HOT DEAL: Yamaha slashes price of RX-V667 AV amp to £350

Its a very subjective matter,but all us readers of WHF might not know everything,but most keen readers like myself would like to think they have enough upstairs to go with their heart,and if that means buying a mass marketed sony,pioneer,denon etc. bargain product and we like it,who cares how high they are stacked in the stockroom.TVs have become much more part of an AV package more recently,and i dont mind how many Currys or Dixons have as long as the customer is getting genuine value and are happy with their mass marketed unit.

I can say with some certainty that the Pioneer A-400 returned a good margin to both manufacturer and dealer, and that a 70% mark-up, which equates to 40% profit, is not unreasonable.  (Jewellery often sells with a 200% markup for instance, and the dealer has very little after sales expenses in that case).  I very much suspect that in this economic climate, this sector of the market is very exposed.

No, shadiest.tripod, I don't.

Understood, consider this an apology to Dave.

I guess no one is going to appriciate my point on this.

Personally though Andrew, don't you think there's a lot more marketing hype to cover plain poor products today than back in your days of Audiophile?

Was going to ban you for attacking other members, shadiest.tripod, but you're doing such a good job of shooting yourself in the foot...

Anyway, please do not insult other members - one and only warning.

Just noticed Dave Rich, that from some of your previous posts elsewhere that you have bought from Richer Sounds in the past. The famed retailer who's philosophy over the past 20+ years has been "stack 'em from the floor to the ceiling and watch them fly out the door" Doesn't sound like a retailer dealing in specialist equipment for enthusiasts does it? Sounds almost "high street consumer electronics outlet"

Baaa Baaa......

Ooh! I was suprised me

y last comment about Monitor Audio margins was allowed!

I was ready to shout "Help, help I'm being repressed! Witness the injustice inherent in the system!) lol

Working at DSG was nothing to be proud of granted, but I knew the profit margins they were working on, and living next to a local hifi dealership, I know the profit margins most dealers have with current brands. I've been a musician for 20 years, and buying/auditioning hifi for at least as long. Most importantly I love MUSIC.

Makes me better informed than most yes?

Some people proclaim to be an expert just because they follow WHF (and the other mags)like blind sheep.....

Just a thought but, as an example, how would you feel getting home with a brand new pair of Monitor Audios only to later find out the dealer mark up is on average 70%?

Elated? Doubt it! Those "savings" off the RRP don't sound so generous in that light do they?

shadiest.tripod - working for DSG 5 years ago hardly qualifies you as an industry expert.

In my honest opinion you could not be more wrong if you tried - or maybe you are trying !

I have no problem with a bargain, but think of the people or dealers who bought them a month before this reduction - I'm guessing there will be no redemption offered - it just grates with me.

It's just a shame that, even as recently with Yamaha's ax757SE (or years ago with the Pioneer A400), manufacturers produced products at reduced profit margins and gave everyone the opportunity of a wonderful bargain from day one. That just seems a more fair and professional way of doing things. I recall those two examples sold quite well....

Having worked for the DSG group 5 years ago (dark, dark days!!), I cringed at products coming out at price points that they were evidently NOT worth.

Maybe I'm too honest for my own good, or an old fuddy duddy remembering fondly when listening to gear mattered more than marketing.

Again sorry all for the old man rant, I'm off to listen to music on a wax cylinder

If it's a good product (both are) and cheaper to buy, what's the problem? The shopper gets a better deal, and maybe the dealers/manufacturers concerned sell more product.

Will be interesting to see which manufacturer is the next to blink.

Wow i reckon the likes of CYRUS would seriously disagree with shadiest.tripod,and the likes of pio and yamaha are more to peoples reach in this financial climate.

I reckon i would still go for the pio at this range,that build quality and looks is well worth the extra 49stg over time,now anything above the '667 well thats a different story....

I think you'll find it's called a free market economy, shadiest.tripod, or capitalism.

Thanks as ever for the unattributed industry insider view, shadiest.tripod.

Isn't it a real crying shame that what was a specialist, enthusiast's industry has become nothing more than a glorified version of the market Currys/Comet cover?

When will people realise that retailers/manufacturers slashing prices are just highlighting how much they milk out of us at all other times?

SERIOUS, PASSIONATE manufacturers suggest a RRP and sell at trade what the equipment is actually worth in the first place.

I guess for every Naim, Rega, or Spendor there's hundreds of Cyrus, Arcam, Pioneer, Yamaha types who are nothing more than box shifters.....