Should 'Audiophile' Brands Be Sold In Electronics Mega-Stores?

[Woochifer]

Nope. Am I the only one that's noticed that once a "High End" product hits the mass market----it turns into "run-of-the-mill"? And that's not being "snobby", it's just being realistic. "Mass Market" generally means huge volumes of mediocre (Quickly and cheaply made.) products sold at low prices. "High End" generally means limited production, with extra care taken in design and manufacture, using premium, close tolerance parts.
You can keep costs down somewhat by manufacturing overseas, but high end gear is still going to be more expensive than mass market.

No I haven't noticed. What brands are you thinking of specifically? Among the lines carried by Best Buy, I can't think of one that was at any point once exclusively in the high end domain and became a mediocre mass market product.

Now, I'm not saying that the mid-level of the industry hasn't made good gear. They certainly have, and at a price more folks can afford. And that's a wonderful thing.
But, I think putting true highend gear on the shelves at Best Buy will do little more than show the mass market consumer that the best gear in the world is still out of their reach. And do little to nothing for high end sales figures.

That's why Best Buy smartly placed its higher end gear inside of the Magnolia ministores, which are found inside of select BB locations. Magnolia stores carry Martin Logan, Vienna Acoustics, McIntosh, Primare, and Krell, among other brands.

The problem with your assertion is that the number of high end audio stores is dwindling, and Best Buy in particular has been positioning itself within the higher end market thru its Magnolia subsidiary. It's at a point where manufacturers have fewer and fewer retail options available, and in many communities, the Magnolia ministore is the only place within 100 miles where consumers can sample anything beyond the mass market brands. It takes a big population base to support a high end audio store, which leaves a lot of outlying areas with no options whatsoever.

If you take a high end product and produce it at high volumes with cheaper parts,
so that the Circuit City shopper can afford it, ------is it still "high end"?

In my estimation, the answer is no.

Again, please cite an example. I can't think of anything sold at Circuit City that fits this description of a former high end product cheapened by mass production.

[bobsticks]

Hey Woochie,

I can't speak for Dread, but I don't really consider Magnolia a part of Best Buy per se. Subsidiary, yes but clearly they're a separated entity...different payrolls, distribution and replenishment systems, etc. Hence, not every BB having a Magnolia in it.

Mebbe we need to clarify "Electronics Mega-Stores". I was thinking of Best Buy proper, CC, Fry's and so forth

---sticks

[hermanv]

When they opened a Magnolia here, separate building and staff from the local Best Buy, I thought ho boy, selection and a discount.

They were carrying the smaller Martin Logans, I think I was Parasound equipment all Monster wires. Wow, did it sound awful, hardwood floor hard walls and ceilings made worse by a collection of glass front plasma screens.

When I tried to explain to the salesman, I got blank looks and "it sounds fine to me". The kicker was they wanted full list price. For that price I'll go to the local brick and mortar High End shop and get a good setup, some selection, a little advice, a willingness to mix and match brands for my taste and a little repair facility.

Magnolia still carries some audiophile stuff, but they want to sell you HDTV , they've got hundreds of them, lousy prices. Oh yeah serious overpriced car audio all bass and tweet, never heard of midrange.

[dread31]

When they opened a Magnolia here, separate building and staff from the local Best Buy, I thought ho boy, selection and a discount.

They were carrying the smaller Martin Logans, I think I was Parasound equipment all Monster wires. Wow, did it sound awful, hardwood floor hard walls and ceilings made worse by a collection of glass front plasma screens.

When I tried to explain to the salesman, I got blank looks and "it sounds fine to me". The kicker was they wanted full list price. For that price I'll go to the local brick and mortar High End shop and get a good setup, some selection, a little advice, a willingness to mix and match brands for my taste and a little repair facility.

Magnolia still carries some audiophile stuff, but they want to sell you HDTV , they've got hundreds of them, lousy prices. Oh yeah serious overpriced car audio all bass and tweet, never heard of midrange.

Yep. me too. Honestly, I wouldn't mind paying a little more just for the better service and the opportunity to talk to someone who knows what the heck he (Or she) is talking about.

Don't know about the rest of you folks, but I, for one, am tired of putting up with crappiness in the name of saving few sheckels.

Dave

[Woochifer]

When they opened a Magnolia here, separate building and staff from the local Best Buy, I thought ho boy, selection and a discount.

They were carrying the smaller Martin Logans, I think I was Parasound equipment all Monster wires. Wow, did it sound awful, hardwood floor hard walls and ceilings made worse by a collection of glass front plasma screens.

