Absloute Lack of Authorised Dealerships / Outlets selling Branded HI-fi Separtes

[Audio Slave]

This is absolutely correct. Pure lack of awareness is to be blamed.


Well said. +1

Not only developed markets, we lag behind even some developing markets.


We were the most advanced country, we had world's first universities, the best of riches the best of cultural developments many eons ago while most of the Europe comprised of hunters and gatherers. Alas, somewhere down the line we fell far far behind.

"Have been" does not matter so much now.....what we are today is what counts

 

[Audio Slave]

Agree to that. While in UK, even I had to roam around places to find decent AV dealers/shops in an English town. Finally, had to rely on online stores, which is a different experience altogether there, Infact, better than actually buying from the shops. The only downside is that you will not be able to do the auditions.

While I was in the UK, I was able to build a very good system of my choice using various (5) components, all of different brands, within a budget of Pounds 1000 in less than a week without any difficulty at all (while living in London) whereas here in India I am having great difficulty in getting what I want. Chandigarh has hardly much to offer. Delhi is only slightly better.

 

[malvai]

Agree to that. While in UK, even I had to roam around places to find decent AV dealers/shops in an English town. Finally, had to rely on online stores, which is a different experience altogether there, Infact, better than actually buying from the shops. The only downside is that you will not be able to do the auditions.

While I was in the UK, I was able to build a very good system of my choice using various (5) components, all of different brands, within a budget of Pounds 1000 in less than a week without any difficulty at all (while living in London) whereas here in India I am having great difficulty in getting what I want. Chandigarh has hardly much to offer. Delhi is only slightly better.

It is still not clear as to what you specifically want....

if you elaborate a bit, one can point you in the right direction.

 

[Thad E Ginathom]

While I was in the UK, I was able to build a very good system of my choice using various (5) components, all of different brands, within a budget of Pounds 1000 in less than a week without any difficulty at all (while living in London) whereas here in India I am having great difficulty in getting what I want. Chandigarh has hardly much to offer. Delhi is only slightly better.

Yes, London would make that easy for you. You would probably be able to do so in one shop where you would find wall-to-wall Marantz and competing brands. I don't think that India has any equivalent to, say, Richer Sounds or some of the smaller single-branch retailers.

If your budget had been 10,000, or 100,000 UK pounds, then I think you must have some travelling on your hands. Surely, it is there, but specialist shops at the high end would have to be sought out, and might even require travel outside London.

London has no equivalent to Singapore's Adelphi --- but then, I don't think that Singapore has an equivalent to Richer Sounds!

 

[Audio Slave]

It is still not clear as to what you specifically want....

if you elaborate a bit, one can point you in the right direction.

malvai

Thanks for the offer. I am building the system I want one by one. I have already secured the Amp and am sure other components would also fall into place in due course. I got the Amp from the UK. I wanted to highlight the scarcity factor in India with which many others here seem to agree.

 

[vivek.saikia]

Agree to that. While in UK, even I had to roam around places to find decent AV dealers/shops in an English town. Finally, had to rely on online stores, which is a different experience altogether there, Infact, better than actually buying from the shops. The only downside is that you will not be able to do the auditions.

While I was in the UK, I was able to build a very good system of my choice using various (5) components, all of different brands, within a budget of Pounds 1000 in less than a week without any difficulty at all (while living in London) whereas here in India I am having great difficulty in getting what I want. Chandigarh has hardly much to offer. Delhi is only slightly better.

Just a few points to ponder...

1. Majority of the AV brands are based out of US & Europe hence abundance of their products in their native place is quite obvious.
2. Relative to India, England is a very small country. Hence distribution of the AV dealers is quite dense in UK as compared to India.
3. The disposable income of the people from the western countries is quite substantial than that of India. Hence, very obviously all the high end brands prefer to direct their supplies in these wealthy countries.

 

[malvai]

malvai

Thanks for the offer. I am building the system I want one by one. I have already secured the Amp and am sure other components would also fall into place in due course. I got the Amp from the UK. I wanted to highlight the scarcity factor in India with which many others here seem to agree.

Buddy, the point you are trying to highlight is already moot.

All of us here have built up our gear one patient piece at a time... over months... in some cases even years...

it took me 4 years of heavy auditioning in many cities... and in some cases- countries... after which the ardous task of procuring began... it does require a whole lot of patience... which is why I asked as to what specifially you're looking for?

many of us could guide you and it could really help you a lot...

 

[Thad E Ginathom]

Ultimately, nobody is going to hold stock that they are not sure of selling. They might otherwise just as well throw their money away, or put up a sign, "Museum: visitors welcome". Even if the stock is financed by the distributors, they are not going to throw away their money, either.

The situation in UK is that quite a big proportion of its population, and probably, an either larger proportion of its wealth, is focussed in and around London. The next largest city is very small by comparison.

