2. misc-audio
  3. 182800-119096

"High end" store snobbery

Our county lies in a fairly remote part of the country.Our major city of 100,000 has one "high end" shop so to speak.

I visited them yesterday.The store has limited selection of decent  stuff-a few McIntosh amps.Marantz.Paradigm ,Focal,Sonus faber etc.No Wilsons or Bel Canto category.

I asked then if they take trade ins-I want to upgrade my one year old Yamaha RX4 AVR,worth $500 retail.

They said they only take high end components for trade i.e.McIntosh etc.

After that conversation, the 3 store employees pretty will ignored my presence and I continued browsing their meagre inventory.

 

Lo and behold!

In a corner I spotted about 30 items-old Pioneer,Yamaha amps and even an equalizer from the 1970s.Prices ranged from $75 to $500.

 

I asked :"what are these"

response from employee:"oh, those are items we are familiar with as they were swapped out for upgraded gear by our customers."

 

Thanks for tolerating my rant...

 

Gabe

 

 

gabor2525
jafant
18,802 posts
 

gabor2525

 

Thank You for the follow up. Never act in fear about "calling out" an Audio shop.

Now, take a trek into Seattle. Very good Audio shops there.

 

Happy Listening!

mesch
3,394 posts
 

@hifihandyman  Just to be clear are you refering  to the store in Billingham?

 

mitsound
30 posts
 

I have changed from buying new to pretty much happy with my system now, and it was built with components I wasn't willing to prioritize at new prices.

The few times I did try trading in, salesmen explained they could take the trade, but as they are in business, they need to take it at an amount they can profit on, since it'll be in stock for some time.

They advised me to sell it myself- I'd be getting more for it than they would pay.

It worked out fine.

dill
2,424 posts
 

I assume you are talking about Reference Media in Bellingham. You are 90 miles away from some good stores: Definitive Audio, Seattle Hi-Fi, Audio Connection, Hawthorne Stereo, Olson’s, Tune HiFi and if you travel to Portland: Echo Audio, Pearl Audio/Video, StereoTypes, Audio Specialties, Chelsea Audio/Video, The True Audiophile.

sgreg1
612 posts
 

From the store stand point. Yes vintage 2channel audio gear can hold up and be relevant for years. The technology does change, but the basic premise of the equipment does not. AV gear is for the most part out dated and left with limited use after two years. I have a pioneer av paid $1000 for it. It is 7-1 new is now 11-1, does not process 4k or Dolby atmos, only one hdmi out, this is just the short list of what tech has left it a relic. Yes it does still work and we still enjoy it but I have to be very creative and run three individual remotes to get the very limited most out of it. If you went into the store with a vintage 2 channel integrated or separates there would be a better chance.

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