Why doesn't Polk try its hand at producing speakers in Europe

polkfarmboy
polkfarmboy Posts: 5,703
edited May 2011 in The Clubhouse
I have enjoyed and been a huge fan of polk speakers for a long time and I really belive that they could be equally successful in Europe as they have been in the states

So why does polk not branch out and start pushing the brand overseas ? As long as they manufacture the speakers in the country that they sell them in they wont get hammerd on taxes and keep the cost down like they do here
Post edited by polkfarmboy on
· Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Comments

  • comfortablycurt
    comfortablycurt Posts: 6,745
    edited May 2011
    polkfarmboy wrote: »
    I have enjoyed and been a huge fan of polk speakers for a long time and I really belive that they could be equally successful in Europe as they have been in the states

    So why does polk not branch out and start pushing the brand overseas ? As long as they manufacture the speakers in the country that they sell them in they wont get hammerd on taxes and keep the cost down like they do here

    I may be reading this wrong...but are you under the impression that Polk produces their speakers in the United States? Because they don't. They're produced in China or Taiwan or something...
    The nirvana inducer-
    APC H10 Power Conditioner
    Marantz UD5005 universal player
    Parasound Halo P5 preamp
    Parasound HCA-1200II power amp
    PolkAudio LSi9's/PolkAudio SDA 2A's/PolkAudio Monitor 7A's
    Audioquest Speaker Cables and IC's
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • TroyD
    TroyD Posts: 13,077
    edited May 2011
    Europe isn't exactly a business-friendly environment.

    BDT
    I plan for the future. - F1Nut
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • EndersShadow
    EndersShadow Posts: 17,590
    edited May 2011
    polkfarmboy wrote: »
    I have enjoyed and been a huge fan of polk speakers for a long time and I really belive that they could be equally successful in Europe as they have been in the states

    So why does polk not branch out and start pushing the brand overseas ? As long as they manufacture the speakers in the country that they sell them in they wont get hammerd on taxes and keep the cost down like they do here

    Polk already sells speakers in other countries I believe. I own a pair of T90e's which are the European version of the Monitor 60's. I have had em for around 3 years. Got em off newegg when they just started carrying the Monitor series...

    There isnt a bunch of info out about Polks other non us markets, but I do think they sell oversea's just under different series names...
    "....not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted." William Bruce Cameron, Informal Sociology: A Casual Introduction to Sociological Thinking (1963)
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • treitz3
    treitz3 Posts: 19,004
    edited May 2011
    They already do. I believe London has a distributor.
    ~ In search of accurate reproduction of music. Real sound is my reference and while perfection may not be attainable? If I chase it, I might just catch excellence. ~
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • ryanjoachim
    ryanjoachim Posts: 2,046
    edited May 2011
    comfortablycurt wrote: »
    I may be reading this wrong...but are you under the impression that Polk produces their speakers in the United States? Because they don't. They're produced in China or Taiwan or something...

    His post was more about WHY Polk isn't popular (or even sold?) in Europe, not where they are produced.
    MrNightly wrote: »
    "Dr Dunn admitted that his research could also be interpreted as evidence that women are shallower than men. He said: "Let's face it - there's evidence to support it."
    mystik610 wrote: »
    Best Buy is for people who don't know any better. Magnolia is for people who don't know any better and have more money to spend.
    My System:


    TV: SAMSUNG UN55B7000 55" 1080p LED HDTV
    HTPC: Chromecast w/ Plex Media Server. Media streamed from Media Server.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • comfortablycurt
    comfortablycurt Posts: 6,745
    edited May 2011
    ryanjoachim wrote: »
    His post was more about WHY Polk isn't popular (or even sold?) in Europe, not where they are produced.

    This part of his post kind of made it sound like he thought Polk speakers were produced here.
    As long as they manufacture the speakers in the country that they sell them in they wont get hammerd on taxes and keep the cost down like they do here/

    He said that as long as they manufacture the speakers in the country that they're selling them in, it would keep the costs way down in that respective country, like they do here

    It sounded like he was saying that Polk is able to keep their costs down in America because they produce them here(which they obviously don't). I may have been reading it wrong though.
    The nirvana inducer-
    APC H10 Power Conditioner
    Marantz UD5005 universal player
    Parasound Halo P5 preamp
    Parasound HCA-1200II power amp
    PolkAudio LSi9's/PolkAudio SDA 2A's/PolkAudio Monitor 7A's
    Audioquest Speaker Cables and IC's
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • gdb
    gdb Posts: 6,012
    edited May 2011
    Because they'd have to change the voltage!:eek::tongue::biggrin:
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • cnh
    cnh Posts: 13,284
    edited May 2011
    Polk seems to have a bit of a market in China, Taiwan, Japan...at least I saw a few dealerships that had all three series there (LSI, RTI, TSI). However, all your prices are 'higher' than you would pay here in the U.S. Good old Tariffs and import taxes at work...not everyone is 'foolish' enough to 'believe' that the market is 'actually free'. Only 'some' Americans believe that, the rest of the world knows 'better'! And so much the worse for us who hang on to outdated ideas.

    The European market, though, is probably already 'saturated' with players?

    cnh
    Currently orbiting Bowie's Blackstar.!

    Polk Lsi-7s, Def Tech 8" sub, HK 3490, HK HD 990 (CDP/DAC), AKG Q701s
    [sig. changed on a monthly basis as I rotate in and out of my stash]
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • polkfarmboy
    polkfarmboy Posts: 5,703
    edited May 2011
    I know that in france, britain and germany .. when you buy a ford car then they have to make them or assemble them there to avoid the high taxes .So if polk built speakers in england then they could compete price wise
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • unc2701
    unc2701 Posts: 3,587
    edited May 2011
    Grossly over simplified:

    Cost of production in china+ Cost of shipping + Taxes < Cost of production in Europe+cost of constructing new facilities

    ...but what makes you think that Polk is particularly unsuccessful in Europe?
    Gallo Ref 3.1 : Bryston 4b SST : Musical fidelity CD Pre : VPI HW-19
    Gallo Ref AV, Frankengallo Ref 3, LC60i : Bryston 9b SST : Meridian 565
    Jordan JX92s : MF X-T100 : Xray v8
    Backburner:Krell KAV-300i
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • obieone
    obieone Posts: 5,077
    edited May 2011
    Several years ago, Polk did try marketing the Monitor line in Europe. They were T90's(Monitor 60's) and T20's(Monitor 30's).
    I refuse to argue with idiots, because people can't tell the DIFFERENCE!
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Danny Tse
    Danny Tse Posts: 5,206
    edited May 2011
    On the other hand, looks like Boston Acoustics is charging into the European market with its new/resurrected A-series.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter