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In Reply to: RE: A "rational" mfr in a competitive market posted by Frihed89 on May 14, 2009 at 09:08:18
I think we should stay away from the generalizations though.
Bryston is extremely popular in my view because of the 20 year transferable warranty on their power amplifiers and preamplifiers. This retains their used values and customers are not worried about the products. Bryston did the math and found that so few came back that they could offer this kind of warranty without raising prices.
Now I bought AN over the Bryston because I don't care for the sound of Bryston so no amount of warranty would have mattered to me because I would not want to live with that sound for 20 years.
I think AN's sales would increase after a lot of people on forums basically said that a 1 year warranty is pathetic and they would wait a year buy used and save a pile of money.
If a company is worried over drastic increased costs of offering a few extra years of warranty then that should worry a consumer right? It means that the product is going to fail at high percentages in years 2-5. At least this is the devil's advocate point made to me. It's a fair point. Most items break in the first 3 months - every company offers a warranty for a year at least. The "trough" of fewest breakdowns is in years 1year and 1 day to year 5. This is when the fewest problems occur. Then year 5 and 1 day on is where problems increase steadily.
Warranty companies make their fortune by selling warranties in the "trough period" of fewest breakdowns. What I am saying is that AN and other better makers should see this and provide the warranty during the trough period where fewest breakdowns occur. In theory it is least costly (less than the first year) but what it does is "beat" competitors who have not figured out this simple probability math.
Unless of course tube amps are so unreliable that 50% of all tranformers fail by the fourth year. And unfortunately that's what a lot of people think about tube amps. Customer service on repair is such a good word of mouth aspect. Bryston's service and warranty makes them what they are - not their actual products - IMO.
as tube afficionados say. Actually there is always something going on and they are PITA. AN customers are perceived as a "tweakers" and this activity is suported by manufacturer. It is wise than that warranty period is only 1 year since I guess many people open up the boxes right after purchase to solder black gates, coupling caps and tants. I think that procentage of AN customers doing that is way higher than any other brand. Lastly in my opinion warranty issue has no impact on AN sales whatsoever. Bigger issue would be relatively low resale value.
It's not the price of used AN equipment that is a problem for me. The problem is that there is hardly any used AN equipment for sale, ever!
"Live free or die"
usualy higher end of AN shelf. And don't get me wrong .I don't have any problem with AN pricing whatsoever.
There's a Kegon, a P-4, Kageki, and Zero. The P-4 looks tantalzing at €10.000, interstage coupled. No caps. Less than half price
"Live free or die"
There's a Kegon, a P-4, Kageki, and Zero. The P-4 looks tantalzing at €10.000, interstage coupled. No caps. Less than half price
"Live free or die"
I suppose you're correct about people playing around with them - but those people probably buy the kits to begin with no? That is why I said it makes sense on the kits to be 1 year because owners may do stupid things and then try and blame AN.
But on finished goods? I doubt too many people are tweaking those.
One way to increase used values is to have a long warranty - which is no doubt why Bryston resale is so high.
I suppose something telling to me was that Response Audio puts out a 5 year warranty on AN DACs and Preamps (though interestingly not on power amps??) and if they can offer it why can't the maufacturer? Response Audio says that they have so few returns that they can give a 5 year warranty.
AN is doing fine enough with a 1 year warranty so who is to argue with them - I'm just saying it would be an area to look at when you look at most of the competitors. if you claim to make the best transformers and parts then a warranty is one way to back it up and stick it to competitors. Like I say if Antique SOund Labs can do it selling $1200 heavy hand built point to point wiring integrated amps (using medicore parts) - then surely AN selling $4,000 integrated amps can do the same - I know labour is more in the UK but...
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