Where are Polks sold?

mantis

Just curious anywhere in the country?
Where can anyone go and check out the full line in a showroom connected to good electronics , sit down and demo a pair? I'd love to check out the entire LSIM line including full theater setup.

Theheadsn

Frys Electronics USED to have them. Now its just a few floor models here and there. You can still buy them through Frys, but its harder and harder to find ones to demo.
It seems all the big chains like Frys, Best Buy and the likes are turning to selling Klipsch speakers. You wouldnt believe how many times I've went in somewhere asking for Polk for them to turn around and ask me if I wanted Klipsch instead...

tonyb

I don't think any retailer carries the full line of any brand. All the brands have diversified into things other than speakers it would be almost impossible. Speakers alone, too many lines have been added to carry them all.

Add to that the transition to online buying as the preference of shoppers these days and your pretty much stuck in regards to getting an ear on things.

I'll offer up a suggestion though to Polk's marketing guru's.

Open a Polk exclusive store. Like Apple and Bose do. The rent would be too high in downtown areas of big cities, so you'd have to go on the outskirts or share a space with someone like a cell phone company. Which Polk has many products now for the portable crowd. Even around college campuses, those kids will eventually graduate and buy better stuff but they will be more apt to look at the Polk brand first if that's implanted in their brain from their school days.

The idea isn't profit driven, as most know a brick and mortar store is going to be hard to compete with the online stuff. It's about brand recognition, and implanting your brand in the young mush minds who will eventually be older mush minds with bigger wallets.

hochpt21

In the midwest, or maybe just Wisconsin we had stores called American TV. They were similar to a best buy, but also carried furniture and stuff. Huge stores. That's where I first heard the 705's. They went out of business two years ago.

I heard my first polks ever at Best Buy. It was 6 years ago. I bought my first pair and have been hooked on the polk brand since. So to @tonyb point....that idea/strategy worked for a 'brand' guy like me.

I haven't been into a best buy in forever (maybe even since that time) so I don't know if they much or not at this point.

tonyb

BestBuy in my neck of the woods carry some polk speakers. Thing is, they will only carry speakers that a receiver alone will drive as they don't carry amplifiers. They will also only carry speakers from any brand within a certain price point. Getting an ear on Polks higher lines may dictate a trip to higher end stores....if you can find them anymore in your location.

hochpt21

And those higher end stores usually don't carry polk because they are not 'high-end enough'

The one store in Madison, WI carries paradigm B&w and GoldenEar.

Theheadsn

Yea the Best Buys around me dont carry anything from Polk over the RTiA7's. I think Tonyb is right, they wanna keep it so most AVR's can run them. Also the Magnolia centers in Best Buys dont even carry Polk. They do mainly super high end stuff. Which is great to listen to, but can be had at way better deals elsewhere.

Theheadsn

Also noticed the Audiophiles can be snobby lol I've went in to a couple "higher end" stores just to ask questions and get ideas, and I've always gotten that vibe that if I'm not willing to spend thousands, then I'm a waste of time. Thank god for you guys here on the forum

Easy Runnin

I'm assuming because you posted this that world wide stereo doesn't.

cnh

Retailers are going the way of the Dodo! And once they, Amazon, and all the other e-tailers figure out how to EMBED chips in our brains so that as soon as we see a commercial about something our brain enables our encoded credit CHIPS to send our information and pay for their products INSTANTANEOUSLY with no SECOND thoughts ever having a chance of STOPPING the purchase-what was a "retailer", WHY did they exist. Isn't this where we're going. Absolute consumption 24/7, a corporate WET DREAM! Buyer beware! lol

Here's a question for you all: I know Polk HQ has a display of legacy products, but do they have a sample of every current product they sell on hand? Something tells me, no.

Nightfall

cnh wrote: »

Isn't this where we're going. Absolute consumption 24/7, a corporate WET DREAM! lol

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ubKIE1eb44

Ohh I like it
Ohh man I like it

I like it, I think I'm gonna like it
I like it, I think I'm gonna like it
I like it, I really really like it
I think I'm gonna buy cause I really really like it

Sell me something
Sell me something

Ohh I like it, I really really like it
I like it, I really really like it
I like it, I think I'm gonna buy it
I think I'm gonna buy cause I really really like it

Eternal Consumption Engine
Here in the USA
Eternal Consumption Engine
Sure do like to spend our pay
Eternal Consumption Engine
More make it more I'll buy
Eternal Consumption Engine
Slangin' out the slices of American Pie

Eternal Consumption Engine
Every time I get a little bit bored
Eternal Consumption Engine
Head to the Wally-Mart store
Eternal Consumption Engine
Livin' high on the greasy hog
Eternal Consumption Engine
As long as they don't deport my job
Eternal Consumption Engine
Cause Everything's is made in China
Eternal Consumption Engine
Everything nowadays is made in China

cnh

Hey, Nightfall,

That's GREAT! Perfect!

pearsall001

If my memory serves me, I think Polk dealt the death blow to themselves when they notified all dealers they were going to direct sales & eliminating the dealers. I have no idea where one can get their ears on them now, especially the new LSiM models. Maybe that's their new business model for the future...tough nut to crack if you ask me.

mantis

I miss the days of going out and demoing speakers. Seems like a lost art.

pearsall001

Hey Dan, how's the new Pio doing...you seemed pretty stoked about it's arrival!

