Newbie audiophile, is list price, it?

[quantoc]

I am new to the game, and am ready to pull the trigger. I have selected B&W. I won't go into exact details, because the question is general, and I don't want to get bogged down.

While auditioning other speakers, I got the idea that there was some room to negotiate the final price. My local B&W dealer told me " We are an authorized dealer, and to keep that status we have to abide by the list price" Exact words may be off, but that was the gist.

I can afford to pay, and think it is worth the price, but don't want to get taken. This forum is great, and I look forward to any input. A couple of tag on questions........... Are there any online options with warranty? I have the bug now, and my dealer told me six weeks to get them in. :M I am not going with the prestige series, by the way.

Thanks again,

Newbie

[Briz vegas]

Six weeks, where are you located? The South Pole?

In Brisbane gear is almost always about a week away unless you are really unlucky and the warehouse is out of stock. I have purchased B&W 3 times now, longest wait was about 5 days for 700 & 800 series.

Dealers do seem to be under pressure not to discount. In my experience you can get a modest discount, particularly if they feel you will be back for other gear. Its a matter of developing a relationship with your dealer. Remember that you are dealing with a specialised product. This is not Kmart or some discount barn that you are dealing with. When you have problems with your system or want specialist advice you will be returning to your dealer. Service and experience are not free.

[pbarach]

While auditioning other speakers, I got the idea that there was some room to negotiate the final price. My local B&W dealer told me " We are an authorized dealer, and to keep that status we have to abide by the list price" Exact words may be off, but that was the gist.

My local dealer (Ohio) gave me over 20% off the list price of a pair of 704's (which I'm very happy with, BTW).

[KEF]

I am new to the game, and am ready to pull the trigger. I have selected B&W. I won't go into exact details, because the question is general, and I don't want to get bogged down.

While auditioning other speakers, I got the idea that there was some room to negotiate the final price. My local B&W dealer told me " We are an authorized dealer, and to keep that status we have to abide by the list price" Exact words may be off, but that was the gist.

I can afford to pay, and think it is worth the price, but don't want to get taken. This forum is great, and I look forward to any input. A couple of tag on questions........... Are there any online options with warranty? I have the bug now, and my dealer told me six weeks to get them in. :M I am not going with the prestige series, by the way.

In the US on new speakers you should be looking for at *least* 15% off - anythig less would have me looking for another dealer.

I also agree with Briz, a more typical wait period is a week - but again, you didn't mention where you are located.

Regards,
Keith

[beden1]

Unfortunately, my dealer only gives 10% off. Other dealers I went to don't discount at all. There was a shake-up in PA where B&W got wind of dealers discounting and fired the dealers. The new dealers are afraid to discount at all. It depends where you are. I would have loved the 20% off.

It usually takes up to 5 working days to get any speakers I have ordered, and have ordered on 4 different occasions. If your "B&W dealer" is saying that long, I question whether they are a legitimate dealer. Check the B&W web site to see if they are.

[ColoKurt]

Unfortunately, my dealer only gives 10% off. Other dealers I went to don't discount at all. There was a shake-up in PA where B&W got wind of dealers discounting and fired the dealers. The new dealers are afraid to discount at all. It depends where you are. I would have loved the 20% off.

It usually takes up to 5 working days to get any speakers I have ordered, and have ordered on 4 different occasions. If your "B&W dealer" is saying that long, I question whether they are a legitimate dealer. Check the B&W web site to see if they are.

I agree. The B&W dealers I've dealt with will only give you 10%.

[KRC]

With all the speakers and electronics I have bought over the years I have always gotten some sort of discount. It is usually in the area of 15% as that would save you the taxes here in Canada. I bought me 703's in January this year and saved $700.00 off the list price. Now that is with the same saleman that I bought my original 600 series stuff from. So he is being a good business man and giving me a deal, in his mind is "What is this guy coming back to buy next time". Like anything in the service industry, treat the customer right because you never now who will win the lottery or an inheritance.

Kevin

[Cambs12]

I have enquired with a couple of dealers in the UK on 800 series,both would give a discount... If they don't advertise a discounted price,it is their margin,not B&Ws that is reduced,so i don't think B&W would even know anyway.

[hifiguymi]

While auditioning other speakers, I got the idea that there was some room to negotiate the final price. My local B&W dealer told me " We are an authorized dealer, and to keep that status we have to abide by the list price" Exact words may be off, but that was the gist.

