How Did You Purchase Your Equipment?

[soulforged]

Hello,

I had made an observation on another thread that more and more members seem to be opting online purchases from abroad over buying it from local dealers. The obvious reason for that was the massive price difference (and of course the availability).

Was wondering if this trend is growing big enough to force the local dealers to revisit their pricing strategy to counter it. The other outcome would be the strengthening of the infra supporting online purchases (Borderlinx, SYW, Courier, Customes etc.). Either way, we as consumers stand to benefit. Hopefully the govt would not up the taxes to gain from this trend

Started this poll to get an idea of the prevailing purchasing pattern. Do we see a skew or a definite inclination? I have a feeling that the local dealers would still emerge as the favoured ones but do the other options form a significant number?

Please use the options to indicate how you purchased your equipment. Since you would have bought several items in the past, consider the last significant purchase.

It would also be interesting to know your thoughts on this topic as well...

:cheers:

Edit: You can vote for multiple options but I suggest limiting it to your last 1-2 purchases.

 

[TaureanBull]

One of the options could have been "Mix of many sources" or if possible to opt for many options.

 

[tasanjeev]

Was wondering if this is trend growing big enough to force the local dealers to revisit their pricing strategy to counter it. The other outcome would be the strengthening of the infra supporing online purchases (Borderlinx, SYW, Courier, Customes etc.).

No doubt its a good effort, try chasing the govt to reduce import duties and taxes Or may be this poll results will push the dealers to do it.

Dealers would have no choice but to pay huge for imports, like shipping, tax, customs etc. As a induvidual importer, we might see some price benifits as we dont fall under comercial importers. Just my thought.

Keep this poll running, sounds very interesting.

 

[deba]

I buy my equipments from Shops only but sometimes I do ask friends to bring it for me from abroad.

I do not use online, not trustworthy.......

 

[Thad E Ginathom]

I can't answer the poll. Apart from my computer audio, much of which, as it is now, was purchased abroad in person, all my hifi equipment came with me from UK, and is around a decade old.

I can answer a question, though, about how I shop. with a story about a shirt.

One day, a friend said to me. "What a lovely shirt! It looks expensive!"

I replied, "Yes, it is a posh make and high quality, but I got it at 40% off."

Friend: "Why do I never get bargains like that?"

Why? Because he hates shopping. He shops for a shirt the day he needs a shirt, and has to pay the price of shirt that day. I enjoy shopping, and will explore shops frequently, picking up bargains when I can. Thus, both the most important items of my hifi were ex-demo clearance-sale bargains, at full 50% reduction.

But the day that I need to replace either, then I may be like my friend buying a shirt only when he needs a shirt --- and I will have to pay the price!

 

[matbhuvi]

I enjoy shopping, and will explore shops frequently, picking up bargains when I can.

Man..you sound like my wife. She tells the exact reason for shopping. We used to buy clothes 3 times a year. Now it is 3 times a month

 

[soulforged]

Nice inputs already!

One of the options could have been "Mix of many sources" or if possible to opt for many options.

That is the reason why I suggested considering your recent purchases as that would also reflect the current consumer mindset...you can vote for multiple optioins...guess I should've mentioned in the first post.

As for me, the last purchase I made was my amp bought directly from Viren. Gues it goes into the bought new with B&W category.

 

[Thad E Ginathom]

Man..you sound like my wife. She tells the exact reason for shopping. We used to buy clothes 3 times a year. Now it is 3 times a month

I have had several men friends who are happy for me to take their wives out ...to the shops!

With my wife, the roles are reversed: she hates shopping for the sake of it.

The internet has added a dimension. Now we can find bargains without leaving our houses, although I still prefer the hands-on footwork.

Enjoy it or not, there is a lot to be said for being a predatory shopper: I have a great amp and speakers to prove it!

 

[tasanjeev]

IOne day, a friend said to me. "What a lovely shirt! It looks expensive!"

I replied, "Yes, it is a posh make and high quality, but I got it at 40% off."

Friend: "Why do I never get bargains like that?"

Why? Because he hates shopping. He shops for a shirt the day he needs a shirt, and has to pay the price of shirt that day. I enjoy shopping, and will explore shops frequently, picking up bargains when I can. Thus, both the most important items of my hifi were ex-demo clearance-sale bargains, at full 50% reduction.

But the day that I need to replace either, then I may be like my friend buying a shirt only when he needs a shirt --- and I will have to pay the price!

No offense ment to anybody. Just my thought.

Your friend saves that 60% by not buying what he dosent need. He also gets to save the 60% till he has a requirement to spend it. He stands to gain more than 40% by retaining the 60% for an immediate requireent. He also stands to gain by keeping his inventory at optimal level. He saves time by not going around looking for discounts/deals/offers etc.

This does not hold good if you have excess money to blow hyeah:

I am in the other boat, love shopping, even if i dont have money. Courtesy credit card. Wife always tells me go slow on my shopping. So i stopped shopping.................. stopped shopping with her ofcourse . Yes, Crazy me !!!

 

[Thad E Ginathom]

My wife would love me to be a 60% saver.

especially when it comes to electronic gadgets!

I suspect that she still does not believe that I actually use my last purchase, my headphones --- because she is always in bed when I do. Which is why I bought them!

They were not a bargain deal, though. Amazon, USA, would have delivered them cheaper. They were a want-it-now deal, in Singapore. There is want-it-now shopping too, as I'm sure you and your credit card know

 

[tasanjeev]

Yes, i love shopping. As a matter of fact, i spend lot of time on online shopping too hyeah:

 

[ukjeyaraj]

I do quiet a lot of window shopping. Both online and offline

 

[spirovious]

I have mix answers-

1.I got my speakers on basis of reviews & couldn't get audition as they were not available in Mumbai with B & W.
2.I got Onkyo HTiB with B & W after audition.
3.Stereo amp pre-used.

 

[soulforged]

27 new with B&W versus 26 from abroad (shipping or carrying)...pretty much neck to neck thus far...

 

[just4kix]

Except for my Denon AVR, all my purchases have been abroad and my wife or I or we together carried them with me.

 

[soulforged]

Hmmm....34 for bought from abroad combined vs. 32 for bought locally...such a proportion should be enough for the local dealers to take notice...

 

[issigonis]

>>>

Any pointers to importing used equipment ( refurbished, as new) into India, for personal use?

Regards

 

[Thad E Ginathom]

Some other mode...

The still-working and still-in-use items of my hifi came from my London home when I moved to India.

Minor additions and my current PC sound setup were bought from abroad, mostly in person, with one or two items purchased online.

 

[Moviela]

I usually purchase online because I don't need to carry it from a store to my fashionable hillside home. I also can shop for a week or two and discover someone who will sell it cheaper. If it is an out of state seller, sales taxes of 8.25% are not collected.

 

[balu613]

I used to support the local stereo dealer(s) until a few years ago before they all but disappeared ... My current systems comprise almost exclusively of components bought online especially since I got more interested in headphones and related equipment.