Non Polk Dealer Speaker Purchasing

RocketOCannon
RocketOCannon Posts: 84
edited February 2012 in Forum Testing Area
I see some good deals at Bestofaudio.com
This is not a PA approved dealer. Short of the obvious negative with warranty...what is the background on this type of on line business? I didn't see any consumer complaints etc on line anywhere...

Has anyone done business with them? Is doing business with a non dealer a "No-No" for Polkies?

The reason for asking is a $3,000 savings on product provided they are real Polks and not Asian knockoffs.

Any insight to this....?
HOME THEATER 5.1
JVC DLARS56U
92" SI Black Diamond 1.4 16:9
NAD M25 MC Power Amp
Marantz AV7005 Pre Amp
Oppo 95
LSiM 705 Fronts
LSiM 706c
LSiM 703 Rears
SVS PB13 Ultra sub

ZONE 2
LSIM 707 (2 Channel Sessions)
McIntosh MC312
McIntosh C49 Preamp
Marantz SA8005 SACD/CD Player
79' Pioneer SX-1080
Furman Elite 15 PC
Solidsteele HF-4 series rack
(Building system out currently)

OUTDOOR DECK
NAD C 375BEE DAQ
PSB CS 1000 Speakers
Sonos

Signal Cable - Ultra Single (Banana), Magic Power Cord, Dig Power, Vid Power.
RTi T3-V+, SONOS, Furman Power Conditioner
Post edited by RocketOCannon on

Comments

  • decal
    decal Posts: 3,205
    edited January 2012
    $3000.00 savings on anything would throw up a red flag for me.
    If you can't hear a difference, don't waste your money.
  • gudnoyez
    gudnoyez Posts: 8,124
    edited January 2012
    Do they really have Asian knock off Polk Gear that gets sold and mixed in amongst the shady Audio dealers inventory?
    Home Theater
    Parasound Halo A 31 OnkyoTX-NR838 Sony XBR55X850B 55" 4K RtiA9 Fronts CsiA6 Center RtiA3 Rears FxiA6 Side Surrounds Dual Psw 111's Oppo 105D Signal Ultra Speaker Cables & IC's Signal Magic Power Cable Technics SL Q300 Panamax MR4300 Audioquest Chocolate HDMI Cables Audioquest Forest USB Cable

    2 Channel
    Adcom 555II Vincent SA-T1 Marantz SA 15S2 Denon DR-M11 Clearaudio Bluemotion SDA 2.3tl's (Z) edition MIT Terminator II Speaker Cables & IC's Adcom 545II Adcom Gtp-450 Marantz CD5004 Technics M245X SDA 2B's, SDA CRS+

    Stuff for the Head
    JD LABS C5 Headphone Amplifier, Sennheiser HD 598, Polk Audio Buckle, Polk Audio Hinge, Velodyne vPulse, Bose IE2, Sennheiser CX 200 Street II, Sennheiser MX 365

    Shower & Off the beaten path Rigs
    Polk Audio Boom Swimmer, Polk Audio Urchin B)
  • gdb
    gdb Posts: 6,012
    edited January 2012
    Buy the 7pc. set of LSi in the flea market if you want a deal. Please!
  • RocketOCannon
    RocketOCannon Posts: 84
    edited January 2012
    I hear ya decal,

    Thats why I am looking to get some real insight. Red Flag..yes...but that doesn't mean they are not real. If real, and they are just under cutting authorized dealers...well...as a consumer that works! Thats an issue for Polk corp to deal with on the business/legal end. It's a crappy situation. However, considering the markup on speakers, there is probably room to work with when working lean as a retailer and still make $. I understand the obvious reasons Polk wants to use Authorized dealers....but....I want to find out more.

