Audio Research Price Increase Coming July 1

Bobvin said:
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.
Click to expand...
As you said Bob, reasonable people can disagree and still be respectful. There have been many discussions on AS where people had differing opinions but rarely have I seen the discussion turn to insults. It is not what we have come to expect here on AS.

Simply because we see bullying and insults on full display in the daily news does not mean that it is ok in the civilized world. It is not ok and is definitely not something I would ever stoop to. Educated intelligent people simply do not do that no matter what we see on display from bullies at all levels.
 
knghifi said:
Companies exist to make money. They'll charge what market will bear. Otherwise they will not survive if overcharging.
Click to expand...

I see your point and agree somewhat. I do think that there are times that companies price themselves out of the market however. As I stated I have owned ARC gear and have considered one or several of their pieces even recently; but, while I felt they were offering good gear I also felt they were charging more than what I was comfortable with for what I would be getting for the money spent. Increasing their prices will only make this gap wider and in my view will actually loose them possible sales.
 
While no one likes paying more, there is a potential benefit in that your gear may be worth more on the previously played market.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
 
True, however on the previously played market the norm and expectations that people have in pricing is to approach 50% of retail in their offers. So the more you pay the more you loose :).... although purchase now and with the higher price maybe gain back more later :D....
 
Randy Myers said:
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.
Click to expand...

It was a general statement. Not directed at any particular forum member. It applies on Hoffman/Audiogon or anywhere else IMO. Sorry you took it personally for whatever reason. I just agreed with the prior posters position...in spades. Don't think he was directing his comment at you or anybody else here for that matter. Just an observation
 
Well, if we are all in the spirit of love and virtue signalling, I guess there is no need to check yourself before you go on a thread where Mike is letting customers know there will be a price increase on a certain brand and complaining about that brand. Especially when you aren't even being truthful about the stories you are telling.
 
mep said:
Well, if we are all in the spirit of love and virtue signalling, I guess there is no need to check yourself before you go on a thread where Mike is letting customers know there will be a price increase on a certain brand and complaining about that brand. Especially when you aren't even being truthful about the stories you are telling.
Click to expand...
I do not believe anyone has said anything negative about ARC the product in this thread. I actually have utmost respect for the brand and actually like their gear. The only point I have been making in this thread is that I personally believe they are pricing themselves to a point that some people considering their products may no longer do so.

As to your last statement... saying you feel a brand is pricing themselves out of the range for potential customers is being untruthful.... really... ok, if that is how you see it so be it; whatever...

Where in any of my posts in this thread is there a single untruthful statement? No where that is where.... I'm out of here, it is my fault, I should have learned from past threads, you like to create controversy where it does not exist.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"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."

"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."

"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."

"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."

"As you said Bob, reasonable people can disagree and still be respectful. There have been many discussions on AS where people had differing opinions but rarely have I seen the discussion turn to insults. It is not what we have come to expect here on AS.

Simply because we see bullying and insults on full display in the daily news does not mean that it is ok in the civilized world. It is not ok and is definitely not something I would ever stoop to. Educated intelligent people simply do not do that no matter what we see on display from bullies at all levels."

"I see your point and agree somewhat. I do think that there are times that companies price themselves out of the market however. As I stated I have owned ARC gear and have considered one or several of their pieces even recently; but, while I felt they were offering good gear I also felt they were charging more than what I was comfortable with for what I would be getting for the money spent. Increasing their prices will only make this gap wider and in my view will actually loose them possible sales."

"True, however on the previously played market the norm and expectations that people have in pricing is to approach 50% of retail in their offers. So the more you pay the more you loose .... although purchase now and with the higher price maybe gain back more later ...."
 
Randy Myers said:
I see your point and agree somewhat. I do think that there are times that companies price themselves out of the market however. As I stated I have owned ARC gear and have considered one or several of their pieces even recently; but, while I felt they were offering good gear I also felt they were charging more than what I was comfortable with for what I would be getting for the money spent. Increasing their prices will only make this gap wider and in my view will actually loose them possible sales.
Click to expand...
ARC wouldn't be in business after 50 years if consistently over charging according to majority of customers. Econ 101.

I never understood why complaints on prices. Just buy what you can afford?
 
knghifi said:
ARC wouldn't be in business after 50 years if consistently over charging according to majority of customers. Econ 101.

I never understood why complaints on prices. Just buy what you can afford?
Click to expand...

and along with that, only a fool pays msrp.........
 
Randy Myers said:

I do not believe anyone has said anything negative about ARC the product in this thread. I actually have utmost respect for the brand and actually like their gear. The only point I have been making in this thread is that I personally believe they are pricing themselves to a point that some people considering their products may no longer do so.
Click to expand...

You certainly said negative things about ARC the company: "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."

Randy Myers said:
As to your last statement... saying you feel a brand is pricing themselves out of the range for potential customers is being untruthful.... really... ok, if that is how you see it so be it; whatever...
Click to expand...

I never said that so you just made it up out of thin air.


Randy Myers said:
Where in any of my posts in this thread is there a single untruthful statement? No where that is where.
Click to expand...

Let's start here: "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."

You made up a hypothetical story and say you see it happening everyday. Right.
 
Saying I believe they will sell less products is not bad mouthing a company it is expressing an opinion. As I have stated I actually like ARC products but I truly do believe they are pricing themselves out of the range of many customers.

I was dealing with a hypothetical... but I actually do see this type of thing happening. At the county I work with we always have Interns and young engineers coming through our organization. What I described I have seen happen frequently... however it was in fact a hypothetical; maybe dramatic, but I certainly see this happening daily... calling that being untruthful is really quite the stretch my friend.

Just let it drop... at this point going back and forth on semantics is just plain silly.
 
knghifi said:
ARC wouldn't be in business after 50 years if consistently over charging according to majority of customers. Econ 101.
Click to expand...

ARC has always been expensive, but not to the level they have been coming to the past few years. I guess we will see how it all pans out in the years to come. We have seen it before, we will see it again. My main point was that the current environment is probably the worst time to implement a price increase in my view. That is all, pure and simple.
 
Agree ARC has always been expensive gear , The tradition continues IMO i really don't see the issue here current price increase only makes it Par for the course nothing outrageous ..

Doubt this will affect sales , current environment not with standing ...

Regards
 
Small (5-10%) yearly price increases are common in hi-end audio. There are also companies, highly regarded on this forum, that had risen the prices (pre-covid) of some of their models by close to ... 40%. That is ... a bit much in my view, but companies are here to make money and they can set their prices freely.
 
Good point.

Elberoth said:
Small (5-10%) yearly price increases are common in hi-end audio. There are also companies, highly regarded on this forum, that had risen the prices (pre-covid) of some of their models by close to ... 40%. That is ... a bit much in my view, but companies are here to make money and they can set their prices freely.
Click to expand...
 
Agreed. This thread started out well and quickly turned into a train wreck.
 
I was looking for the “off the rails” emoji several posts back. I might have been guilty of nudging it myself!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top