Australian Pro Audio dealers must die!

[Tomiboy]

Australian Pro audio dealers need to pull their fingers out and start selling actual PRO AUDIO GEAR not Behringer crap! Even our biggest dealers have super limited stock of a few descent brands and the rest is complete rubbish. Then they bitch and moan when we buy stuff online and have it shipped from the USA or Europe. When they do happen to have the gear you want it's twice the price so you end up buying it online anyway. Even with import duties and shipping there is no reason for being continually wallet raped. I'm moving to Canada.

[RhysC]

Gear prices in Australia are so ridiculous that every Rode mic I've bought has been significantly cheaper to buy shipped from the US than to buy locally in the country they're made. It's a shame, because I'd love to be able to support local businesses, but when gear prices are over double what they are overseas it just isn't anywhere near affordable for me.

[ShadowAMD]

Originally Posted by RhysC

Gear prices in Australia are so ridiculous that every Rode mic I've bought has been significantly cheaper to buy shipped from the US than to buy locally in the country they're made. It's a shame, because I'd love to be able to support local businesses, but when gear prices are over double what they are overseas it just isn't anywhere near affordable for me.

It's not just Australia you know..

To buy an M179 in the UK, converted to AUD!

$280.00

To buy one from the US (Including shipping)

$130.00

That's more than double.. I'm moving to america :P

[Fletcher]

Originally Posted by Tomiboy

Australian Pro audio dealers need to pull their fingers out and start selling actual PRO AUDIO GEAR not Behringer crap! Even our biggest dealers have super limited stock of a few descent brands and the rest is complete rubbish. Then they bitch and moan when we buy stuff online and have it shipped from the USA or Europe. When they do happen to have the gear you want it's twice the price so you end up buying it online anyway. Even with import duties and shipping there is no reason for being continually wallet raped. I'm moving to Canada.

Are you familiar with Audio Chocolate or Mix Masters?

Both of those shops are completely top shelf!!

As for prices on gear... blame your government!!!! Legitimate sources of gear [not gray market stuff purchased from the US or EU] is subject to all kinds of taxes by your lovely government that the gray marketers don't have to deal with.

As for stocking levels [etc.] if you guys all worked together - supported your local sources - then the shops there would be able to stock more.

The shops in Australia aren't trying to rip you off, they're just trying to provide a service and feed their families in the process... every time you buy stuff from the US or EU you are making their job harder [and probably your life harder down the road... as if you require any form of support YOU are going to have to ship the equipment back to the original vendor].

You should seriously think about supporting your local community... when you do, in return it will be better able to support your efforts. It can be an upward spiral or a downward spiral... the choice is up to the Australian music community and no one else.

Peace

[ShadowAMD]

Originally Posted by Fletcher

Are you familiar with Audio Chocolate or Mix Masters?

Both of those shops are completely top shelf!!

As for prices on gear... blame your government!!!! Legitimate sources of gear [not gray market stuff purchased from the US or EU] is subject to all kinds of taxes by your lovely government that the gray marketers don't have to deal with.

As for stocking levels [etc.] if you guys all worked together - supported your local sources - then the shops there would be able to stock more.

The shops in Australia aren't trying to rip you off, they're just trying to provide a service and feed their families in the process... every time you buy stuff from the US or EU you are making their job harder [and probably your life harder down the road... as if you require any form of support YOU are going to have to ship the equipment back to the original vendor].

You should seriously think about supporting your local community... when you do, in return it will be better able to support your efforts. It can be an upward spiral or a downward spiral... the choice is up to the Australian music community and no one else.

Peace

Yeah because the government have listened to us for the last century, they also allowed the country to nearly go bust even though tax rates are phenomenal..

I'll just pop then an e-mail saying, hey guys.. My music equipment is costing too much money can you lower taxes by 20%.. Go on PLEEEASSE!!

