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  #11  
Old 08-15-2017, 12:08 AM
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metaphacts metaphacts is offline
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Originally Posted by malba2366 View Post
I think this is a good move for them. They need to move into the information age with their sales/pricing policies. Many customers are turned off by the strict pricing policy of B&W whereby dealers can't discuss sale prices over the phone with potential customers. If I can fully negotiate the price of luxury cars or high end watches over the phone/email then there is no reason I shouldn't be able to for a pair of speakers. Making customers jump through hoops to find out the sale price of products is no longer a sustainable practice.
Doug Henderson is one of the good guys in this industry.
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  #12  
Old 08-15-2017, 12:34 AM
aardvarkbark aardvarkbark is offline
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Originally Posted by Blueoak View Post
Patrick,

What about the restrictive sales policies B&W places on dealers?

For example, I can't call up a high-volume dealer in NYC and have speakers drop shipped to me in California. Instead I have to use a local dealer with terrible pricing and pay sales tax. This forces a lot of people to buy off the classified sites and get a substantial discount. For example, right now anyone can buy a pair of new 802 D3 speakers for $15,999 (retail is $22K) by browsing the classifieds. I've called up several B&W dealers in California and they can't even touch that price; and most of them do not want to discuss price over the phone and insist discounted pricing is face-to-face, even though it maybe a 200 mile drive.
Just be glad you're a Mac aficionado and don't ever expect to own Ayre. With Ayre your warranty is effectively invalid until you prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that you paid full MSRP for their gear. They are the gestapo of audio.
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  #13  
Old 08-15-2017, 08:34 AM
Patrick Butler Patrick Butler is offline
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Yes.

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Originally Posted by Mahalo View Post
Are you the Patrick Butler that used to be with Vienna Acoustics?
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  #14  
Old 08-15-2017, 08:37 AM
Patrick Butler Patrick Butler is offline
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Hi malba2366,

Question- before looking for a discount, did you spend time in a dealer's showroom listening to product?

Regards,

Patrick

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Originally Posted by malba2366 View Post
Every B&W dealer I have called to get the actual sale price (not MSRP) told me they can't discuss any prices besides MSRP on the phone. As you know (like with cars and watches) high end audio equipment is typically sold at a discount and not at MSRP. The last four vehicles I purchased I only went to the dealership to pick up the vehicle, everything else was handled over the phone/email. There is no reason I should have to drive all over the place to compare prices on a pair of speakers.
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  #15  
Old 08-15-2017, 08:57 AM
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W9TR W9TR is offline
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Guys,
Throwing Doug Henderson under the bus and complaining about pricing policies and territory protection for brick and mortar dealers is just not appropriate for this public forum. Think about it, please. Thanks.
Tom
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  #16  
Old 08-15-2017, 09:22 AM
SCAudiophile SCAudiophile is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Patrick Butler View Post
Hi malba2366,

Question- before looking for a discount, did you spend time in a dealer's showroom listening to product?

Regards,

Patrick
Damned good question.

If one utilizes a local dealer to hear product, calling around after that for best price is not appropriate.
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  #17  
Old 08-15-2017, 10:10 AM
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Originally Posted by Masterlu View Post
Doug... we don't discuss publicly pricing discounts on any brand here on AA.
Agreed, but we should be able to talk about pricing policy in the industry, not specific discounts. This is an interesting subject that maybe of interest to many.
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  #18  
Old 08-15-2017, 10:35 AM
malba2366 malba2366 is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Patrick Butler View Post
Hi malba2366,

Question- before looking for a discount, did you spend time in a dealer's showroom listening to product?

Regards,

Patrick
Not for the B&W speakers I am looking at. I have listened to the speakers in question (804D3) extensively at a friend's house. I did listen to the other speakers I am considering (Focal 1028BE) at a nearby dealer who discussed sale price with me before I ever stepped foot into their showroom, I would buy the Focal from that dealer if I go that route. In addition the Focal dealer is willing to ship the speakers to me from out of state (I am in NY, about 5 miles from the NJ border) to save on Tax, the B&W dealer is unable to do this.

Last edited by malba2366; 08-15-2017 at 10:48 AM.
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  #19  
Old 08-15-2017, 10:46 AM
malba2366 malba2366 is offline
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Originally Posted by W9TR View Post
Guys,
Throwing Doug Henderson under the bus and complaining about pricing policies and territory protection for brick and mortar dealers is just not appropriate for this public forum. Think about it, please. Thanks.
Tom
It was not my intention to say that firing him was a good move (I apologize if my post read that way, or offended anyone), and I am not complaining about anything....My point was that the antiquated sales policy might be hurting them with customers who are used to being able to research and purchase almost anything from the comfort of their home and have it delivered to their home rather than driving from store to store looking and negotiating.
The retail industry has been greatly disrupted by online shopping, and just like other industries that have been disrupted by technology those companies who refuse to move forward with the times could be left behind.
I can understand keeping the high end Diamond series under the current price policy but the CM/700 series and lower could be made available for online sales as those products can attract a much broader clientele who may not seek out high end audio retailers or live near a Magnolia store.

Last edited by malba2366; 08-15-2017 at 10:53 AM.
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  #20  
Old 08-15-2017, 11:04 AM
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akfaulkner akfaulkner is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by malba2366 View Post
It was not my intention to say that firing him was a good move (I apologize if my post read that way, or offended anyone), and I am not complaining about anything....My point was that the antiquated sales policy might be hurting them with customers who are used to being able to research and purchase almost anything from the comfort of their home and have it delivered to their home rather than driving from store to store looking and negotiating.
The retail industry has been greatly disrupted by online shopping, and just like other industries that have been disrupted by technology those companies who refuse to move forward with the times could be left behind.
I can understand keeping the high end Diamond series under the current price policy but the CM/700 series and lower could be made available for online sales as those products can attract a much broader clientele who may not seek out high end audio retailers or live near a Magnolia store.
My 2cents is that many ultra high end speaker or component manufacturer would not do well through internet sells without a dealer so protecting the local dealer is reasonable.

For instance, if you are a new consumer to audio, and given the choice between two components that are 10k apart in price with almost identical specs and reviews, why would you choose the expensive one? Once you get above a certain spec and price point, audio becomes very subjective (imho) so you have to hear the difference for it to be worth it. Without a local dealer network, this would be really difficult.
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