2019 Price List?

Randy Myers

Randy Myers

Well-known member
Joined
Nov 7, 2015
Messages
6,086
Location
Kansas
One thing that has always driven me crazy about McIntosh is that their current price list seems to be a big mystery. I know they had an across the board price increase a while ago, but when you read reviews out there more often then not the price quoted is not correct, it is the old price.

I know that for certain items I can go to Crutchfield, MusicDirect, etc. to find the price. However, they only sell a limited few pieces. It seems to be difficult to find actually prices on many products, both lower end models and higher end models, to do comparisons, etc.

Why so secretive? Many of us do not have McIntosh dealers close enough to actually go and check so we have to research in other ways. I really wish they would list the current price of their gear on their website. It would make it so much easier.
 
All you have to do is call a dealer to get the current MSRP on McIntosh gear. Yes there are occasions where a McIntosh price list is posted on sites but that is the exception rather than the rule.

Actually there are few "top" product lines where pricing is made available to the market. I have no problem asking a dealer what the MSRP or MAP pricing is. I never ask what the selling price is until I am seriously considering purchasing the product. It isn't fair wasting anyones time. That just my position.
 
I also wish manufacturers would publish prices on their websites. Part of my research involves figuring out what does and does not align with my budget. While I don't mind calling up a dealer to ask about one or two prices, I'd feel odd having them go through the entire product line price list in the hopes that I might find something that is not only desirable, but also in the budget I have allotted. That type of research is something I should be able to do ahead of time as part of being an educated consumer so that I can use the dealer's time for more specific inquiries.
 
Exactly... I would not feel right asking them to go through the full list... also, they might be busy. Also, I might be doing my research after hours because I work all day... it really would be vastly easier if they would publish their retail prices, especially since they claim that dealers (and I know from when I used to sell McIntosh) have agreed to only sell at retail price.

Again I state, what is the big secret? We all know their gear is expensive, but it would be handy to be able top narrow down a bit doing my at home research :).
 
One of my biggest pet peeves...when companies don't publish their prices. And that's most companies. Their prices should be on their websites, period. I hate having to go on an internet goose chase for component prices.
 
bluegrassphile said:
One of my biggest pet peeves...when companies don't publish their prices. And that's most companies. Their prices should be on their websites, period. I hate having to go on an internet goose chase for component prices.
Click to expand...

I agree, but it’s a BIG no no. As in BIG “no no no”. No publishing prices for many brands. Internet bad. Prices on the internet means e-commerce (it doesn’t, but that’s the thought) and that’s evil. E-commerce that is.

I love how MSB has all prices for every DAC, Amplifier, Transport and every possible piece on their website. Young guys run MSB. Internet good. Prices on website ARE good! It actually HELPS sales because we all talk the same language from the get go.

The biggest issue we face is that many manufacturers can’t keep the dealer price list up to date. Many seem to change prices monthly as the UK pound fluctuates or the Euro or retire products 6 months after they’re released and it’s still on the price sheet with no replacement in sight.

Any price change, product addition, product deletion should be accompanied with a new price list. But what do I know? Osmosis is apparently required.

With over 10,000 sku’s of product, we can’t remember all the prices.

Yes, we share the frustration.

Oh, and MSB doesn’t need to worry about sending us all updated price sheets. “See the website” works.
 
Pretty much exactly what I was saying. Thank you for giving the dealer perspective!
 
Mike, to me this is not a dealer issue. They don't set the base prices. It's a manufacturer issue. They set the prices. They choose to go against customer's wishes. It makes absolutely no sense to me for manufacturers to "hide" prices from customers. I mean, what's with that?!! Even manufacturers I love will not publish prices. Stop it! Darn it! I mean it!! :mad: :wacko:
 
Seriously! I mean I might be reviewing some items on their website and think, hmmm, maybe I could figure out a way to make that one happen, maybe I can afford it. But not knowing, for sure, what the price is means I have to go out on a wild goose chase trying to find the price. What if there has been a price increase, ala McIntosh's across the board price increase? Reading reviews you will then get the incorrect old price. If you then decide to buy it you may very well get pissed when you find that piece is at a higher price but you did not know.

Honestly, not posting their prices is just plan dumb and I truly believe there are times that it actually costs them sales.

And what is this about some models being sold online but other models only at brick and mortar stores? What about people like me where there are not any dealers even remotely close to me? How could I buy a piece, like lets say the new MA252 or MA352. Can't buy online and there are no stores near me. I am not allowed to buy the unit and have it shipped to me... so what could I do to actually purchase one if I did not come across a deal on a pre-owned one?

Even stores that sell online post prices only on the models they sell online and the other models they may show but state only available in store, and they do not post the price. Very infuriating indeed. So I am supposed to travel several hours just to find out the price and determine if I can indeed afford it; then order it and then travel several hours back to pick it up. Honestly, I would say screw that I will buy something else. I mean the closes store is about 4 hours there and 4 hours back (depending on traffic which could make it a whole lot worse).
 
Not really preaching, just agreeing :)...., and letting out some frustration also I guess :D.
 
I like the way MSB listed all the prices on the website and the way things are sold as listed. Anthem/Paradigm also started using this model a couple of years back. It provides a level of clarity between customers and dealers even before a hello. The drawback though is the discount that customers accustomed to for so long in high-end audio is no longer available or at least becomes very limited. Right or wrong, from customers’ perspective, it may feel like you aren’t getting “good deals” as you used to.

Some manufacturers obviously still prefer doing things the old way and may still feel they are selling more units by allowing more pricing flexibility between customers and dealers. In this case, of course the practice of listing prices on the website is not preferred.

Another thing is many manufacturers have been working with the old business model and their dealer network for so long, it’s not quite simple to quickly adapt to the new way and just start listing the prices online, even if they want to. There are many moving parts and might end up hurting the brand if it’s not handled properly. See PS Audio.

Having said the above, I’ve never encountered too much difficulty finding out the prices online on the pieces that I’d like. Having Mike a phone call or an email away helps, but even the brands that Mike doesn’t carry, I don’t remember a single piece that I have trouble locating a dealer to call. I feel it’s way easier now than, let’s say, 5 or 10 years ago.
 
If you cannot find the MSRP or MAP for any product that is carried by a dealer in the US within 5 minutes during normal business hours you aren’t trying.
 
Anyway, enough with this. Many of us believe that the way some manufactures do it is just stuck in the pass. I guess some think it is ok to inconvenience prospective customers :).
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top