I'm sure they will take me seriously

[Companda]

Fletcher's right. Add legacy audio, soundtown in Perth and awave are pretty good too. Turramurra has quite a lot too. Soundtown are actually within 10-15% of US prices in some cases lower, legacy are the same.

The OP obviously hasn't looked around, what specifically were you after? If you're talking low to middle of the road stuff then of course a "pro" dealer won't stock it. If you want something costing under $1k it probably is best buying overseas.

[Leechlife]

Originally Posted by Fletcher

Are you familiar with Audio Chocolate or Mix Masters?

Both of those shops are completely top shelf!!

As for prices on gear... blame your government!!!! Legitimate sources of gear [not gray market stuff purchased from the US or EU] is subject to all kinds of taxes by your lovely government that the gray marketers don't have to deal with.

As for stocking levels [etc.] if you guys all worked together - supported your local sources - then the shops there would be able to stock more.

The shops in Australia aren't trying to rip you off, they're just trying to provide a service and feed their families in the process... every time you buy stuff from the US or EU you are making their job harder [and probably your life harder down the road... as if you require any form of support YOU are going to have to ship the equipment back to the original vendor].

You should seriously think about supporting your local community... when you do, in return it will be better able to support your efforts. It can be an upward spiral or a downward spiral... the choice is up to the Australian music community and no one else.

Peace

there is a bit truth to that, but the prices down under are just f*cked.
First of all whenever the ozzy dollar goes down, the prices go up that second, when the ozzy dollar is high, nope the prices just stay a long time up before u see any reduction. (And that reduction is only passed in a very small portion, often I sales label with "hurry high ozzy dollar, cheap gear for you" but the actually sales is nothing more the a normal sales, which u would have seen anyway even if the ozzy stayed up )

I can see a lot of items being sold now where the ozzy dollar is on par with the US one the same price as we were 50 cents worth in the GFC. Does not compute !

Yes, there are are taxes and salaries. And you can get gear reasonable priced here, but takes a lot of effort to deal and argue till you get a price that makes u buy local. And thats just the bad, because I often can get a much better price than advertised, why the high standard sales price in the first place ?

Because retails assume a few are stupid enough to buy at retail price.

E.g (and this is a few years ago around 2006ish. I bought studio monitors listed price ~1400$, without to much hassle they sold them to me for 690$,..... Brand new. And that was extreme jump, but often see similar things happen, .. )
The price in europe was even a bit cheaper but that's ok.

Look I really don't get it: E.g look at germany: with a much higher GST, import taxes and min salary (because comparing to the US, these are the main arguments retailer use why we are so more expensive down under ) prices there a still much cheaper.

I get stuff shipped from thomann to australia, still cheaper than here!!

cheers

[ShadowAMD]

Originally Posted by Leechlife

there is a bit truth to that, but the prices down under are just f*cked.
First of all whenever the ozzy dollar goes down, the prices go up that second, when the ozzy dollar is high, nope the prices just stay a long time up before u see any reduction. (And that reduction is only passed in a very small portion, often I sales label with "hurry high ozzy dollar, cheap gear for you" but the actually sales is nothing more the a normal sales, which u would have seen anyway even if the ozzy stayed up )

I can see a lot of items being sold now where the ozzy dollar is on par with the US one the same price as we were 50 cents worth in the GFC. Does not compute !

Yes, there are are taxes and salaries. And you can get gear reasonable priced here, but takes a lot of effort to deal and argue till you get a price that makes u buy local. And thats just the bad, because I often can get a much better price than advertised, why the high standard sales price in the first place ?

Because retails assume a few are stupid enough to buy at retail price.

E.g (and this is a few years ago around 2006ish. I bought studio monitors listed price ~1400$, without to much hassle they sold them to me for 690$,..... Brand new. And that was extreme jump, but often see similar things happen, .. )
The price in europe was even a bit cheaper but that's ok.