When I tried to explain to the salesman, I got blank looks and "it sounds fine to me". The kicker was they wanted full list price. For that price I'll go to the local brick and mortar High End shop and get a good setup, some selection, a little advice, a willingness to mix and match brands for my taste and a little repair facility.

Magnolia still carries some audiophile stuff, but they want to sell you HDTV , they've got hundreds of them, lousy prices. Oh yeah serious overpriced car audio all bass and tweet, never heard of midrange.

The emphasis at the Magnolia ministores is home theater. That's why you don't see any two-channel gear on display. Frankly, I'm surprised that the demo room at the Santa Rosa location was all hard surfaced. Every other Magnolia store I've visited has one acoustically treated demo room where they keep the larger Martin Logan and Vienna Acoustics speakers, along with the front projection setups.

As far as list price goes, did you inquire on the price or did you just look at the price tag and conclude that's all they'll sell it for?

I'm on Magnolia's mailing list and BB's reward program. That's how you get private sale invitations, rebates, and discount coupons. It also doesn't hurt to ask -- those coupon deals are in the computer, and depending on who helps you, they might punch it in and give you at least 10% off. You could also check into their open box items, since the 30-day return is one thing that a high end store typically won't offer.

[hermanv]

The emphasis at the Magnolia ministores is home theater. That's why you don't see any two-channel gear on display. Frankly, I'm surprised that the demo room at the Santa Rosa location was all hard surfaced. Every other Magnolia store I've visited has one acoustically treated demo room where they keep the larger Martin Logan and Vienna Acoustics speakers, along with the front projection setups.

As far as list price goes, did you inquire on the price or did you just look at the price tag and conclude that's all they'll sell it for?

I'm on Magnolia's mailing list and BB's reward program. That's how you get private sale invitations, rebates, and discount coupons. It also doesn't hurt to ask -- those coupon deals are in the computer, and depending on who helps you, they might punch it in and give you at least 10% off. You could also check into their open box items, since the 30-day return is one thing that a high end store typically won't offer.

It is probably true that much of the presentation is up to the local store manager. I was disappointed enough that I've never tried other Magnolia locations.

Our store has a room full of HDTV another room with 5 channel receivers and a small home theater demo room (with no place to sit). A not too serious selling effort.

I did enquire about pricing on a Samsung DLP they dropped the list from $3,100 (at that time) to $2,900 if I bought the $350 stand. The set was on line at the time for $2,100 without the need to buy the stand. While I understand that there is more overhead to maintain a building and employees, I thought they were high. That set dropped to $1,700 on line the next week with a few places offering free shipping.

If I'm going to pay near top dollar, I expect knowledgeable service and advice. I was told that I would be forced to buy a new set anyway when broadcast went all digital. I live in a fringe area so I have satellite. They knew this and pressed the lie that even satellite users would need a converter box or a new TV.

[Woochifer]

Our store has a room full of HDTV another room with 5 channel receivers and a small home theater demo room (with no place to sit). A not too serious selling effort.

Sounds like they axed out one of the two demo rooms that typically go into the other Magnolia locations I've seen. Too bad.

I did enquire about pricing on a Samsung DLP they dropped the list from $3,100 (at that time) to $2,900 if I bought the $350 stand. The set was on line at the time for $2,100 without the need to buy the stand. While I understand that there is more overhead to maintain a building and employees, I thought they were high. That set dropped to $1,700 on line the next week with a few places offering free shipping.

Careful though with online prices, because they typically come from unauthorized vendors if the price difference is that large (i.e., no warranty support, and no guarantee that the product is factory sealed or even U.S. spec). You can check on how much the store's willing to come down if you show them the online price quote. In that respect, you might have better luck with an independent store in dealing down. But, don't expect a B&M retailer to totally match an online price, since an authorized unit with a full warranty is not the same thing as an unauthorized unit whose sourcing after leaving the factory is unknown.

If I'm going to pay near top dollar, I expect knowledgeable service and advice. I was told that I would be forced to buy a new set anyway when broadcast went all digital. I live in a fringe area so I have satellite. They knew this and pressed the lie that even satellite users would need a converter box or a new TV.

Call out the manager on that. That kind of BS ain't right, and doesn't help anyone. I know that the other BB locations down in SoCal had been staffing the Magnolia sections with more experienced sales reps. This certainly doesn't sound like the location close to you has done the same due diligence.