[thunderbrick]

Yep.  We've seen THAT before!   

[thunderbrick]

I had the same question as ecramer and alexone as to where the Bryston products the unauthorized websites are selling is being sourced.  If you can believe Audiophile Liquidators et al, they claim it comes from inventory puchased from dealers who have gone out of business.  Combine this with my experience of very little value being provided by the authorized dealers and a picture emerges:  Bryston sells product to a legitimate authorized dealer, the dealer is not providing value to the end user, goes out of business as a result creating the cut-rate internet market (nature abhors a vacuum).  To eliminate this problem the authorized dealers have to do a better job providing value and Bryston may want to consider monitoring those who don't more closely taking the appropriate action with them to protect the brand they have worked so hard over the years to establish.

Some of you no doubt have different authorized dealer experiences.  This opinion comes strictly from my experience.

Agreed, but if it were true, might not the dealer going under possibly be able to return sealed gear to Bryston, or to another dealer?
Sounds like a helluva lot of Bryston dealers would have to go under to provide such an inventory.

[James Tanner]

Hi All,

The dealer going under is obviously not true. You would have to have dealers going under weekly! It is just their way of trying to get a monitary commitment from the customer.  Also be aware that a lot of times they say they can get product and they can not.

Most of the product comes from rogue dealers thinking short term instead of longterm.  I agree that Byston can (should) do a better job of choosing dealers that understand and support our marketing postion.

james

[_andy_]

Hi, maybe some form of more rigorous serial number tracking....some way to prove that the initial point of sale was out an authorized dealer's doors...else deny warranty coverage/transferability for that S/N.....that would make it a largely self correcting problem? is an actual bill of sale from proven authorized dealer required  right now for transferrablity of coverage...i can't recall.

rgds
andy

[James Tanner]

Hi, maybe some form of more rigorous serial number tracking....some way to prove that the initial point of sale was out an authorized dealer's doors...else deny warranty coverage/transferability for that S/N.....that would make it a largely self correcting problem? is an actual bill of sale from proven authorized dealer required  right now for transferrablity of coverage...i can't recall.

rgds
andy

Hi Andy,

Yes we keep track of what serial numbers are purchased by what dealers so eventually we find out where the problems are. An original copy of the bill of sale is required for warranty work.

james

[_andy_]

Hi James, thx for that.....any consideration given to direct internet sales for those with no local Bryston dealers?....maybe that would help fill the cracks while not undermining a dealers potential client base. rgds

[vegasdave]

Basically, since I don't have a Bryston dealer nearby, I ordered over the phone from 2 separate authorized dealers.

[alexone]

I think James hit the central issue of this thread with the value proposition.  Value means something different to every consumer.  I am about to become a Bryston owner (7B's, BP26 MM/MC, BCD1) and have investigated all the alternatives including the Audiophile liquidators of the world.  They provide nothing in the way of value or customer relationship.  It is simply a transaction to them where you place your order then cross your fingers and hold your breath.  Unfortunately for me there isn't a Bryston dealer within 2.5 hours of my home that can offer me an audition on these products.  They don't stock them or demo them.  They are also not interested in talking about them in deference to the products they do stock and demo.  There is no value being provided by the authorized dealer either for me in this scenario.  The price difference between Audiophile Liquidators et al and the offer one authorized dealer gave me is $1,100.00.  So, I as a consumer must decide what value I have received for the $1,100.00 to decide where I will buy.

Let me tell you I have never seen anyone who represents a company work harder than James Tanner at doing everything he possibly can to make a prospective customer feel comfortable with his company and products.  I joked with James recently in a PM that I have this theory that James Tanner is a fictitious front name for a group of 10-12 people who sit in a room banging out emails all day!  Is James worth $1,100.00 in this experience?  To me he has been.  Oh, and I get the 20 year warranty at no extra charge.  What a deal.  I'll choose the authorized dealer not because of any value they offer but the value Bryston and James Tanner represented to me during the process.

that's a good one, 95Dyna!

al.

