another store down

leftwinger57 · August 2011

Hello, Once again we have a store/chain closing in the neighborhood. While driving the other day I pass the 6th ave electonics store in East Brunswick N.J. and I couldn't help but notice that the place was shuttered up and not because of the hurricane. As I did a little digging it turns out the chain will survive but they are scaling back and will only sell a/v gear and stay more based in the NY metro area. This was the store that I bought some of my theater gear and just like we've talked about this before, it appears that the economy is really ripping it to retail sales and smaller brick and mortar stores..Yes I know the i-net sales side takes away salesmens' commissions and you have no need of the true store any more ,but again it's getting harder to go out and get the feel of some piece of gear before going on the computer to save alot of cash and buy it.

Marty913 · August 2011

leftwinger57 wrote: »

Yes I know the i-net sales side takes away salesmens' commissions and you have no need of the true store any more ,but again it's getting harder to go out and get the feel of some piece of gear before going on the computer to save a lot of cash and buy it.

And of course, therein lies the problem.

Glowrdr · August 2011

Exactly - people are going into the stores, picking peoples brains (if they have any in the store to begin with), then buying it online so the store never sees any of the money (yet they stock the item, employ the people and give the answers)

Can't really blame people when you can buy it online for half the price - although I tend not to "shop" the stores just to turn around and get it somewhere else. That's what forums like this are for.

DON73 · August 2011

I do buy on line but I have never shopped locally to try out a component then bought it on line.

I was in my favorite (of the two left) audio store last week and the only 2 channel demo they had set up cost as much as my house in 1977. The store changed owners recently and the store was relocated. The old store had 4 separate rooms and a large common area and they could demo more than a dozen two channel systems as well as 2-3 home theater systems. I'm afraid that this store is gradually transitioning into H/T installation and may soon drop their 2 channel systems.

I have almost no alternative but to buy used or new on the net:mad:

Marty913 · August 2011

I think it's also reflective of the market demographics. The 20/30 somethings grew grew up with the Internet, compressed music, watching movies / TV on PC's / Cellphones, etc (not to mention Best Buy, Wal-Mart, and Target). I'm pretty sure the handwriting is on the wall for the boutique audio market except for perhaps soon-to-be-retired baby-boomers (who may have to support their out-of-work 20/30 somethings). Strange how that's playing out.

Regardless, Internet / Direct sales isn't such a bad deal if you do your research and don't mind an occasional 15% restocking fee. All the lower end stuff (Pioneer, Onkyo, Yamaha, Polk, Klipsch, etc.) will be OK as long as the big box stores are around. With the possible exception of the very large city environments, everything above that will either go to the Internet, or just go

steveinaz · August 2011

I try to support our local economy anyway I can---even if it costs me more money, provided it isn't outrageously more expensive. I think this is the key. There's also an often overlooked benefit of having a physical place for customer support.

Support your local economy.

Monster Jam · August 2011

My main Polk LSis were purchased brand new at full MSRP from the local Tweeter. I'd be lying if I said I didn't have a little buyers remorse when I saw them on sale for half price at Frys.

My recent LSi purchase, the FX, came from Polk Direct at eBay as a refurb. I feel good about that purchase.

Marty913 · August 2011

steveinaz wrote: »

I try to support our local economy anyway I can---even if it costs me more money, provided it isn't outrageously more expensive. I think this is the key. There's also an often overlooked benefit of having a physical place for customer support.

Support your local economy.

I'm the same way and I think you make a key point. Local dealers could do a lot better job of explaining to customers exactly why their product costs more (local economy / employees, better support, try-b4-you-buy, setup/delivery, factory warranty, etc.). After that, the price has to be reasonable. Even with all the benefits of buying local, you can't charge twice as much as an online dealer and expect people to line up at your door. There will always be those that will run down the street to save a few bucks but the majority of people (I think) appreciate the added benefits once they're explained and priced properly.

tonyb · August 2011

One area that brick and mortar stores can compete with online retailers is through warranty service. You buy floor standers or a 80 lb amp online, it costs some coin to ship back and forth, fight over who pays, time wasted, damage. If you local retailer could market returns and warranty service like Costco does, they could probably compete better.

VR3 · August 2011

The internet has ruined so many markets.

All the internet has done is devalue everything.

Thats why you can get Polks a few years old at 10% of list....

Its a shame.

tonyb · August 2011

Vr3MxStyler2k3 wrote: »

The internet has ruined so many markets.

You don't think it has created just as many as it destroyed, if not more ?

VR3 · August 2011

Sure, we can argue this to death.

Does not change the fact that people want something for nothing.

Serendipity · August 2011

That is not always true.

I always shop at a local store because they give better service. Sure, I could have built my server with parts purchased online, but instead I decided to go to a local computer store to buy my drives, mobo, CPU, etc. Full price for the parts but I was able to talk to someone and find the right parts for my needs.

Same for audio purchases. I'd rather pay full price to support the mom and pop hi-fi store instead of buying the same gear online, because I can sit down with the owner, talk about the gear and find what is best for my needs, and have it delivered by the store instead of by 2 unknown guys in a truck. They did a great job with delivery, BTW

BlueFox · August 2011

One problem I have seen is that a lot, if not most, high-end gear cannot be bought on-line. Usually, just the generic, mass-produced stuff is what is on-line at a lower price. However, there are not that many stores around that carry the high-end, even if it cannot be bought on-line. For example, I am interested in a pair of Wilson speakers. They are sold in this area by one store with two locations. One in San Francisco, and the other in Berkeley, and both locations are a pain in the butt to get to.

