12 replies to this topic

[Kiat]

This is a sad day to hear that David Blackmore is retiring and this means another one bites the dust. David tells me that Gold Coast Hi Fi have been in business for 36 years and all those times people had always supported local businesses but times are a changing. It is time for him to back out graciously and let nature take its course. He says he is NOT going broke but it is a good time to retire and do all those things he could not do when he was in business.

He says THE SALE STARTS TODAY.
The address for Gold Coast Hi Fi is
8-10 Davenport St
Southport
QLD
Tel: 07 5571 1055

Edited by Kiat, 15 June 2011 - 06:22 PM.

[andythiing]

Kiat lets hope he enjoys his audio in his retirement - 36 years is a long time in the business - bet he has some great stories to tell.

[Kiat]

Kiat lets hope he enjoys his audio in his retirement - 36 years is a long time in the business - bet he has some great stories to tell.

Stories, he sure have, lots of it. He always have me on the floor rolling in laughter. A good man that enjoys his hi fi.

...and how have things been with you Andrew. Have not spoken for a while.

[andythiing]

Still saving for my Duntechs Kiat - give me 36 years:love

[Kiat]

was going to ask you about the dump but did not just in case you got banned from going to the dump by mrs thiing....

Mate if really you want one just ask me and I will see what I can do.....

keep in touch mate...

[firefly0071]

In better times, small businesses could be sold if a person retired etc.

It's a sad state of the economy.

[alcarp]

Does this store have a web site?

[Kiat]

Does this store have a web site?

Doesn't look like it. Give him a ring.

[Aslan]

More sad news indeed Kiat. The options to audition prior to purchase, and to buy locally are quickly disappearing in this country.

[Kiat]

More sad news indeed Kiat. The options to audition prior to purchase, and to buy locally are quickly disappearing in this country.

You are right mate, The whole beast is changing. I find it terribly distasteful of some people to have the audacity to front up at a shop pretending to be an interested buyer and go through the motion of auditioning and faking interest and after all the service from the shop, goes home and orders the thing online from people who have no interest in backup service, let alone meet you in the flesh and show a common interest with you the consumer. I find it most distasteful for those who buys the damn thing from overseas after a local audition.

Anyhow this is the way of the future and we as manufacturers have to fit in with the change. This is the only way to counter offshore buying.

[treemagnet]

Is this called southport HiFi?? or is that another store??

[Kiat]

Nuh, Southport hi fi is nearby. Gold Coast hi fi is another store.

[Luc]

You are right mate, The whole beast is changing. I find it terribly distasteful of some people to have the audacity to front up at a shop pretending to be an interested buyer and go through the motion of auditioning and faking interest and after all the service from the shop, goes home and orders the thing online from people who have no interest in backup service, let alone meet you in the flesh and show a common interest with you the consumer. I find it most distasteful for those who buys the damn thing from overseas after a local audition.

Anyhow this is the way of the future and we as manufacturers have to fit in with the change. This is the only way to counter offshore buying.

I think it is, if your hamstrung by Govt' levies,cheap imports, etc, then you have to offer something that is going to grab the attention of your market and hold it, over and above the price difference of what people can get offshore.

The responses I've had from various home grown speaker manufacturers (for instance) in the last couple of months has surprised me.
A few of them have(more than two) replied to my initial enquiry with a kind of, "Mate we're pretty busy, we're in high end audio and if you don't know what the four 'plugs' (I imagine them sniggering at this point) are for in the back of our speakers then go to JBhi fi or ring your local Bose dealer, thanks for yer email. Several more haven't replied after I let them know that I'm not buying anything right at this moment but I will down the track sometime and i'm interested in this, blah blah blah.

Of course they're not all like that but gee whiz I can feel the snigger sometimes in the emails I get back. I transpose that to the response's I've got from American manufacturers(for instance)...chalk and cheese nearly all of them. Not a hint of condescension and at the very worst it's a curt, "Sorry we don't deal online only in person or voice or sorry we don't deal in 220/230/240 v gear. But almost to a tee they do respond quickly and politely and informatively .

Back on topic: I've had contact with David once and he came across as a thoroughly nice bloke with loads of info to impart...his advice was to come and see him. I might do that shortly as he's only an hour an half a way really.