Look I really don't get it: E.g look at germany: with a much higher GST, import taxes and min salary (because comparing to the US, these are the main arguments retailer use why we are so more expensive down under ) prices there a still much cheaper.

I get stuff shipped from thomann to australia, still cheaper than here!!

cheers

Agree with that, thomman on average are around 10 to 20% cheaper than UK.

But then again they are just one massive distribution company, they buy in such large amounts for some products. It's going to be hard to compete

Sent from my HTC Desire using Gearslutz.com

[adrianww]

We must be buying different things then - I've seldom found things cheaper on Thomann than I can find them from a UK supplier. I only tend to go for Thomann if none of the usual UK shops/sites that I use have the product.

Mind you, it's usually fairly close. A matter of a few quid here and there, no more.

[rksguit]

When I first decided to buy an all in one TASCAM 2488neo the price at Allans/Billy Hyde,was $2499!!!

I ended up buying one from Gigasonic in Cal. for $649.

Luckily I realised a DAW PC was the go instead and sold it for $650[phew]

I even bought KRK monitors [kept them] and it worked out even with shipping[everything in one triple layer box] that I got the KRK's for half what they are new here.

[drumdrumdrumdrum]

It's a joke, isn't it? They don't care. Allens/Billy Hydes is an evil company with a disgusting excuse for a human being as its director, the culture just filters down all the way to the store managers. Awful company. They make such a huge 200% profit, why would they want to change that? Just keep buying from the USA. some of the big companies like Sweetwater even offer a warranty. Cheers

[ShadowAMD]

Originally Posted by adrianww

We must be buying different things then - I've seldom found things cheaper on Thomann than I can find them from a UK supplier. I only tend to go for Thomann if none of the usual UK shops/sites that I use have the product.

Mind you, it's usually fairly close. A matter of a few quid here and there, no more.

Obviously, I have just bought a Laney amp and Cab for £75.00 less than I can find it anywhere.

FMR PBC-6a £65.00 cheaper than anywhere else I can fine.

Dimarzio D'activator's £40.00 Cheaper..

Some things aren't massive differences like £40.00 but add it all up and it makes a massive difference.

[famousbass]

I got abused by a salesman at Sound Devices last month for buying NI direct from Germany free delivery for the last 5 years.

And abused by the importers for UAD here for buying from Sweetwater USA.

What these dumb little upstarts don't realise is I've been buying in my home town for 35 years and usually hated the service most of the time and now, to get abused for spending where I want to just makes me shop overseas with more fervour.

That said, I get great support from Sound Devices, Hutchings, Sound on Stage, Audio Chocolate etc as well as from Sweetwater USA and UAD USA.

So what's the problem?

Where I shop is none of their bloody business. Your opinions should always be kept to yourself because your opinion is also none of my business. Salesguys, it's mainly because your boss shops for the best deals too and hardly ever discount respectfully when the dollar is good. Pretending to try harder makes me laugh.

Ever wonder who comes up with the stupid prices for Boss pedals?

dbx gear costs $700-1000 more here? Why? Who's freakin' dollar are you shopping with over there?

Actually I find Turramurra has lousy prices. Is there something I'm missing here? Lousy and uncompetitive.

And even after obviously looking like a guy who knows his gear and has experience badged on my chest I still need to do the doggy crotch sniff and get treated like an idiot touching the hem of your fine garment. Poor rapport? It's poor training and your boss is responsible for that too. Ever wonder how we revenge your boss' retail model? We shop elsewhere.

It's not only retail. Aussie rehearsal studios are possibly the worst on the planet. (Except for one.) But that's just my experience. And another story.

If you wanna be a turkey then simple www search and a credit card win out. That's my prerogative.

Better no relationship than continuing a bad relationship expecting it to change.

[adrianww]

Originally Posted by ShadowAMD

Obviously, I have just bought a Laney amp and Cab for £75.00 less than I can find it anywhere.

FMR PBC-6a £65.00 cheaper than anywhere else I can fine.

