling directly in parallel to the dealer network. And I just guess that every 3rd gear above 20k from smaller manufactrers is sold by them directly and every 10th gear is bought over grey market ways.
The. miracle that audio dealers long time managed to keep MSRP up while they certainly also tried to negotiate their own car purchases imo is one part of their meanwhile existing/upcoming downswing and rising online purchases.
And imo the value proposition of distributors is even less than the one of dealers. They do a job that must be done, sure, but they are very interchangable usually and optionally obsolete…never a good position. If they were big part of a sales success, things would be different.
My p20 is still cheaper!
1 Like
Yeah, and it’s still a great buy…
1 Like