Advice sought from speaker dealers... (Wilson Dealers)

Bobvin

Bobvin

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I asked my dealer if they'd consider parting with their demo Wilson Alexias... and I was surprised to hear them say YES. I finally learned the price they were asking was going to be only 19% discount from the $48.5K list price -- and the speakers have a few small nicks in the paint.

My fear is that the small nicks/blems will gnaw away at me every time I sit in front of them, to the point where I'd want to sell them. Knowing I'd never get my money on the used market, what do you think of my dealer's price?
 
Bob - I'm not a dealer, but that price seems very fair (definitely less than I paid!) I would advise you inspect the speakers. See if those small nicks bother you.

I know EXACTLY what you mean about nicks in speakers. When I bought my Sonus Faber Stradivari's they arrived damaged (long story) - and it bothered me to no end. When I sold them, I made sure the buyer saw plenty of photos and acknowledged the damage in writing. When he got them, he said, "man, that's not so bad." That kind of stuff doesn't bother people. Others (like Joe and I) - it drives us batty.
 
Mike said:
Bob - I'm not a dealer, but that price seems very fair (definitely less than I paid!) I would advise you inspect the speakers. See if those small nicks bother you.

I know EXACTLY what you mean about nicks in speakers. When I bought my Sonus Faber Stradivari's they arrived damaged (long story) - and it bothered me to no end. When I sold them, I made sure the buyer saw plenty of photos and acknowledged the damage in writing. When he got them, he said, "man, that's not so bad." That kind of stuff doesn't bother people. Others (like Joe and I) - it drives us batty.
Click to expand...

Oh boy does it bother me. :(
 
Bob...remember, their dealer cost is probably around 60-65% of MSRP, so they will sell them to you at 19% off all day long for a unit that has a few blemishes and the remainder of the warranty on it. If you inspect the nicks and you are ok with them, then use that to your advantage and practice your negotiating skills to get an even better discount :D

Good luck.
 
If you are concerned those small nicks/blems will gnaw at you, they most certainly will. If they are the size of a pinhead now, in a few months you will see them in your mind's eye as the size of manhole covers. Better to pay a little more and buy them brand new so that the first time they are uncrated is in your listening room.
 
Thanks everyone. I got some better photos of the blems. The one that is visible will disappear with a tiny little dab of touch up paint. I'm not so anal I can't appreciate saving the dough. My sashas were used but played like new, so I didn't mind them having been owned before. Since these will be used for many, many years before I think of other speakers, I think saving some cash will give me some satisfaction considering the speaker I'm getting. By all accounts, you would have to be looking hard to find the tiny little nicks. Thankfully, the dealer was quick to point them out.

So while I have a little less excitement today than yesterday about these, that is probably a good thing 'cause $39K is one hell of a lot of cash for a pair of speakers. And... its not like the used market for Alexias is booming right now. Getting a deal will be welcomed by the minister of finance.
 
Some quick logic mathematics:

* Pair of loudspeakers cost = $39K
* Time expectancy = 10 years (just a rough estimation)
* Total cost per year = $3,900
* Total cost per day = $10.685 (the days that you listen to them of course; if you don't that figure simply goes up)
* Total average number of hours in use per day = 3 hours (many days you travel, or in vacation, or many things else, and for some it's more and for others it's less; it's another rough estimate)
* Total resale price in 10 years = $9,000 +/- (just a rough approximation; see past for future expectation)
* Total listening enjoyment value = priceless (but for them ten years you won't taste @ home what new technologies bring to the table)

Conclusion: What's really there to conclude? ...You can start with a pair of loudspeakers costing ten times less or ten times more and in actual use for ten times less time (only one year), or you can have them till you die.
And! Some people's bank account are hundred times more than another's bank account, or less.
And! Some people's audio passion is hundred times more passionate than another's audio passion.

Would you buy something that you can't truly afford? ...Some do, some don't.

And what about if tomorrow, with a bunch of snow on the road, you have a major accident and don't have all the coverage necessary for your permanent invalidity!? ...No more job of course, and you only rely on your government to refuel your true passion, audio!
Are you ready to face the music?

Live for today, and let tomorrow take care of itself. ...Or is it; plan ahead for tomorrow today? ;)
 
for a pair of "blems" the discount is nowhere near sufficient. 25% minimum. I know guys getting 20% off brand new in crates. Freight is another story depending on your logistics.
 
It's very difficult to get any meaningful discount on Wilsons so if the minor dings don't bother you I'd take the demo pair. I would have them eat any tax on the sale and make it an even 20...what the hell is 19%?! I'd also bargain for a dollar for dollar credit should you want to trade up in the future. Good luck.
 
Bobvin said:
I asked my dealer if they'd consider parting with their demo Wilson Alexias... and I was surprised to hear them say YES. I finally learned the price they were asking was going to be only 19% discount from the $48.5K list price -- and the speakers have a few small nicks in the paint.

My fear is that the small nicks/blems will gnaw away at me every time I sit in front of them, to the point where I'd want to sell them. Knowing I'd never get my money on the used market, what do you think of my dealer's price?
Click to expand...