[James Tanner]

Hi James, thx for that.....any consideration given to direct internet sales for those with no local Bryston dealers?....maybe that would help fill the cracks while not undermining a dealers potential client base. rgds

Hi Andy,

Typically what we do in the USA and Canada for customers that do not have access to a dealer is have them purchase through an authorized dealer (usually the closest one unless they have an objection) and we will ship the product directly to the customers address for them.

james

[dthoms]

I recently had this conversation with Mr. Tanner.  I agree that everyone has their point at which it makes sense to purchase.  My personal opinion is to purchase from an authorized dealer or an authentic second hand customer.  Where I ran into a dilemma is that I have access to multiple Bryston dealers.  Some dealers offered substantial discounts on the products where others offered nothing.  The price difference on my purchases was around $1,600.  I wanted to buy from the dealer I talked to first.  I wanted roughly a $1,200 discount.  My price was clearly $400 I was willing to pay for service.

I personally don't want showrooms to go away.  Showrooms are what got me hooked into audio in the first place.  Soon audiophile quality equipment's price point is going to be such that I will not be able to afford equipment.  A $6,000 - $10,000 purchase is a significant investment for me.  Especially for a hobby.  I want to see, touch, and hear my purchase.  To someone with significantly more disposable income, this is not necessarily true.  Purchasing site unseen for them offers very low risk.

Bryston products appeal to my demographics.  They are at just the right price point.  But the question for James is...am I really the customer that will sustain their business model.

[vegasdave]

Hi James, thx for that.....any consideration given to direct internet sales for those with no local Bryston dealers?....maybe that would help fill the cracks while not undermining a dealers potential client base. rgds

Hi Andy,

Typically what we do in the USA and Canada for customers that do not have access to a dealer is have them purchase through an authorized dealer (usually the closest one unless they have an objection) and we will ship the product directly to the customers address for them.

james

What happened with me is that the units were delivered to my dealers and then they shipped to me.

[Rapt]

Hi James, thx for that.....any consideration given to direct internet sales for those with no local Bryston dealers?....maybe that would help fill the cracks while not undermining a dealers potential client base. rgds

Hi Andy,

Typically what we do in the USA and Canada for customers that do not have access to a dealer is have them purchase through an authorized dealer (usually the closest one unless they have an objection) and we will ship the product directly to the customers address for them.

james

 Wow! I often wondered how that would work, way to go Bryston for not undermining your Dealers!! People buy from authorized dealers only, for the future of high end audio! 

[mvwhiting_83]

A dealer of PMC's just notified me that PMC is now on the website...  Just a little reiteration - You can't purchase PMC through audiophileliquidator.net

[hifi808]

Just did a purchase with this place its all at Hoaxed I purchase Sonos BU250 and they never delivered so I went to my credit and get the credit back. I did further investigation since I live in San Carlos, CA and here what I found.

1. The HQ address has been posted on

3749 BUCHANAN STREET San Francisco CA but if you got to www.google.com maps and do a search the address location is not the same as the picture posted on the audiophileliquidator website. I paid a visit to the address which is "3749 BUCHANAN STREET san francisco ca" and it was a residential address. Nothing like the picture from there website that they claim a HQ Office.

2. I did a search on BBB site and they have over 70 complaints posted from undeliverable goods.

3. I did a search on the Whois database and the owner of the domain is under

Administrative Contact:
   audiophile_liquidator
   steve myers (audiophile_liquidator@yahoo.com)
   +1.8775316100
   Fax:
   8891 W Sunset Blvd
   Los Angeles, CA 90069
   US

Technical Contact:
   audiophile_liquidator
   steve myers (audiophile_liquidator@yahoo.com)
   +1.8775316100
   Fax:
   8891 W Sunset Blvd
   Los Angeles, CA 90069
   US

4. audiophileliquidator.net claims that they have been in business for since 2001 but the website was started in January 2007.

5. Finally I found that they are running multiple website with different names such as

http://www.hifidelitystore.com/ another hoaxed website and looked at the corporate/warehouse location. they have similar picture but different address. This time its in Ventura, CA.

Network solutions information for hifidelitystore.com

Administrative Contact :   
   myers, steve 
   p426z8m796f@networksolutionsprivateregistration.com 
   ATTN HIFIDELITYSTORE.COM
   care of Network Solutions
   PO Box 459
   Drums, PA 18222 
   US 
   Phone: 570-708-8780 

I suggest moving away from these websites as they are just hoaxed. I suggest buying things on ebay at least you are still protected somehow.

