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Used Market Savings vs. The Dealer Experience

Hi all,
I’ve asked a couple questions on these forums and have always gotten great advice, so I’m coming back to the well. My fundamental question is: how do you reconcile (or balance) the auditioning value a dealer provides vs the absolute dollar value you get from buying on the used market?

I bought a McIntosh MA252 recently, and it’s so great it’s convinced me to commit and invest in a serious hi-fi system. I’d drop $30k for something that put my jaw on the floor. Right now I’m running Goldenear Triton 2s, a Marantz TT-15 TT for analog, Mytek Brooklyn + Bluesound Node 2i for digital, and just replaced a Marantz PM-8005 with the Mc. Silnote cables all around. The Mc gave me my first taste of actual holographic imaging and sound you could reach out and touch. Now I want more of that, as well as greater/faster/more pronounced dynamic shifts.

I have a dealer nearby that’s been a joy to work with (bought the Tritons and Mc there). They let me listen to their 200k Wilson setup with D’Agostino amps and sweet little baby Jesus -- it was like trying to box a feral animal in the complete darkness. Lashes of sound just came out of nowhere, smacked you upside the head, and were gone. I was dumbstruck. The Sonus Faber Olympica IIIs, by comparison, were a smoother, more musical sound signature but far less of that arresting clarity.

I make this point because, had I not been allowed to audition this gear, I would have had no idea about any of that. In doing my due diligence to shop for a setup, I know I want to hear Focal Sopras, Olympica IIIs again, Goldenear T-Refs AND maybe a Wilson Sasha for good measure. I want to hear Mc separates, ARC separates, Rega TTs, Linn TTs, etc. To me, my dealer provides real value in auditioning, optimizing, and being confident that what I’m buying is what I like best.

Unfortunately, with new vs. gently used prices, the $ cost of that experience is massive -- $10k+ quite literally. On the used market now I can get Olympica IIIs for $7k instead of $13.5k, a Rega RP10 w/ Aphelion for $6.5k instead of $9ish, Mc C1100 + MC275 for $13k instead of $20k, and a pair of Sasha’s at $15k is within striking distance. New? They’re $30k. I also live in a high sales tax (10.1%) area, which doesn’t help anything.

For those with more purchasing experience, or even dealing experience, how do you square the value of auditioning gear with the exorbitant relative cost of then foregoing the used market? I feel definite guilt sucking my dealer’s resources to then just go buy it all online. That’s bad business, and if everyone did it, there would be no dealers, and heck, no new gear being made.

Is there a better way to do this?

Thanks,
Ben
bfjones01
jperry
2,450 posts
 
You should talk to your dealer. As mentioned above dealers take trade-in equipment, which they usually want to turn quickly. That in turn can mean a good deal for you.

I have bought some equipment used, but a lot of it was dealer demo equipment.
mofojo
2,301 posts
 
IMO it is totally acceptable to ask for a discount on new equipment. I am normally able to negotiate in the realm of a 20% discount. 
stereo5's avatar
stereo5
6,405 posts
 
In all my years Of buying high end audio, new from a store, I never got a 20% discount. Once I got 10% and when I bought my GE T Refs I got 500.00 off a pair of $8500 speakers and that was only after I pointed out I had bought a pair of GE Triton 1 and Triton 2, two years earlier at full price. I never got a discount from Goodwins, Overture, or Fidelis. Natural Sound would give 5% if you asked very nicely.  Spearit Sound gave good discounts but it was always on open box or B stock items.  Too bad Ralph Spearit retired. 
crwindy
123 posts
 
Don't forget dealer demo models. Still support the dealer, get a warranty and a good deal.
mofojo
2,301 posts
 
I've only bought from 3 different dealers about 5 different items and I've gotten 20% everytime. 
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