Dimarzio D'activator's £40.00 Cheaper..

Some things aren't massive differences like £40.00 but add it all up and it makes a massive difference.

Yup, that explains it. I'm usually looking at keyboards and/or PA, rather than guitar/bass gear or studio outboard, etc. For my kind of stuff, Thomann seem to be in roughly the same ballpark as a lot of UK dealers.

By the way, going off at a complete tangent for a moment... Did you get my pm about the LS56 transparency test runs from the AD-DA shoot out thread? I can't remember whether nms makes the raw test files available or just the results, however if you want to hear the original test runs themselves, I can let you know where to find them. (I'm interested to find out how much difference someone with better ears and/or a better listening environment can actually hear in there.)

[Duardo]

And abused by the importers for UAD here for buying from Sweetwater USA.

How did they even know you bought from the US? Were you trying to get support on them or something like that?

[Julian J. Ludwig]

Same here in brazil!!!

Sent from my GT-S5830B using Gearslutz.com

[famousbass]

Originally Posted by Duardo

How did they even know you bought from the US? Were you trying to get support on them or something like that?

I'll bet $100 the guy who served me is on this forum somewhere.

If you really wanna know PM me.

[Tomiboy]

Originally Posted by Companda

Fletcher's right. Add legacy audio, soundtown in Perth and awave are pretty good too. Turramurra has quite a lot too. Soundtown are actually within 10-15% of US prices in some cases lower, legacy are the same.

The OP obviously hasn't looked around, what specifically were you after? If you're talking low to middle of the road stuff then of course a "pro" dealer won't stock it. If you want something costing under $1k it probably is best buying overseas.

I've hunted around and have bought a lot of gear locally only to find it available online or in a US store for half the price afterwards. How much money do I have to flush down the toilet in order to support businesses that are obviously taking advantage of the situation. The Government has a hell of a lot to answer for too, not just the retail situation, but the whole music live industry over here has been killed off with poker machines, venue noise restrictions, crazy insurance legislation and taxes. The amount of crap you have to go through just to play in pubs and clubs is insane. Venues don't bother hiring bands as much these days because the poker machines keep people in the clubs and pubs. It's normally only duo's and soloists that get hired because it's so much cheaper for the venues. I think companies like Rode need to pull their heads in and start supporting the industry that supports them!

[Fletcher]

Originally Posted by Tomiboy

I've hunted around and have bought a lot of gear locally only to find it available online or in a US store for half the price afterwards.

Really? Have you factored in freight? Have you factored in import tariffs? Have you factored in that your lovely government forces employers to pay all kinds of "social taxes" for every employee? Have you factored in warranty service? The shops in Australia have to fix anything that breaks -- or at least suffer the paperwork hell to send things back and forth [never mind the additional freight charges]... when you factor in all of these additional expenses you'll see that their prices are actually quite reasonable.

Having worked for and with several manufacturers as well as distributors in the EU, Australia, [and elsewhere] I've seen how the charges they suffer add up quickly. Its not about trying to "rip you off" - its about trying to do what they can to provide a service and feed their families.

There are lots of "overseas" vendors who will offer 50-60% off on shipping to Australia... guess what, the Aussie vendors don't have that option. The US / EU vendors that sell unauthorized product into Australia can absorb these shipping costs because your deal in Oz is "plus business" for them... AND they won't have to provide any real service or backup [as in when you get the stuff there you're 3/4s on your own when there is a problem]... your local companies don't have that luxury.

So -- you get to decide... do you do what's right for you at the moment whilst throwing your countrymen under the bus? ...or do you do the thing that's best for your local industry? ...do you help your industry grow in an upward spiral? ...or do you help tear it down?

Personally - I will not shop at Wal-Mart because their "fabulous low pricing" costs American jobs. I drive a German car... it was assembled in South Carolina... by American workers. You do what you do... me, I'm gonna bite the bullet and pay a little extra to buy what I can that was made by my countrymen... because in the end, its good for my country, which is good for me [as in the less unemployment the better the chances for an overall better society].