Hifi808

[hifi808]

Please be aware AudiophileLiquidator.net and Hifidelitystore.com are the SAME...Please beware.

[jaxwired]

Here's my problem.  As a customer, I have a responsiblity to my brick and mortar authorized bryston dealer which is to pay full price so that they can pay for all the overhead.  And that full markup is not small.  Often around 40%. 

BUT, the dealer has a responsiblity to EARN the markup.  He must supply a demo room with a reasonable selection of 2 channel bryston gear.  He must be friendly and glad to have me visit and demo the product more than once.  He must be knowledgable on the products and provide advice.  He must offer setup and installation advice. 

Now, there's a bunch of dealers out there that offer none of those services.  They are home theater installation specialists and they know little about 2 channel and treat 2 channel customer's like an annoyance.  They have no 2 channel gear to demo.  BUT, they will take my order and charge full markup.  So how about a little indignation and contempt for those dealers?  They aren't hard to find.

[Don_S]

Please be aware AudiophileLiquidator.net and Hifidelitystore.com are the SAME...Please beware.

I don't want to offend anyone on the Bryston site by mentioning another company's product but I think this is relevant and important. And hey, they don't make amps anyway.

Audiophile Liquidator is the same company that advertises new Anthony Gallo speakers on the Official Anthony Gallo AVS forum.  The AG website has a warning that is the first screen you see when you go to their site.
It specifically names Audiophile Liquidator and other .com sites that Audio Circle members may want to avoid.
http://www.roundsound.com/?cid=ppc&jt=1&jadid=837987983&jp=www.avsforum.com&js=1&jk=anthony%20gallo&jsid=9477&jkId=gp:p605:t8&&gclid=CJ3grIq_m6ACFQ8bawodZVGOTQ

Why can't these companies be shut down?  It should not take huge legal fees from manufacturers.  The Attorneys General for the respective states should do the heavy lifting.  I would also think credit card companies would stop servicing these companies after they have to issue multiple refunds for failure to deliver merchandise.  What am I missing?  And why does AVS continue to accept advertising dollars from both Audiophile Liquidator and Anthony Gallo   Sometimes I see both ads on the same page.

OK, actually I do know why they accept $$$ from both companies.  It is all about the $$$.  My point is the legitimate manufacturer should have a serious heart-to-heart with the website carrying the advertising.

James,  Can you explain why the Attorneys General for the respective states don't shut these companies down?

[nikon]

I purchased a 4B-SST2 and another component from an authorised dealer in my area with a reasonable discount last year and paid cash. When I went to pick up the amplifier the dealer loaded it into the back of my vehicle and twisted the box in a peculiar way as I was approaching from the opposite side. When I got home and unloaded the unit there was a hole in the box large enough to see the component inside! 

I immediately went back to the store and had them partially open the box to inspect for damage, fortunately none found. Due to this incident, I will not do business with them again, and have purchased several other Bryston items from another local dealer since, albeit with lesser discounts.

[Phil A]

I found this as well  -   http://www.ripoffreport.com/Audio-Electronic-Retail-Stores/Audiophile-Liquidato/audiophile-liquidator-you-pay-7f8b3.htm

[James Tanner]

Bryston Authorized Dealer/Distributor Statement

To Our Valued Customers:

WARNING: We urge you to use an authorized Bryston dealer or distributor when purchasing a Bryston product.

Bryston products are sold, supported, and serviced through the worldwide network of dealers and distributors listed in the Dealer/Distributor section of this website. If the company selling Bryston product is not listed on this website, we encourage you to e-mail Bryston to confirm whether or not the company selling the product is part of the authorized Bryston network.

When parties outside of the network of authorized Bryston dealers and distributors sells a Bryston product, Bryston will not honor warranties on those products.

Proof of purchase in the form of a copy of the bill of sale from an authorized Bryston Dealer/Distributor must be presented to obtain warranty service. (This applies only to product manufactured after February, 2006

UNAUTHORIZED BRYSTON DEALERS
Independent Audio Video
Audiophile Liquidators
All Home Theater
Dependable Audio Video
Digital Craze
Elegant Audio Video
High End Zone
Plasma Craze
Surround City
New York Wholesale Audio Video