I guess the high-end stores also need to sell the low-end stuff in order to stay in business, and that is where the Internet is hurting us.

PrazVT · August 2011

@BlueFox - Have you been to Audio High in SJ? I bought some Shunyata Venom3 cables there last year. The guys who work there seem pretty nice. Though I don't see Wilson listed in their 'what we sell' sections, can't these stores get what you want even if they don't carry it? I mean if it's 'high end', I would think they'd cater to the customer... just thinking aloud.

BlueFox · August 2011

PrazVT wrote: »

@BlueFox - Have you been to Audio High in SJ? I bought some Shunyata Venom3 cables there last year. The guys who work there seem pretty nice. Though I don't see Wilson listed in their 'what we sell' sections, can't these stores get what you want even if they don't carry it? I mean if it's 'high end', I would think they'd cater to the customer... just thinking aloud.

No. That might work. I was just looking at Wilson's Authorized Dealers for a demo. I doubt if someone is going to special order something for somebody to demo.

Big Dawg · August 2011

leftwinger57 wrote: »

Hello, Once again we have a store/chain closing in the neighborhood. While driving the other day I pass the 6th ave electonics store in East Brunswick N.J. and I couldn't help but notice that the place was shuttered up and not because of the hurricane. As I did a little digging it turns out the chain will survive but they are scaling back and will only sell a/v gear and stay more based in the NY metro area. This was the store that I bought some of my theater gear and just like we've talked about this before, it appears that the economy is really ripping it to retail sales and smaller brick and mortar stores..Yes I know the i-net sales side takes away salesmens' commissions and you have no need of the true store any more ,but again it's getting harder to go out and get the feel of some piece of gear before going on the computer to save alot of cash and buy it.

I'm not sure the chain will survive. When they closed the EB store, they said that they were relocating to a better location, but instead have been steadily closing stores. The owners recently sold the company, and I wouldn't trust the new owners with my business any longer (if you read up, they have a very poor reputation).

Big Dawg · August 2011

steveinaz wrote: »

I try to support our local economy anyway I can---even if it costs me more money, provided it isn't outrageously more expensive. I think this is the key. There's also an often overlooked benefit of having a physical place for customer support.

Support your local economy.

I agree to a point, it is good, where possible, to support your local economy. But, at least for me, that can be a luxury I can't always afford. If it comes down to affording what I want via Internet purchase versus settling for something less locally, I choose the Internet. Plus, the Internet can offer a universe of choices which brick and mortar stores can't match. Service becomes the thing that differentiates local from remote sources, and can be worth paying for. When local stores are no longer willing or able to compete on higher service, they die. I believe that it is service that keeps Best Buy, for example, alive for now, where their competitors haven't fared as well.

Marty913 · August 2011

Big Dawg wrote: »

I believe that it is service that keeps Best Buy, for example, alive for now, where their competitors haven't fared as well.

I agree completely except for the above part. I think Best Buy will survive because they carry TV's, computers, appliances, and music/movies that offset any possible losses in their relatively meager low-end / high markup audio offerings. That, and the fact that in many small-to-midsize cities (mine included), they are the only game in town. From what I read in consumer reports, their service is not ranked that high.

Everything else (especially about choices) makes perfect sense to me. If you don't like Monster, Rocketfish, and low end offerings from Pioneer, Onkyo, and Sony then the Internet is my only alternative to Best Buy.

kolbywhite28 · September 2011

steveinaz wrote: »

I try to support our local economy anyway I can---even if it costs me more money, provided it isn't outrageously more expensive. I think this is the key. There's also an often overlooked benefit of having a physical place for customer support.

Support your local economy.

Yes, we should help keep the money flowing to somehow help the economy go back in track. In Japan, last 2 years I think, they gave certain amount per family who pays tax to keep the liquidity of their money. With people receiving money, they could exercise their buying power again.

DON73 · September 2011

kolbywhite28 wrote: »

Yes, we should help keep the money flowing to somehow help the economy go back in track. In Japan, last 2 years I think, they gave certain amount per family who pays tax to keep the liquidity of their money. With people receiving money, they could exercise their buying power again.

Sounds good until we realize that "they"are us.

Glowrdr · September 2011

+1 Don. And Kolby - that sounds very familiar. Hmmm... the government giving families checks or STIMULUS to help them buy something. Then realizing we all just payed off our existing debt rather than spend it.

(Not sure where you're from, but they did that here for the last 2-3 years as well)

adcomcyclone · September 2011

Interestingly enough, with a few mentions of Internet sales hurting the local brick and mortar shops, 6th Avenue was the first place I ever bought something from a place beside a local dealer. Back in the early 1990's I purchased Orion amps and subs from them based on the fact that their price (in an add they ran in a magazine) was way less than what I could get at my local shop in Ohio.

I am not sure what level of equipment 6th Ave. carries in the home audio realm, but for those wanting to audition the truly high end, (Wilson Audio was mentioned as an example), a trip to a dealer that has the desired equipment should be built into the equation. I looked up Wilson dealers in my area, and found 2 within their 200 mile search range. One location had a used pair of Sophia 3's for almost $17,000, so if I am in the market for these, I would be fine making a several hundred mile trip to hear them before spending that amount. Using a car analogy, if you are in the market for a Ferrari, you will want to test drive it before you buy, and most likely that will require somewhat of a trip to do so. I think most would make that trip. Though it may be a PITA, it is part of the cost of ownership for the truly high end, and it applies to high end audio equipment as well. There just aren't enough consumers buying it to warrant a significant number of high end shops.

another store down

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