 

[denzong]

guys theres no use of pointing the shortfalls of india.

if i may just ask, how many of you who say that India lacks this and that in HIFI have taken any steps to improve this scenario

NONE

and then we sit and crib about not being able to have the best. these words are by global citizens who have traveled and are well read....well in that case you can always pick your stuff while traveling or can order online. almost all things are shipped to india now a days.

i agree with Vivek here that since most of these products are made either in Europe or US theres an abundance there. plus because of the geography, which is also pointed.

its like going to the US/Europe and saying that we dont get too much variety in TATA MOTOR cars there. only india has better variety.

think about it guys.

 

[just4kix]

While we quite agree that there are very few dealerships in India, I felt that everyone is not looking at the argument from the dealership point of view:

• A typical multi-brand sound/vision dealership requires a large amount of floor space and we know how "cheap" it is in India.
• The dealership must be located in a central shopping place.
• The dealership will have to be decorated very tastefully to attract clientele.
• The dealer will have to stock numerous brands as demo pieces that no one will ever buy - because they are demo pieces. This is a huge investment by itself.
• The dealer will have to employ a few really qualified salesmen, technicians and installation guys.
• The customs duty and shipping costs are very high.
• After all the costs, the dealer must earn a decent profit to continue to stay in business.

Now if there is a rich man who can setup such a dealership, what does he get:

• Very few footfalls as how many Indians care about hi-fi?
• Even if there is lot of interest, how many can afford to spend upwards of Rs. 40k on an amplifier alone?
• The few audiophiles who turn up will audition the devices and find a cheap place on the net to order from

So is it a wonder that we see a dearth of such dealerships? So at most we find some single-two brand showrooms who can get demo pieces on credit from the manufacturer so that they do not lock up their own funds in non-saleable items.

 

[Thad E Ginathom]

Curiously, Richer Sounds established itself by specifically using small properties in streets which were not in the most prime shopping areas. They still found space for demo rooms, too, in many of their branches. They pride themselves in holding the record for hifi turnover per sq ft of showroom space. I am sure that Mr Richer is considerably, err... richer.

What's more, until recent years in which they have become just another home-theatre-in-a-box shop, they prided themselves as a shop which, at whatever budget, sold proper stereo equipment --- not all-in-ones, boomboxes or fridges. What's more, their sales staff didn't tell you that the 100w speakers would go louder than the 50w speakers!

There is only one thing that they could not have done this without: the buyers.

If anyone thinks an Indian city can support the business model, who knows, maybe they should drop a line to Mr Richer!

 

[akd]

guys theres no use of pointing the shortfalls of india.


if i may just ask, how many of you who say that India lacks this and that in HIFI have taken any steps to improve this scenario

well, why should I at all think of taking a step, I have not chosen hiFi as my profession, I am not wrong if I say the onus lies with the people who have chosen this field as their profession and we are plain end user, don't you criticize corruption in India or the reservation policy in India - now what steps have you taken for that? none because you try contribute in a different field

The point that was raised is in India HiFi equipment is difficult to source, which is true, yes there are reasons, I see most of the members living in Bangalore/Pune/Mumbai/Delhi/Kolkata.......hv you ever lived in these small towns, if yes then you know from heart what I mean

Now there are famous HiFi dealers who deals with amps worth more than 100K, whats the average income of a music lover in India? whom these dealers are serving? why they are selling products which has a tag of six months salary of a common person? in one hand you sale audio products (which even ppl in US are reluctant to buy) in metros and on the other hand you say we are serving audio enthusiasts - is that fair??

just my 2 cents

 

[Audio Slave]

Curiously, Richer Sounds established itself by specifically using small properties in streets which were not in the most prime shopping areas. They still found space for demo rooms, too, in many of their branches. They pride themselves in holding the record for hifi turnover per sq ft of showroom space. I am sure that Mr Richer is considerably, err... richer.

What's more, until recent years in which they have become just another home-theatre-in-a-box shop, they prided themselves as a shop which, at whatever budget, sold proper stereo equipment --- not all-in-ones, boomboxes or fridges. What's more, their sales staff didn't tell you that the 100w speakers would go louder than the 50w speakers!

There is only one thing that they could not have done this without: the buyers.

If anyone thinks an Indian city can support the business model, who knows, maybe they should drop a line to Mr Richer!

RICHER SOUND MODEL OF SELLING

I absoluely agree with you. I myself have had very good experience of buying a number of Hi-fi components form Richer Sounds in London. Their pricing is very competiitve possibly because they have kept their overheads very low.
Retail outlest of that kind hold some promise of succeeding in the Indian market scene, where like everywhere else, price of any product is of paramount importance for the average customer. Good idea.