mantis

It's great. I'm happy I made the switch. It takes a lot of effort for me not to upgrade and I have not upgraded my receiver in quite awhile. I almost moved to NAD but after factoring all the costs, the Pioneer Elite SC-68 was a better value. The NAD didn't sound much better then the Elite especially when you factored in the difference in cost.
So here I am years later I stuck with Pioneer Elite and got the new Flagship model as I find great value in it. If you factor in retail cost at $2500.00, There is nothing on the market in my opinion that is better that can do what this does and sound as good as it does. I would put it up against anything on the market today.
I really try to pick up upgrades wisely and this I feel was a wise decision. I have no need for separates as I don't sit for countless hours listening to music to justify the amazing extra cost. I'd rather get a new TV or something with the extra money I would have spent on separates IC's and new power cords not to mention an external DAC.

pearsall001

Glad you're digging it! Nothing like bring a new baby home.

tonyb

If I had 2500 burning a hole in my pocket, the Cary cinema 12 would be mine. Maybe it doesn't have the newer bells and whistles, but sound quality would kick the snot out of any receiver.

Theheadsn

Hell I'm only 33 and I miss being able to go down and just enjoy electronic stores. I remember Frys used to be wall to wall packed with me. Along with Circuit City and Best Buy. But since Amazon and the likes have made it cheaper to sit at home then go and buy them, people as a whole wrote off the ability to physically check out a product for ease of purchase and price. Hell go in any of the big box stores, and unless its around Christmas time, its dead. Wont be long before it all disappears

deucekazoo

I think its funny. I know all these people that use to go into stores to audition something. Then went home to order it online because it was cheaper. What did they expect, that the store would survive on pixy dust. Now they have no place to go and see the new products and wonder why. The place around here that used to have a lot of Polk speakers was Circuit City. Of course they went under a while back. I guess its the new way of doing business, online with a 30 day money back guarantee. I am lucky that I still have a store that sells used components. They have some new pieces of their line of choice but the way they survive is repairing old components and speakers. I like going over there and just hanging out playing with all the older stuff.

J_Roc

I was just in a Fry's earlier today. They were limited to the TSX, RTI (12 and A9) and a few others. No showing for the LsiM series though.

F1nut

cnh wrote: »

Here's a question for you all: I know Polk HQ has a display of legacy products, but do they have a sample of every current product they sell on hand? Something tells me, no.

All of the legacy speakers that graced the hallway at Polk HQ in Baltimore are out in Vista, CA now along with all of the QC samples. I believe they are required to keep a sample of every product.

mrloren

I wish I could tour their Vista facility. I live in the area. Can't even go there to buy direct. If I ordered from their eBay store I would have to wait on FedEx rather than just going there and picking up the item.

I do miss the days of DOW/Tweeter and pacific stereo

WilliamM2

pearsall001 wrote: »

If my memory serves me, I think Polk dealt the death blow to themselves when they notified all dealers they were going to direct sales & eliminating the dealers. I have no idea where one can get their ears on them now, especially the new LSiM models. Maybe that's their new business model for the future...tough nut to crack if you ask me.

The dealer here quit carrying them when Polk started selling through Circuit City and other discount electronic chains. Couldn't compete on price.

gurot1

Here in Canada, Best Buy carries Polk. Future Shop used to carry them when they were still around. Some of the FS even carried the LSiM line up. But no more since the conversion to BB (and closing of many locations). Best Buy carries the RTiA line and the TSi lineup, but not the LSiM lineup.

Polkie2009

deucekazoo wrote: »

I think its funny. I know all these people that use to go into stores to audition something. Then went home to order it online because it was cheaper. What did they expect, that the store would survive on pixy dust. Now they have no place to go and see the new products and wonder why. The place around here that used to have a lot of Polk speakers was Circuit City. Of course they went under a while back. I guess its the new way of doing business, online with a 30 day money back guarantee. I am lucky that I still have a store that sells used components. They have some new pieces of their line of choice but the way they survive is repairing old components and speakers. I like going over there and just hanging out playing with all the older stuff.

Am I the only one who heard it mentioned 3 or 4 weeks ago that Circuit City was coming back with a store in the DFW area?

txcoastal1

Polkie2009 wrote: »

deucekazoo wrote: »

I think its funny. I know all these people that use to go into stores to audition something. Then went home to order it online because it was cheaper. What did they expect, that the store would survive on pixy dust. Now they have no place to go and see the new products and wonder why. The place around here that used to have a lot of Polk speakers was Circuit City. Of course they went under a while back. I guess its the new way of doing business, online with a 30 day money back guarantee. I am lucky that I still have a store that sells used components. They have some new pieces of their line of choice but the way they survive is repairing old components and speakers. I like going over there and just hanging out playing with all the older stuff.

Am I the only one who heard it mentioned 3 or 4 weeks ago that Circuit City was coming back with a store in the DFW area?

They will be scaled down stores...I think it's a dumn idea

gurot1

nbrowser wrote: »

Visions lists the complete LSiM line on their website, special order though. Although they do group the 703's in with the Floorstanders.

I saw some online at gibbys. Some FS (not many of them) actually used to have them in stock so you could demo them....i didn't know what lsim was at the time lol.
Gibbys did list some B stock of the lsim line.

PSOVLSK

txcoastal1 wrote: »

They will be scaled down stores...I think it's a dumn idea

Ron, I'm not exactly sure what dumn* means, but I'm pretty sure I agree with you.

damn dumb???

txcoastal1

fat fingered the iphone keyboard (bn next to each other)

PSOVLSK

txcoastal1 wrote: »

fat fingered the iphone keyboard (bn next to each other)

Haha. I know, just messing around. It is pretty damn dumb though.