If you think that he is making you a favor with 19% discount THINK again the profit on those speakers are at LEAST 50% for example here is a true story.
friend of mine owner of a pair of Maxx 2 speakers is negotiating with the owner of the store for a pair of Alexandria's here's the offer back then Wilson Alexandria 138k #1 customer choose's the color #2 customer buy's the speakers for 90k with the condition that the store keeps the speakers for 3 months ( demos ) #3 store buy's back the Maxx 2s for 40k #4 customer's cost 50k taxes no no no this sale was for his company.

PS: Speakers where in MINT condition moral of this story is that you should be able to get 20% discount on a ( BRAND NEW PAIR )
 
I should become a Wilson Audio dealer. ...No sweat I'll even pay for the training course.

* My best guess: There are some rules to follow, particularly in regards to selling prices.
...Is it similar to Magico, Revel, Paradigm Signature, Sonus Faber, Vienna Acoustics, mbl, Focal, ... speakers?
Anyone here in the know, an audio dealer here who can illuminate and educate us?
 
NorthStar said:
I should become a Wilson Audio dealer. ...No sweat I'll even pay for the training course.

* My best guess: There are some rules to follow, particularly in regards to selling prices.
...Is it similar to Magico, Revel, Paradigm Signature, Sonus Faber, Vienna Acoustics, mbl, Focal, ... speakers?
Anyone here in the know, an audio dealer here who can illuminate and educate us?
Click to expand...

Bob i can assure you that this is a true story, my very best friend was there wen the deal went down and he SAW the final bill of sale.
 
We are in 2014, and I just don't know what is the standard now. ...All the implicated dealer's costs; transportation, customer's installation, fees, etc.

I'm from the old school where 25-30% discount on loudspeakers' MSRP was what we educated audiophiles were looking for in the days of Michael Jackson and all that jazz. ...But now he's dead, so perhaps things have changed for the worst? ...For us the customers, the buyers, the money suppliers to the audio dealers and speaker's manufacturers.

Perhaps we should design our own line of speakers: Shark Audio.
 
NorthStar said:
I should become a Wilson Audio dealer. ...No sweat I'll even pay for the training course.

* My best guess: There are some rules to follow, particularly in regards to selling prices.
...Is it similar to Magico, Revel, Paradigm Signature, Sonus Faber, Vienna Acoustics, mbl, Focal, ... speakers?
Anyone here in the know, an audio dealer here who can illuminate and educate us?
Click to expand...

You are right Bob there are ALWAYS rules to follow, But i know that for one i don't always follow them , there are dealers that will not cut prices and there are some that will MONEY TALK'S and the bright guy's walk.:)
 
MrAcoustat said:
Bob i can assure you that this is a true story, my very best friend was there wen the deal went down and he SAW the final bill of sale.
Click to expand...

Andre, I don't doubt you, my post wasn't referring to yours, but I was simply asking the question here to any audio dealer unafraid to speak openly.

* I've been in this hobby long enough that I was friend enough with some of my audio dealers that they weren't afraid to show me their papers.
...The dealer's cost; on speakers, preamps, amps, CD players, subwoofers, ...
But there are other costs too; premises' rentals, gas, electricity, phone, taxes here taxes there, fees for this fees for that, people who work there and need to get paid, bla bla bla. ...They said that time is money.

Is there a place where you can go directly and put them crates in your own truck? Because that's my way to save the dealer all those expenses.
Many people said to me: "Robert, why don't you start your own audio dealership?"
I don't need to; I've seen enough.

A smile, any smile should be free. :)
 
At the end simplicity is best. You got the cash, you know what you want, do your research and pay the guy. :)

Music is not like a home or a car; it has way more personal and emotional value, soul for true music lovers.
Home is where the heart is, and you don't need a car to get there. :)
 
MrAcoustat said:
You are right Bob there are ALWAYS rules to follow, But i know that for one i don't always follow them , there are dealers that will not cut prices and there are some that will MONEY TALK'S.
Click to expand...

I've seen it all Andre; I've been ripped off a few times, I've dealt with stubborn audio dealers, and I've seen few going down too.

Today I'm older and wiser. :) ...And not just about audio, but about life & all.

_____________

Get the content, get the essence, get the spirituality, get the awareness of your surroundings and appreciate the true artistic value of the music you love. ...First and always. :heart: :audiophile:

And keep in touch with people like Bob, because he can relate his own personal Wilson Audio Alexia speakers listening experience to us.

* Women's Curling time! :)
 
Sorry Bob but i don't think that many dealers are ready to tell you the markup on what they sell, true they have lot's of things to pay but inventory is not one of them most big ticket items are NOT in inventory you are much better to make 20% of something than 50% of nothing i am 68 years old and i also have been around the block i have many many friends in the busines and a few ennemies.:) in the audio circles in Montreal i am known as MrAcoustat and also ( COST + 5% ) :) i had that name before MrAcoustat.
 
Also, don't forget if these are his in-store demos, more likely than not, he received an additional discount of probably about 20%, so at the 19% discount he is probably making full mark-up. The speakers are hot right now. If you can wait a bit , I'm certain you can buy a brand new pair for 20% off. I know guys who are doing it now.
 
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