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If you’ve been on the fence and considering a new Audio Research piece, now is the time! ARC will be having a price increase on July 1st.
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Audio Research Price Increase Coming July 1
- Thread starter Mike
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CPP
Active member
I wonder if all these price increases we are seeing throughout all industries not just audio, like food, retail, essential goods, are directly related to the shut down or slow downs caused by Convid19. Good articles; Coronavirus Pandemic, Supply Chain Problems Cause Prices Of Grocery Store Staples To Skyrocket | Here & Now
here The Covid Surcharge: Companies Confront the Unforgiving Economics of Coronavirus - WSJ
i am sure it cost more to run a biz so that employees are protected. and, this is probably true for every company in a product's supply chain for both materials and services. also, if i had to guess maybe unit volumes are down as well. so, one has to make up the revenue somehow.
that being said, this pandemic has not generally made the high-end consumer any richer. and, if memory servers, folks were certainly not paying more for things in the 1930s than they were in the 1920s.
it will be interesting to see how this works out and how the market comes to equilibrium over the medium to long term.
that being said, this pandemic has not generally made the high-end consumer any richer. and, if memory servers, folks were certainly not paying more for things in the 1930s than they were in the 1920s.
it will be interesting to see how this works out and how the market comes to equilibrium over the medium to long term.
Mr Peabody
Well-known member
When your "entry" units used to begin at $7500 and now go up, it puts their gear out of reach for many. They're not alone in that regard.
mep
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So what’s your point? Companies shouldn’t market their products?
Randy Myers
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So their entry product is going to be what, $8k, $10k... I cannot imagine them selling any more product and many of their customer base has less to spend than before. So they are catering to the 1%... really... I'm sorry, but in my view this is the major issue holding back our hobby. Companies making their products far too expensive for a vast majority of possible new customers.
Just my opinion, but if you ask me this is the exact wrong time for doing a price increase.
Just my opinion, but if you ask me this is the exact wrong time for doing a price increase.
Regardless of whether we agree with the price increase, I think the key point is that Mike let us know in advance that it’s coming. Kudos to Mike for keeping everyone informed with manufacturers’ plans and allowing buyers on the fence to avoid the price increase.
mep
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ARC is not catering to the 1% and this is not a major issue holding back our hobby as you said. How is the price of ARC gear holding you back in this hobby? It’s not. There are ten tons of audio gear on the market now at all price points. There are lots of choices available at every price point for every component, wire, racks, magic feet, and digital dingleberries.
Randy Myers
Well-known member
I do agree with you in kudos to Mike for letting those who may be on the fence know that this is coming.
I also stick by my view that far too many companies are over pricing their products to a point that they are hurting this hobby. Yes I know there are a ton of products and there are pieces that cover all price levels, but I try to put myself into what someone that might be interested in listening to good music might experience. They pick up a magazine, maybe they have heard of ARC or others... and then they see their products starting at about $10k each... and know that a system would be completely out of range of their wildest dreams... they grab a pair of decent air buds and go back to their iPhone... maybe dramatic, but I certainly see this happening daily... and another lose of another person that would move our hobby forward... we are not getting the younger crowd like we did back in my day....
Back in the day the high end products were expensive... but not to a point that someone just getting into this hobby would think they would never ever be able... pricing is getting stupidly high and the brands that you see and hear about the most are the ones driving the prices to stupid levels... ARC is now falling into that realm more than they already were.
Bobvin
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And as I posted in another thread, ARC is not doing major announcement of new 50th Anniversary statement products as I was told early this year before the Wuhan Virus locked everyone up. I spoke with Aldo Filippelli who said instead they would be focusing on their more "middle" market line like the Foundation Series. I'm sure all that goes on hold with Wuhan. Taking a price increase—to survive this troubling times, I hardly fault them for that. And while the cost of much "statement" gear in this hobby continues to the stratosphere, ARC is actually very reasonably priced in comparison to many of their competitors. Remember too, made in the USA, not China. Long live ARC!
mep
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Well said Bob. People buy what they can afford. It makes no sense to complain about the price of products you were never going to purchase.
Randy Myers
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I have actually owned ARC gear and would consider their products again. It is cool if you believe it is healthy for our hobby in the long run, I disagree; I will leave it at that.
Billion$Baby
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Bobvin
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Most of my life I could not afford reference level components. Today the cost of reference keeps moving so its a stretch for me in many cases, though I do recognize the privilege of having accumulated a little bit of wealth. Then again, I’m now 62, in my 30’s and early 40’s I didn’t have a system. The system I assembled in my youth: ARC, Great American Sound, Nackamichi, Techniques turntable, and home-made speakers bought from a local guy who built ‘em in his garage lasted a decade or so then parts began to fail and I had other things to attend to. Today, however, there are tremendous bargains if you seek them out—and if you’re not lured by the siren call of the latest, greatest, uber-spanky gear.
Can you dim the lights, pour yourself an adult beverage, play music you like, and relax? I often say I can be more emotionally connected to my car radio playing an old memory than my spanky system. Its not about the gear, but a love for music. The gear part is fun, but if I had to sell it all I know I could assemble a rig for $10k and still enjoy myself.
Can you dim the lights, pour yourself an adult beverage, play music you like, and relax? I often say I can be more emotionally connected to my car radio playing an old memory than my spanky system. Its not about the gear, but a love for music. The gear part is fun, but if I had to sell it all I know I could assemble a rig for $10k and still enjoy myself.
Randy Myers
Well-known member
All I can say is wow... simply wow. No matter how rich you think you are I would never make such a stupid statement about other forum members. I know not everyone can afford gear that cost more than a nice house, but most people would consider a $40,000 system more than a "bottom feeder" system. That had to be the rudest post I have ever read on this, or maybe any other forum.
knghifi
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Companies exist to make money. They'll charge what market will bear. Otherwise they will not survive if overcharging.
Bobvin
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I agree, that comment really was disrespectful and not in keeping with your prior posts (and general tone of this forum) where I felt your opinion was honestly and respectfully offered. I disagree somewhat, but reasonable can disagree without dissing the other guy. We have that on display in abundance in the daily news, no need to bring it here.