Magnolia A/V to close 7 stores on the West Coast

ivansfo
ivansfo Posts: 145
edited February 2009 in The Clubhouse
Didn't see any discussion on this so thought I bring it up.
http://www.engadgethd.com/2009/02/14/best-buy-taking-direct-control-of-magnolia-closing-7-standalone/

Locally to me, the Palo Alto and Emeryville stores are closing. I just dropped by to Palo Alto store to see what's left. Most of the high end stuff is gone but still some left such as Denons, Macs, Sonus, Viennas, Monitor Audio, and Def Tech. I wanted to see if they had any Pioneer Kuros but all the ones they had on display were marked sold.

Seems all speakers and electronics are 40-50% off. A/V funiture is 75% off.

Anybody pick up any deals?
Post edited by ivansfo on

Comments

  • zingo
    zingo Posts: 11,258
    edited February 2009
    As far as I know, the Seattle ones are staying put, so no big sales for me...
  • Danny Tse
    Danny Tse Posts: 5,206
    edited February 2009
    Magnolia closed its Colma, CA store last year as well....purchased a pair of Monitor Audio Bronze B2 for $250.00 right before everything was shut down.
  • obieone
    obieone Posts: 5,077
    edited February 2009
    Well, when you follow the example of Tweeter & CC, this is EXPECTED to happen.
    They can close all the ones in SC, because the people that work there are F*(KTARDS!

    I know more about their products, than they do.
    I refuse to argue with idiots, because people can't tell the DIFFERENCE!
  • polkatese
    polkatese Posts: 6,767
    edited February 2009
    This is the stand-alone store, right? I can't see that they shutdown those Magnolia inside BB.
    I am sorry, I have no opinion on the matter. I am sure you do. So, don't mind me, I just want to talk audio and pie.
  • mantis
    mantis Posts: 17,185
    edited February 2009
    BB did not roll that out well. They don't have a single person working in there at any given time. The one at Oxford Valley , Pa is horrible. I went there and stood around for 30 minutes and no one helped me or asked me anything. I even picked up the Install guides and read them. Still no help. They are terrible and I'm not into bashing anyone but they desire it fully.

    This is the part where I usually get upset about any audio video anything doing bad but they earned the right.

    Eff them.

    Dan
    Dan
    My personal quest is to save to world of bad audio, one thread at a time.
  • thsmith
    thsmith Posts: 6,082
    edited February 2009
    AGree, I had the same experience. WHat cracks me up is their listening rooms they have all these AVRs you can sample but not one of them with auto calibration had ever been ran/setup.

    WHats the point.
    Speakers: SDA-1C (most all the goodies)
    Preamp: Joule Electra LA-150 MKII SE
    Amp: Wright WPA 50-50 EAT KT88s
    Analog: Marantz TT-15S1 MBS Glider SL| Wright WPP100C Amperex BB 6er5 and 7316 & WPM-100 SUT
    Digital: Mac mini 2.3GHz dual-core i5 8g RAM 1.5 TB HDD Music Server Amarra (memory play) - USB - W4S DAC 2
    Cables: Mits S3 IC and Spk cables| PS Audio PCs
  • dborzz
    dborzz Posts: 87
    edited February 2009
    I agree about the whole standing in there for 30 minutes and never being helped thing. I should of just started carrying stuff outta there and gave it away for karma on here. Some how I don't think anyone would have noticed. Not to mention everything they have in there you can get for half the price online and probably get better help with your questions.

    Polk T90e's(m60)-mains
    Polk CS2-center
    Polk OWM3's-surrounds
    Polk Micro Pro 1000-sub
    PS3-blu-ray,gaming
    Pioneer 43inch purevision plasma
    Onkyo tx-sr606

    MIT EXp 1
  • sucks2beme
    sucks2beme Posts: 5,601
    edited February 2009
    The Magnolia rooms will soon be the latest casualty of the downturn.
    I'm betting BB shuts down all the dedicated rooms in their stores by
    next year. Too much like Tweeter. Half *ssed high end isn't going to
    impress anyone. They'll either buy the regular store stuff, or go
    somewhere else.
    "The legitimate powers of government extend to such acts only as are injurious to others. But it does me no injury for my neighbour to say there are twenty gods, or no god. It neither picks my pocket nor breaks my leg." --Thomas Jefferson
  • ivansfo
    ivansfo Posts: 145
    edited February 2009
    I think all of the 7 closing are stand-alone Magnolia A/V stores.

    I've only dealt with the Palo Alto and the old Colma stores. Both of them had good people who were knowledgeable and helpful when I needed assistance. I'm sorry to see them close because Magnolia was one of the few places remaining where I could go look and hear some nice gear without having a salesman hoovering over me wondering if I would be the one to add to his sales commision.
  • Rivrrat
    Rivrrat Posts: 2,101
    edited February 2009
    Magnolia A/V started going downhill when Magnolia Hi-Fi started expanding from the first store on Roosevelt Way in Seattle, and then changed their name to Magnolia A/V.

    After that it was all downhill. I walked into one once in a BB and it was sad.
    My equipment sig felt inadequate and deleted itself.
  • Shizelbs
    Shizelbs Posts: 7,433
    edited February 2009
    Best Buy has done nothing good with Magnolia.
  • obieone
    obieone Posts: 5,077
    edited February 2009
    Y'know, it's funny. When I started looking at A/V equipt. 3+ years ago, I got really pissed off by some overzealous commissioned sales guy at Tweeter, because I told him what my budget was($1,000+) and he still showed me the 'highend' room.
    Compared to the indifference I've seen at Magnolia, I miss those passioned sales people.
    I refuse to argue with idiots, because people can't tell the DIFFERENCE!