    Do you or anybody have any insight to this specific business? bestofaudio.com?
    Is there a way to tell that they are real or fake by a layman not familiar with the intrinsic detail of Polk?
    HOME THEATER 5.1
    JVC DLARS56U
    92" SI Black Diamond 1.4 16:9
    NAD M25 MC Power Amp
    Marantz AV7005 Pre Amp
    Oppo 95
    LSiM 705 Fronts
    LSiM 706c
    LSiM 703 Rears
    SVS PB13 Ultra sub

    ZONE 2
    LSIM 707 (2 Channel Sessions)
    McIntosh MC312
    McIntosh C49 Preamp
    Marantz SA8005 SACD/CD Player
    79' Pioneer SX-1080
    Furman Elite 15 PC
    Solidsteele HF-4 series rack
    (Building system out currently)

    OUTDOOR DECK
    NAD C 375BEE DAQ
    PSB CS 1000 Speakers
    Sonos

    Signal Cable - Ultra Single (Banana), Magic Power Cord, Dig Power, Vid Power.
    RTi T3-V+, SONOS, Furman Power Conditioner
  • TECHNOKID
    TECHNOKID Posts: 4,298
    edited January 2012
    The reason for asking is a $3,000 savings on product provided they are real Polks and not Asian knockoffs.
    When a deal is too good to be true, you should walk away. Consider the 3k so called saving, your cost also has to be high so would you take any chances spending that good money without any recourse if the product fails you? IMHO, there are good reason for a manufacturer to not authorise a business to not represent them. If the deal is so good, you got to ask your self where the speakers are coming from (you mention 1 possibly but there are also more...). Did you find any review on a provider of such a deal? I never paid MSRP (inflated price) for any of my Polk products. What I buy is at good deals (I'm cheap :redface: ) but is legitimate and warrantied by Polk (there is also a cost for getting 110% after sale customer service from your manufacturer).
    DARE TO SOAR:
    “Your attitude, almost always determine your altitude in life” ;)
  • gdb
    gdb Posts: 6,012
    edited January 2012
    I hear ya decal,

    Thats why I am looking to get some real insight. Red Flag..yes...but that doesn't mean they are not real. If real, and they are just under cutting authorized dealers...well...as a consumer that works! Thats an issue for Polk corp to deal with on the business/legal end. It's a crappy situation. However, considering the markup on speakers, there is probably room to work with when working lean as a retailer and still make $. I understand the obvious reasons Polk wants to use Authorized dealers....but....I want to find out more.

    Do you or anybody have any insight to this specific business? bestofaudio.com?
    Is there a way to tell that they are real or fake by a layman not familiar with the intrinsic detail of Polk?[/QUOTE]

    Yuuuuuuuup, google them, see what is posted about them.:idea:
  • cnh
    cnh Posts: 13,284
    edited January 2012
    Stolen goods anyone?

    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]
  • SDA1C
    SDA1C Posts: 2,072
    edited January 2012
    They accept Paypal...call them and see what they have to say about the site.
    Too much **** to list....
  • TECHNOKID
    TECHNOKID Posts: 4,298
    edited January 2012
    DARE TO SOAR:
    “Your attitude, almost always determine your altitude in life” ;)
  • RocketOCannon
    RocketOCannon Posts: 84
    edited January 2012
    Interesting stuff.
    - I checked the BBB and they only had 1 complaint for shipping issues...but that doesn't mean much.
    - That first hand thread is telling as well...

    -I will call Pay Pal as well tomorrow and see if they have anything to say.
    - I will also call my credit card company and see what kind of recourse there is for a consumer in this kind of situation
    -I am going to call Best of Audio as well and see what they have to say via the CS dept...should be fun for **** and giggles. Se if I can't get a mgr on the line.

    I will let you know what is said.

    Thanks to all for helping with info. If there are any more first hand stories, please jump in.