I can afford to pay, and think it is worth the price, but don't want to get taken. This forum is great, and I look forward to any input. A couple of tag on questions........... Are there any online options with warranty? I have the bug now, and my dealer told me six weeks to get them in. :M I am not going with the prestige series, by the way.

Thanks again,

Newbie

Unless the product is not in stock, which hardly ever happens with B&W in the US, it should only take a week or so at most. The only thing that would change that is the dealers ordering policy. There are minimum order requirements to get freight paid by B&W, and speakers can be expensive to ship, so if the dealer is waiting for enough to make a prepaid order it may take THEM a while. That being said, the minimum is not THAT big. He could be under promising in hopes of being a hero if they come sooner.

As far as pricing goes, that is up to the dealer. I usually do things on a case by case basis. What, and how much someone is buying always play into it. B&W does not do the Bose thing and have it in the dealer agreement that if they discount their speakers that will loose the line. Most dealers just don't want to get into wars with each other (if there are a couple of them near each other) and water down the brand and kill resale.

Remember that you are buying the dealer as well and maybe they will go the extra mile for you in terms of service. Just make sure you ask them what they are going to do for you after the sale.

Eric

[Josh]

Cost on most B&Ws is roughly 40%. A large dealer putting in a big order and paying for it up front can probably do even better than that.

The dealers that are not discounting at all either do not want your business or do not think you are a real buyer. Move on.

A 20% discount is pretty good.

[quantoc]

thanks for the advice

Thanks everyone for your input. I will be going back on Monday or Tuesday, and will let you know how it turns out. FYI I am located in Missouri.

[nicky]

I did a lot of research on price before buying my B&W system since I had saved for so long for them on my own.

In the US, if you buy set of speakers all at once and they believe that you are a serious buying and you are "kind" and friendly with the salesperson, almost everyone will automatically give you about 10% off. Most have a program key in there computers that they push to automatically take a percentage off, whatever that may be.

Beyond that however, they have to ask their "higher up" supervisors at the store to take more off or they can get fired or reprimanded. Depending on the type of salesperson and/or your relationship with them they will take more off. Some are very arrogant esp. of you live in a small city because they know B&W are only sold at limited authorized stores and are not sold new online. Some are even more arrogant if you look too excited and they think you definitely want only B&Ws.

So play it cool (ie not to eager), be friendly and ask kindly.


I got 15% off for my 703, htm7, ds7 and aws750.

[NMG]

Like others have said, also consider the service. I'd glady pay 5% less than MSRP and know that the dealer will treat me well, that they'll let me demo stuff, that they'll support me if I have problems, etc., than to pay 15% less and have no support once the cheque clears.

[nicky]

From my experience, a salesperson that doesn't like you or you're not friendly with won't give you good discounts.

Plus an Authorized B&W store are contractually obligated to give you full support and technical advise as indicated in the fine print of their warranty or they wouldn't be selling B&Ws....that's why they are Authorized. If they don't they are just bad people and has nothing to do with discount.

High end electronics stores also have strict written policies about returns, exchanges, demo'ing products, etc, etc. that are their own policy and have nothing to do with the amount of discount you get. And B&Ws are sold by respected sellers and not by bestbuy or circuitcity where they don't care or try to rip you off.

[Angioguy]

I think 10-15% is a reasonable discount, but it's something you've got to feel out on your own. I'm inclined to think dealers are more likely to hook you up if you've been a "loyal" returning customer... but generally, you can, at the very least expect to save on sales tax when paying with cash, and when you're talking about a pair of $12,000 802D's, that amounts to significant savings!

[GregLett]

I always get at lease 10%. For the place where I buy, a lot more.

[dmccombs]

I get 10% off here, but the dealer has a very nice trade-in program where you get full credit towards the upgrade.

He also lends me whatever speaker or electronics so I can try them in my room, even when I tell him I am only semi serious about upgrading at that time.

I had bought a used Krell prepro that ended up having a problem locking onto digital signals. When it screwed up, it would blast static at +20DB. It ended up blowing 4 of my tweeters. The B&W dealer replaced them for free.

Between the fantastic service and liberal trade-in program I am fine with the 10% discount.

Regards,
Darrell

[quantoc]

pulled the trigger

Thanks for all your input. I got 10% and discounted install. In the light of eternity not a huge deal, but it is the principle. Now the wait...... 5 days... not six weeks, but still.