laurie Posted June 7, 2004 Share Posted June 7, 2004 robertr & ijd Would be interesting to know who has what from memory I aslo believe Audioproducts have some connection with Sydney Hi-Fi that's right now I remember I went to a shop about a Denon product and the owner said he has to wait until SHF got their stock first from the mother company he was really pi$$ed off cheers laurie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
m00j Posted June 7, 2004 Share Posted June 7, 2004 HN really piss me off and I intend to never buy from them. They advertise that they will match any price occasionally, but this is false. First I tried to match a price for a printer with a printout from the web, the store was a proper store, not a web based retailer with no storefront, but they said they would not match it. Second, I tried to price match a CD Burner with an advertisement from the newspaper, and they told me that they would not match it as the price was too low! They then went on to tell me that they would only match it if it was a few dollars cheaper than their price, and that they only price matched when they were showing the advertisements on TV. Third, many many times I have called them to see if they will beat the price of another store, and most times they will not even give me a price anywhere near theirs - compare this with places like the good guys where if I try to match the price they always say sure, and have $xx extra off that too! I have no reason or intention to shop at HN. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoshH Posted June 7, 2004 Share Posted June 7, 2004 I've said it before and I'll say it again... Shop at AV specialists - thats what they are for. Not only can you generally speak to someone with half a brain - but more often tha not you can actually get some useful advice and decent pricing to boot. I am biased as I work in the industry... but I am also experienced enough (having been burnt myself) to know that seeking expert advice is always a better option. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ijd Posted June 7, 2004 Share Posted June 7, 2004 Hey mOOj, Try my favourite speech. When the droid says: "We can't match that - it's below cost!!" You say: "You've been such a nice and helpful guy that I wouldn't want you to lose money. I'm going over to those nasty people at [XYZ store that also price-match] and make them lose money! See ya." Of course, this always works better if you first switch the droid to "Paying Attention Mode" (PAM). Some people prefer the hardware PAM adjustment - by slapping their wallet hard on the counter. The loud sound made by a full wallet, or large cheque book, usually switches the droid instantly into Paying-Attention-Mode. He thinks you are ready to shell out and is very attentive. However, I find the software PAM solution more user-friendly: simply practise your signature on blank credit card chits, or phone your 'wife' (with the phone switched off) to confirm that your target price is within your permitted budget. Even just jingle some coins in your pocket. Act nonchalant and the droid will quietly switch into Software PAM as he looks for other 'hidden' signs that you are hooked. You'll never make it out the door!! Cheers, Ian PS. PAM adjustment is very difficult over the phone. The work-experience girl from the local high school who answers the phones is only trained to fill out the order-entry screen. Looking up pricing and margins, or deciphering model options, is only taught in her second year. But give it a go - she might transfer you to a Senior Droid! (Senior Droids are taught how to use the 'Discretionary Discount' screen). PPS. PAM adjustment saved me a grand on my receiver at JB! That's 33% off!! HN came very close - but dropped the ball on the last $100 or so. I also saved a grand on my tele at Betta - though it was already on special for just a few hundred more than my offer. PPPS. Keep this to yourself. We don't want the droids to catch on Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bonified Posted June 7, 2004 Share Posted June 7, 2004 PPS. PAM adjustment saved me a grand on my receiver at JB! That's 33% off!! HN came very close - but dropped the ball on the last $100 or so. I also saved a grand on my tele at Betta - though it was already on special for just a few hundred more than my offer. Lol I've had a similar experience at JB's a few times , I just do the "I am really interested in this product and I love the specs but I dont know if I should buy it " mode and it works everytime. Without even asking they start to drop the price sometimes by a fairly big margin. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gusangora Posted June 7, 2004 Share Posted June 7, 2004 JB obviously allow their staff to give huge discounts. Last month I bought a Sony video camera. They had it at RRP $1599 crossed out with $1489 on it. My negotiation was as simple as this: "I've seen it advertised cheaper on the internet, can you do any better?" He went to do some calculations, came back and said: "How about $1050!" No further haggling needed! Worx A4: All my AV stuff comes from specialist stores - great equipment and advise with good prices. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KJG Posted June 8, 2004 Share Posted June 8, 2004 I believe that if the consumer lets them get away with it, then it's their own fault, not the stores. I mean seriously..we all know what Sales people are like, whether they be electrical goods, cars, houses etc etc. They are there to make the most money from a sale, pure and simple. As they say, there is one born every minute KJG Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mungo brush Posted June 8, 2004 Share Posted June 8, 2004 I think you will find that both HN and Domayne in Auburn are competing franchised operations that simply pay a franchise fee(?) to G.Harvey. Here's an interesting quote from the Crikey.com article posted on another thread "Domayne was started because Gerry and his wife, Katie Page, realised that the Harvey Norman stores were not reaching a large group of consumers. As he once put, "the people who wouldn't be seen dead in a Harvey Norman store" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aqua Posted June 8, 2004 Share Posted June 8, 2004 HN comments: Harvey Norman at Auburn (Sydney) are great if looking around for TVs. Their huge range is nearly always the most up-to-date around. Last Sunday I noted that they had the three LCDRP Samsung’s (46” 50” 61”), the 42” & 32” Hitachi Plasmas plus the new Big 55” Hitachi Plasma ($15K). Also were displaying the 70” Samsung Plasma which was around $25K. They had RP Toshiba and RP Hitachi sets, Pioneer Plasma, Toshiba 32” LCD TV. and Sharp Aquos LCD TV. Plus they were displaying most other brands of RP and CRT TVs including both 32” & 36” HD Sonys. I haven’t anywhere seen such a wide range of TVs displayed in the one store. One other thing I have to note about Harvey Norman Auburn, there IS one salesman there who knows a lot about TVs and I have received good info from him. Sunday, two weeks back, when they had the 4 yr interest free going, it was absolutely packed with people and they were buying like mad. Some people obviously seemed happy. Anyway it is free to look. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoshH Posted June 8, 2004 Share Posted June 8, 2004 Yup its free to look - but I like to remind myself of my two favourite sayings when looking... caveat emptor "Let the buyer beware". Think about it and examine it before you buy it because it may be non-returnable. De omnibus dubitandum "All is to be doubted". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aqua Posted June 8, 2004 Share Posted June 8, 2004 Yup its free to look - but I like to remind myself of my two favourite sayings when looking...caveat emptor "Let the buyer beware". Think about it and examine it before you buy it because it may be non-returnable. De omnibus dubitandum "All is to be doubted". Sound advice, excellently expressed. When looking/shopping, I usually think lowbrow "A fool and his money are soon parted" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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