 

[Audio Slave]

While we quite agree that there are very few dealerships in India, I felt that everyone is not looking at the argument from the dealership point of view:

• A typical multi-brand sound/vision dealership requires a large amount of floor space and we know how "cheap" it is in India.
• The dealership must be located in a central shopping place.
• The dealership will have to be decorated very tastefully to attract clientele.
• The dealer will have to stock numerous brands as demo pieces that no one will ever buy - because they are demo pieces. This is a huge investment by itself.
• The dealer will have to employ a few really qualified salesmen, technicians and installation guys.
• The customs duty and shipping costs are very high.
• After all the costs, the dealer must earn a decent profit to continue to stay in business.

Now if there is a rich man who can setup such a dealership, what does he get:

• Very few footfalls as how many Indians care about hi-fi?
• Even if there is lot of interest, how many can afford to spend upwards of Rs. 40k on an amplifier alone?
• The few audiophiles who turn up will audition the devices and find a cheap place on the net to order from

So is it a wonder that we see a dearth of such dealerships? So at most we find some single-two brand showrooms who can get demo pieces on credit from the manufacturer so that they do not lock up their own funds in non-saleable items.

What you say is possibly correct. I was speaking from a buyer's angle about the sad situation in India. Whatever the reasons, the fact remains that India even today is not a HI-FI market of any consequence either for the buyer or the seller. I do not see much scope for a major change, knowing what a miniscule percentage of the population of this country has any desire or resources to own Hi-fi separates. Most are happy to own either cheap all-in- ones or home theater systems. It is definitely a question of demand and supply. Till the demand improves nothing much is goiing to change here for decades to come.

 

[Audio Slave]

guys theres no use of pointing the shortfalls of india.

if i may just ask, how many of you who say that India lacks this and that in HIFI have taken any steps to improve this scenario

NONE

and then we sit and crib about not being able to have the best. these words are by global citizens who have traveled and are well read....well in that case you can always pick your stuff while traveling or can order online. almost all things are shipped to india now a days.

i agree with Vivek here that since most of these products are made either in Europe or US theres an abundance there. plus because of the geography, which is also pointed.

its like going to the US/Europe and saying that we dont get too much variety in TATA MOTOR cars there. only india has better variety.

think about it guys.

The issue here is not one of patriotism and there is no need for any emotional outbursts. It is a simple fact that because of the low average per capita income in this country, only a very very small percentage of people can afford to buy the expensive Hi-fi products which normally start from at least Rs. 10,000 plus onwards. It is simply a question of demand and supply and public tastes and preferences. Most people are happy with buying cheap all- in-ones or cheap home theater systems which you can get for as low as Rs.5,000.

What other contribution you expect a common buyer to make in this area to improve the situation - apart from having a demand for these products and which unfortunately remains a demand due to high pricing and low availability factor. Hope you get the point.

 

[Audio Slave]

Ultimately, nobody is going to hold stock that they are not sure of selling. They might otherwise just as well throw their money away, or put up a sign, "Museum: visitors welcome". Even if the stock is financed by the distributors, they are not going to throw away their money, either.

The situation in UK is that quite a big proportion of its population, and probably, an either larger proportion of its wealth, is focussed in and around London. The next largest city is very small by comparison.

Well said.

 

[Audio Slave]

Yes, London would make that easy for you. You would probably be able to do so in one shop where you would find wall-to-wall Marantz and competing brands. I don't think that India has any equivalent to, say, Richer Sounds or some of the smaller single-branch retailers.

If your budget had been 10,000, or 100,000 UK pounds, then I think you must have some travelling on your hands. Surely, it is there, but specialist shops at the high end would have to be sought out, and might even require travel outside London.

London has no equivalent to Singapore's Adelphi --- but then, I don't think that Singapore has an equivalent to Richer Sounds!

Yes I agree with you. With the ever increasing reach of Internet Radio and Computer based music, the demand for costly Hi-Fi separates is likely to be hit further in a country like India.

 

[Audio Slave]

Ultimately, nobody is going to hold stock that they are not sure of selling. They might otherwise just as well throw their money away, or put up a sign, "Museum: visitors welcome". Even if the stock is financed by the distributors, they are not going to throw away their money, either.

The situation in UK is that quite a big proportion of its population, and probably, an either larger proportion of its wealth, is focussed in and around London. The next largest city is very small by comparison.

True but also amusing ...("Museum: visitors welcome")

 

[Audio Slave]

Hi
Exclusive brands dont think it's worth their effort opening a service center here for a few owners, just as Bugartti have not opened a showroom in India

Perhaps you are right...

 

[Audio Slave]

It is still not clear as to what you specifically want....

if you elaborate a bit, one can point you in the right direction.

Thanks again.
I do not think it is worthwhile to go through the labor and pains of trying to buy Hi-fi components form within India where there is hardly any easy access, availabilty for auditioning etc before buying. It is also not worthwhile travelling a few hundered or thousand kilometers to any Metro city physically to examine and audition any product. Moerover the prices in India are hugely higher than outisde India say in the UK.

So I am foced to buy from the UK and am making arrangements accordingly. I also have a plan to visit London in the near future and can slect the products I need myself during that trip.