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From: chowkwan@priam.usc.edu (Raymond Chowkwanyun)
Newsgroups: rec.audio.high-end
Subject: Re: dealers and markups...
Message-ID: <10249@uwm.edu>
Date: 15 Mar 91 13:42:14 GMT
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Approved: tjk@csd4.csd.uwm.edu
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In article <10206@uwm.edu> Arthur_Noguerola%es.UUCP@lectroid.sw.stratus.com writes:

>I would seem that so many folks here want the equipment, want the dealers
>time then a discount and then after a time its off to the races again.

I follow the rule that if a dealer demos something to me, then
I'll buy that piece from him, if I decide to buy.

True, the dealer has overhead and has to eat.  But speaking of
overhead, it surely takes less overhead to sell an entire system
than to sell the individual components item by item.  The original
post was asking about such a discount.  Then the discussion got
diverted into discounts on individual items. 

My dealer spent a total of two hours demoing to me.  I bought
a complete amp system and he agreed to absorb the sales tax.
I think that worked out for both sides.  BTW it helps when
you're negotiating for a discount to say something like,
"I know you've got overhead to absorb and you've got to eat,
but it surely costs less to sell a whole system than individual
components".  

I know of two excellent high end dealers in the LA area.
I'm not sure if it's nettiquette to post their names and
addresses.  I will gladly respond to email enquiries.
These people have dedicated listening rooms.  When they
demo a speaker, it will not be standing amongst a forest
of other speakers.  You can make an appointment, block out
a chunk of time, and have the room to yourself.

Arthur's advice about bring a friend to the demo is very
good.  No matter how excellent the dealer is, he's still
a salesman.  In fact, the more committed he is to good
sound, the more passionate he will be about the lines he
carries.  I have no problem with that.  If he doesn't believe
in his stuff, who will?  But it's really useful to have an
independent third party as a reality check.

-- ray