NHT Returns to a New Marketplace?


'New Marketplace', Is that our future?

There is an interesting writeup on Stereophile about NHT's return with a new business model that eliminates brick and mortar retailers. On line, their own and some other names will be used. It states that there are only about 40 of these retailers left, so with the fall off in audiophile interest it didn't make sense to use that channel of distribtion. It cites Martin Logan and Gallo as now using the online mode.

So, all you need is good writeups in the audio 'rags' and the orders will be coming in, they think. My quess is no. What do you think.

buconero117
Barry,I find it interesting you would also give advice here in your answers , " to talk to the DEALER, send the unit to them and let them deal with Mac. Problem solved". The new business model kind of omits that problem solving option. Not to mention shipping cost,s both ways and 2 more chances for the shipper to damage and you to have the headache of dealing with them. And as others have found even after getting a return authorization to send it back to a manufacturer outside your country having to pay the duties again and the headache of straightening that out.Returns and repair are not the priority of a business that manufactures and sells. Making and selling are their priorities first before fixing something they already have the profit from. The ones that will survive will make returns warantee and repairs as much a priority to maintain and grow customer base. Those types of companies seem to be fewer and farther in this day and age. Cheers
Sorry if I hit a nerve, you should read that whole thread from which you quoted me, the dealer wasn't of much help to the person in that thread were they(?) My most recent purchase was an Oppo BDP-83, MFR Direct, no problems. Prior to that was a pair of used speakers (Gallo Reference 3.1), which I picked up within a 90 minute drive. Before that was my projector which I purchased from a dealer new over the internet. I guess I don't find a ton of value buying "Brick & Mortar" myself. The last set of speakers I purchased new from a dealer (Gallo Reference 3.0), were unopened until I got them home. So the dealer had no idea as to their condition before he helped me load them into my car. If there was I problem I would have had to load them back into my car and bring them back to the dealer. The dealer could of then claimed any damage (there was none) was my fault. I guess I'm just not sure of how much (40%, $1000(?)) added value a purchase through a dealer makes. I've read about "in home auditions", but never had one offered to me, and equipment never sounds the same at the dealer's as it does in my home. YMMV
A life-long musician and an audiophile since I soldered up that Dynaco in 1975 I have come to respect the dealer demo less and less. Same as tryin' out an instrument at the music shop... I get an impression but I don't understand what I've got until I've used it for a couple of months. Demos are kinda limited to sortin' out horrible junk. The good stuff always makes a good first impression.

Pretty girls were always great for the first half of the first date... Some ended up easier to live with for the long run, but you had to put in your time and money to find out...
So, all you need is good writeups in the audio 'rags' and the orders will be coming in, they think. My quess is no. What do you think.

Good writeups are worthless primarily because 99% of writeups are strongly favorable

How about word of mouth - one respected professional to another - no paid advertising - now that really works but ONLY if you have a really good performing product rather than something that just looks good.