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From: francois@yale.ARPA (Charles B. Francois)
Newsgroups: net.audio,net.wanted
Subject: Re: Wanted -- Discount price for Nakamishi
Message-ID: <276@yale.ARPA>
Date: Sat, 26-Jan-85 20:36:41 EST
Article-I.D.: yale.276
Posted: Sat Jan 26 20:36:41 1985
Date-Received: Mon, 28-Jan-85 06:17:12 EST
References: <1602@ittvax.UUCP> <2145@uw-june> <20019@lanl.ARPA>
Reply-To: francois@yale-comix.UUCP (Charles B. Francois)
Organization: Yale University CS Dept., New Haven CT
Lines: 42
Xref: watmath net.audio:3946 net.wanted:5643


   I've had good luck with a "grey market" store in NYC called "E.  33rd
Typewriter & Electronics".  The expression "grey market" is, I think, used
to describe those, usually seedy, discount audio/video/electronic stores
with low prices, no attempt at service, and a no-refund one-week-only
exchange policy.  The equipment they sell is often, I suspect, illegally
imported from the Far East without the manufacturers' blessings.  But the
prices are good, and if you know *exactly* what you want and are willing to
accept only the manufacturer's implict warranty, you can save a lot of
money.  The problem is that, typically, those kinds of stores carry the
lowest common denominator in audio equipment, the likes of Sony (non-Esprit),
Technics, JVC, etc.

   East 33rd differs from most of these shops in having a well-lit interior,
and in carrying selected items from the lines of Denon, Yamaha, B&W, and
Nakamichi.  They regularly advertise on the last page of the Arts & Leisure
section of the Sundsay NY Times and (in somewhat more detail) in the
Village Voice.  An ad from a recent Voice quotes prices of $400 for the Nak
BX-150, $660 for the LX-5, $525 for RX-202, $719 for the RX-303, $879 for
the RX-505 and $1295 for the Dragon.

   I've bought a lot of equipment from them in the past including my
Walkman DC-2 the week they got it five months ago for $125, and my Yamaha
CD-X1 around the same time for $400 (after haggling, in person, from $450).
And that was before Yamaha slashed its list price from $600 to $500.  Of
course, there was the matter of the loosely packaged unit, and the little
piece of paper filled with Japanese print, and the photocopied, stapled
English-language manual, but considering they were the ONLY folks in the
entire city who had it in stock at the time, I wasn't about to complain.
And I yet have to get a skip or anything but unadulterated pleasure from my
unit.

   Their NY phone number is (212) 686-1631, and their toll-free number is
1-800-223-3201.  They take Visa, MC and Amex and charge a hefty 10% extra
for shipping and handling, compared to the 8.25% NYC sales tax, and to the
6% S&H charge for orders mailed in with a certified check or a money order.
Get the idea?  As I hinted above, shopping in person often makes it
possible to work out various "compromises" with the dealer, if you're adept
at that sort of thing.

Oh, and don't quote me on any of this.  If you do, I'll deny everything.
--Charles B. Francois {...,decvax}!yale!francois