[net.audio] A somewhat inside look into Audio Dealers

ajk@houti.UUCP (A.KESSLER) (09/28/83)

Not all stereo dealers and salesmen are crooks, but it is safe to
say that most of them are.

A good friend of mine worked at a medium to high range high fidelity
sales parlor ( a better term is a 'rip ya' stereo store ), in Minnesota.

He told me of the amazing markups they enjoyed.  They smallest markups
were in turntables and tuners.  Medium markups in amps and speakers, and
incredible markups when they sold cartridges.

The 'house' cartridge, ie the one they would always try to unload on you,
cost them $7.00, yup that's seven donuts, and listed for $89.99.  When
you bought a turntable, and were haggling about a price:

Sucker:  Well I don't know, the turntable is nice, but it seems a bit
	expensive, how about $140 instead of $160.

Salescrook:  Well, I really can't go any lower on the turntable, but if
	you pay $160 for it, I'll throw in this $89.99 cartridge for $50.

Sucker:  Sold.

Of course we all feel bad for the store who can only enjoy a 7 times markup
on the cartridge.

A footnote:   When someone came in for a replacement stylus for the cartridge,
they would sell you one for $15.  Of course they didn't stock replacement
cartridges, they took one off of a cartridge, sold it to you, and threw the
rest of the cartridge away.

				Have a nice day,

				Andy Kessler