    Technoid,
    ...Cheap is good! lol ...Im not cheap, but if I can save a book that makes sense I will. loll
    HOME THEATER 5.1
    JVC DLARS56U
    92" SI Black Diamond 1.4 16:9
    NAD M25 MC Power Amp
    Marantz AV7005 Pre Amp
    Oppo 95
    LSiM 705 Fronts
    LSiM 706c
    LSiM 703 Rears
    SVS PB13 Ultra sub

    ZONE 2
    LSIM 707 (2 Channel Sessions)
    McIntosh MC312
    McIntosh C49 Preamp
    Marantz SA8005 SACD/CD Player
    79' Pioneer SX-1080
    Furman Elite 15 PC
    Solidsteele HF-4 series rack
    (Building system out currently)

    OUTDOOR DECK
    NAD C 375BEE DAQ
    PSB CS 1000 Speakers
    Sonos

    Signal Cable - Ultra Single (Banana), Magic Power Cord, Dig Power, Vid Power.
    RTi T3-V+, SONOS, Furman Power Conditioner
  • tonyb
    tonyb Posts: 32,981
    edited February 2012
    You know the old saying.....If it sounds too good to be true, it probably isn't.
    HT SYSTEM-
    Sony 850c 4k
    Pioneer elite vhx 21
    Sony 4k BRP
    SVS SB-2000
    Polk Sig. 20's
    Polk FX500 surrounds

    Cables-
    Acoustic zen Satori speaker cables
    Acoustic zen Matrix 2 IC's
    Wireworld eclipse 7 ic's
    Audio metallurgy ga-o digital cable

    Kitchen

    Sonos zp90
    Grant Fidelity tube dac
    B&k 1420
    lsi 9's
  • RocketOCannon
    RocketOCannon Posts: 84
    edited February 2012
    I receive my LSiM 707s tomorrow....at least thats what is planned.

    I would be willing to let a VETERAN Club Polk member try these out on their system since I will not be up and running for a while with my HT.

    TonyB / Others / Please educate me on any process or other then the obvious risks here how Polkies do this with confidence that your speakers don't disappear. Any tips or watch outs?

    Thoughts?

    I live in Eastern PA
    HOME THEATER 5.1
    JVC DLARS56U
    92" SI Black Diamond 1.4 16:9
    NAD M25 MC Power Amp
    Marantz AV7005 Pre Amp
    Oppo 95
    LSiM 705 Fronts
    LSiM 706c
    LSiM 703 Rears
    SVS PB13 Ultra sub

    ZONE 2
    LSIM 707 (2 Channel Sessions)
    McIntosh MC312
    McIntosh C49 Preamp
    Marantz SA8005 SACD/CD Player
    79' Pioneer SX-1080
    Furman Elite 15 PC
    Solidsteele HF-4 series rack
    (Building system out currently)

    OUTDOOR DECK
    NAD C 375BEE DAQ
    PSB CS 1000 Speakers
    Sonos

    Signal Cable - Ultra Single (Banana), Magic Power Cord, Dig Power, Vid Power.
    RTi T3-V+, SONOS, Furman Power Conditioner
  • dorokusai
    dorokusai Posts: 25,577
    edited February 2012
    All the authorized and most of the un-authorized dealers are listed here on the website. If not, they are on the upcoming forum change.
    CTC BBQ Amplifier, Sonic Frontiers Line3 Pre-Amplifier and Wadia 581 SACD player. Speakers? Always changing but for now, Mission Argonauts I picked up for $50 bucks, mint.
  • pitdogg2
    pitdogg2 Posts: 25,572
    edited February 2012
    dorokusai wrote: »
    All the authorized and most of the un-authorized dealers are listed here on the website. If not, they are on the upcoming forum change.

    What? Again so soon Man Mark i just got used to this one....is this one fixing the I-trader?:eek:
  • dorokusai
    dorokusai Posts: 25,577
    edited February 2012
    That's all I can provide at this time and you'll just have to wait and see what happens. Who knows, they may just shut it all down....you never know :twisted:
    CTC BBQ Amplifier, Sonic Frontiers Line3 Pre-Amplifier and Wadia 581 SACD player. Speakers? Always changing but for now, Mission Argonauts I picked up for $50 bucks, mint.