Quote:
Originally Posted by ginovino 
May I add my 2cents to this, similar and prior discussions regarding version numbers of the Paradigm line of speakers.????
I am a retired dealer of over 25 years formerly located in West Babylon, New York. The dealership was named AudioVisions. We primarily offered higher end electronics ( Theil, Paradigm, Bryston, Audio Research, Conrad Johnson, AudioQuest, Tara Labs, VPI, Oracle, SOTA, Cambridge, (at one time Infinity), Martin Logan, Rotel, Denon and a host of other brands which came and went.
For the most part our clientele came from the New York Tri-State area ( New York, Conn., New Jersey and a few other states).
Paradigm was quite diligent in insuring dealers didn't infringe on other dealers territories. Should a customer inquiry reach customer service it was always directed to the closest dealer to the inquiring customer. Sometimes this may have been several hundreds of miles..... In this case, mail purchases were OK.
We took on the Paradigm line with the introduction of Version 2 and did very well with it. Then the snow ball began........Canadians produce very good speaker products: PSB, Focus, Mirage, Energy, Dalhquist, Hansen, Totem just to name a few. So the race was on....
Paradigm moved to the Version 3 series which was and still is quite good. But, they then focused on the higher series of speakers and along with that the retail prices. They were no longer bargains. In fact today, there numerous brands on a case by case basis dollar for dollar, can and will outperform many of the ver.5 and Ver 6 models. The problem is finding a dealer which carries both.
My Suggestion is to listen to the top of the line Ver. 3 & 5 of the monitor series.... You will save 1000's and give up very little sonically. Frankly, the sweet spot in the Paradigm line is at the bottom to the middle.
I can state unequivocally, that I sold many more Thiel 2.3's 3.6 & 3.7's than anything in the upper end of the Paradigm line! And the price difference sometimes was nothing to complain about!.
I would buy "Good-Very Good" used Version 5's before I plunk down hard cash on the "7' series and avoid the Signature series entirely!
I have never seen a hungry Paradigm dealer let a qualified buyer walk........
You must qualify the dealer 1st! They will ask about cash or Charge (2-3%).... Demand that you have a pair set up in your home for a few days...(leave a deposit). Nail down (shipping-delivery in writing ! If they give you crap.....walk! Find another dealer, call them....get a name, set up appt. and tell them you coming a long distance.....are the models available to hear? in Stock? Believe me, you will get the speakers for a good deal and they will stand behind them.
Keep your mouth shut about the deal.......Don't want to ruin a good thing for your friends!
That's enough of advice from me......... oh, let me give you a idea of what it costs the dealer...... ( just for inventory.... #30-35% below list price, plus shipping, there may be dealer discounts for bulk purchases between 30-60days- Dealer gets 2-5% lower price. Dealer overhead 15-20% toward discounted cost.
so if the list is $1k per spkr... dealer may pay $700 cost plus $30 each shipping, plus incentive 2-5% or $14-$35, then you add overhead or $105 - $140.... So as you can see there is not much to play around with on newer models or less costly versions.....Hope this helps;).
May I add my 2cents to this, similar and prior discussions regarding version numbers of the Paradigm line of speakers.????
I am a retired dealer of over 25 years formerly located in West Babylon, New York. The dealership was named AudioVisions. We primarily offered higher end electronics ( Theil, Paradigm, Bryston, Audio Research, Conrad Johnson, AudioQuest, Tara Labs, VPI, Oracle, SOTA, Cambridge, (at one time Infinity), Martin Logan, Rotel, Denon and a host of other brands which came and went.
For the most part our clientele came from the New York Tri-State area ( New York, Conn., New Jersey and a few other states).
Paradigm was quite diligent in insuring dealers didn't infringe on other dealers territories. Should a customer inquiry reach customer service it was always directed to the closest dealer to the inquiring customer. Sometimes this may have been several hundreds of miles..... In this case, mail purchases were OK.
We took on the Paradigm line with the introduction of Version 2 and did very well with it. Then the snow ball began........Canadians produce very good speaker products: PSB, Focus, Mirage, Energy, Dalhquist, Hansen, Totem just to name a few. So the race was on....
Paradigm moved to the Version 3 series which was and still is quite good. But, they then focused on the higher series of speakers and along with that the retail prices. They were no longer bargains. In fact today, there numerous brands on a case by case basis dollar for dollar, can and will outperform many of the ver.5 and Ver 6 models. The problem is finding a dealer which carries both.
My Suggestion is to listen to the top of the line Ver. 3 & 5 of the monitor series.... You will save 1000's and give up very little sonically. Frankly, the sweet spot in the Paradigm line is at the bottom to the middle.
I can state unequivocally, that I sold many more Thiel 2.3's 3.6 & 3.7's than anything in the upper end of the Paradigm line! And the price difference sometimes was nothing to complain about!.
I would buy "Good-Very Good" used Version 5's before I plunk down hard cash on the "7' series and avoid the Signature series entirely!
I have never seen a hungry Paradigm dealer let a qualified buyer walk........
You must qualify the dealer 1st! They will ask about cash or Charge (2-3%).... Demand that you have a pair set up in your home for a few days...(leave a deposit). Nail down (shipping-delivery in writing ! If they give you crap.....walk! Find another dealer, call them....get a name, set up appt. and tell them you coming a long distance.....are the models available to hear? in Stock? Believe me, you will get the speakers for a good deal and they will stand behind them.
Keep your mouth shut about the deal.......Don't want to ruin a good thing for your friends!
That's enough of advice from me......... oh, let me give you a idea of what it costs the dealer...... ( just for inventory.... #30-35% below list price, plus shipping, there may be dealer discounts for bulk purchases between 30-60days- Dealer gets 2-5% lower price. Dealer overhead 15-20% toward discounted cost.
so if the list is $1k per spkr... dealer may pay $700 cost plus $30 each shipping, plus incentive 2-5% or $14-$35, then you add overhead or $105 - $140.... So as you can see there is not much to play around with on newer models or less costly versions.....Hope this helps;).
Great advice for people who have more than one dealer within a hundred miles of them...
but still I want it reduced more. The Paradigm's market is so secretive.
