certin speaker makers harder to get dissounts fro

Fiddler, They are not colluding with other manufacturers to fix prices; they are establishing what their dealers can charge. Two completely different things. If they want to be a dealer for that product they agree not to discount. A very common practice in many high end products, not just audio. And yes, if I did buy retail I would want a discount.

Lets take off the pretend-law-expert hat and put on our propeller hat instead. We are audiofools afterall.

Happy scrounging.

:)

No Manufacturer can tell a dealer what to sell the product for ...period...if they do they are breaking the law, in fact I do believe it was the hifi bus that made this so, I think both B&0 and Pioneer were charged with this in the 70s....anyway If a ML dealer says he "cant discount" because the manufacturer said so...is in stric violationof the law....sure you can ask for a discount and you will probably get one...the more you buy from a store, probably the more they will take care of you on both price and service....BUT they need to make a profit to stay in business and 10-20 percent over cost doesn't cut it...my guess is on any speaker line you can get 10-15% off and everybody is happy

has anyone paid list price for a speaker nad considered it money well spent or a fair price ??

there may be a few speakers which are priced fairly where paying list price is not a problem.

i'm think of one which i may buy and i am having difficulty getting a discount. it's the magnepan 1.6 .

You are mixed up. The manufacturer has the right to pull the line from any dealer who breaks the rules of the ML dealer contract. The rules can include discounting. Dealers can choose to bend this rules (and discount) and in most cases the manufacuter will look the other way as long as no other dealers are complaining. This is common practice in all segments of retail.