In your case - by supporting your local vendors - you're helping to keep Aussie's employed. Not just at the shop they work at... but at the store where they buy their family's food - etc., etc., etc. That's how an economy works - when you keep money in your economy there is more to flow around... when you send your money outside of your native country your economy shrinks. Now I realize I'm an ideological idiot whose minor spending [in the grand scheme of things] isn't a piss hole in the snow... but if more and more people adopt this kind of national pride... who knows? Maybe things where I live will get better than they are... maybe not, but at least I can go to sleep each night knowing that I tried to do my part.

Peace

[anthonythecat]

Here's some random price comparisons between sweetwater (US) and turramusic (AUS) published prices. rrp is recommended retail price and sale price is how much the websites advertise the product to be sold for. Dollars are in local currency (ie US$ for US prices and AUS$ for AUS prices, I'm too lazy to convert them for you). The recent exchange rate is increasing the value of the AUS dollar (it jumped 1c yesterday when the reserve held interest rates) and at the moment the rate is $1.00 AUS buys $1.08 US.

Shure SM58
US rrp $124 sale $99
AUS rrp $179 sale $139

Allen and Heath Zed R16
US rrp $3499 sale $2499
AUS rrp $3995 sale $2890

Korg Kronos 61 keyboard
US rrp $3750 sale $2990
AUS rrp $3999 sale $2890

Avid MBox 3 with PT9
US rrp $1099.95 sale $999
AUS (with PT10) rrp$1099 sale -- not given contact retailer for best price

Rode NT1000 mic
US rrp $599 sale $329
AUS rrp $770 sale $489

Some interesting variations in price. Mbox 3 and Korg are around the same prices (although the exchange rate gives the advantage to the US). Zed mixer is a little bit more expensive (which is what you'd expect considering Australia is more remote than the US). The US shure is about a third cheaper than the AUS price.

What's weird is how the Australian made Rode mic sells in the US for considerably less than it does in Australia. How the hell is that possible?

[electricsound]

Fletcher is right imo and with the last bunch of things I've bought (interfaces, mics, other misc bits and pieces) after postage and duties and potential warranty/return hassles it was a no brainer to buy locally..

if you can't find competitive prices locally you're not looking hard enough.

[100th Monkey]

I'm in NZ rather than Australia, but it's pretty much the same thing here. It's gotten better over the years, but it still tends to be cheaper and faster to buy something online from the US and have it shipped EMS to my door than go around the corner to my local retailer and order it there (because they won't have it in stock unless you're willing to pay full retail for a display unit).

I'd like to support the local guys, but it's not worth the 30% extra it'll cost in time and money to do so.

[tvsky]

Originally Posted by Fletcher

Are you familiar with Audio Chocolate or Mix Masters?

Both of those shops are completely top shelf!!

As for prices on gear... blame your government!!!! Legitimate sources of gear [not gray market stuff purchased from the US or EU] is subject to all kinds of taxes by your lovely government that the gray marketers don't have to deal with.

not true , for gear over 1000$ taxes are exactly the same for business and consumers.

3 Big problems for audio gear in australia :

Suppliers with higher costs for "international markets"
Distributors with high margin adding middle layer of costs , retailers can only deal with official distributors
Retails who are used to a protected market supporting high margins due to lack of other options to consumers.

Here is a purchase I am looking at

Midas Venice F32 - $4485 USD - $4150 AUD
Shipping $400
GST $455
Total $5005

Local store "on special price" $9990

Gearslutz super special hookup price from someone on the forum was $7760

I dont get a local warranty , but hey I can buy 2 consoles for the same money and keep one for redundancy!

[RonGherkins]

Originally Posted by electricsound

if you can't find competitive prices locally you're not looking hard enough.

It really depends but where I am I'm finding that more and more to be the case.

For me, even just going to a big box music chain in canada and saying match this price from basically any canadian retailer as advertised or on sale can knock down the price a couple hundred bucks where you usually shop.

It's got to be a much better deal for me to buy online now than it once was. I live in a massive city and if I want a piece of gear I can usually get it that day.

[vivid435]

I support Aussies, i Love kosmic sound! I find their prices reasonable, hope its not just me. They have such a large range of products.

Sent from my HTC Wildfire S A510b using Gearslutz.com

[Tomiboy]

I have purchased Gear from Sebatron, JLM and Rode whenever I could, but if I want API, Neve, SSL or other high end imports I get charged twice as much as US buyers. How can I expect to compete when, A. most Australian retailers don't know anything about their product range, B. Can't service anything properly or within a reasonable time frame because there is a 12 week wait on parts, and repairers are swamped C. Charge between 30% and 60% more in the first place and D. Never have stock on hand.

Rec retail on my TLM 67 was $4400.00 and I got it for $2800 locally after hunting around and negotiating. If I would have bought it from the US it would have cost me $1700 but any servicing will still have to be done OS. So it costs Me $1100 to support local business every time I need A Mic! WTF! What about my Business, the food on the table for my family? Sorry but there is no real justification for this. I hunt around locally first, but if can save that kind of money and keep myself from going under I Will. It costs about $50 to ship the TLM from the US and I don't understand why import duties are so high. What manufacturers are the government trying to protect? We only have a few here, and their products stand up very well on the international market anyway. Beez Neez, JLM, Sebatron, and Rode are all world class manufacturers so what's the reasoning? If I want to buy Vintech it's a 30% loss straight out the gate, API the same, Neve, the same again! If I want a good quality console I need a second mortgage and loose a Kidney!

Try getting Messa Boogie parts in Australia! That will convince anyone.

[Tomiboy]

Originally Posted by Fletcher

Really? Have you factored in freight? Have you factored in import tariffs? Have you factored in that your lovely government forces employers to pay all kinds of "social taxes" for every employee? Have you factored in warranty service? The shops in Australia have to fix anything that breaks -- or at least suffer the paperwork hell to send things back and forth [never mind the additional freight charges]... when you factor in all of these additional expenses you'll see that their prices are actually quite reasonable.

Having worked for and with several manufacturers as well as distributors in the EU, Australia, [and elsewhere] I've seen how the charges they suffer add up quickly. Its not about trying to "rip you off" - its about trying to do what they can to provide a service and feed their families.

There are lots of "overseas" vendors who will offer 50-60% off on shipping to Australia... guess what, the Aussie vendors don't have that option. The US / EU vendors that sell unauthorized product into Australia can absorb these shipping costs because your deal in Oz is "plus business" for them... AND they won't have to provide any real service or backup [as in when you get the stuff there you're 3/4s on your own when there is a problem]... your local companies don't have that luxury.

So -- you get to decide... do you do what's right for you at the moment whilst throwing your countrymen under the bus? ...or do you do the thing that's best for your local industry? ...do you help your industry grow in an upward spiral? ...or do you help tear it down?

Personally - I will not shop at Wal-Mart because their "fabulous low pricing" costs American jobs. I drive a German car... it was assembled in South Carolina... by American workers. You do what you do... me, I'm gonna bite the bullet and pay a little extra to buy what I can that was made by my countrymen... because in the end, its good for my country, which is good for me [as in the less unemployment the better the chances for an overall better society].

In your case - by supporting your local vendors - you're helping to keep Aussie's employed. Not just at the shop they work at... but at the store where they buy their family's food - etc., etc., etc. That's how an economy works - when you keep money in your economy there is more to flow around... when you send your money outside of your native country your economy shrinks. Now I realize I'm an ideological idiot whose minor spending [in the grand scheme of things] isn't a piss hole in the snow... but if more and more people adopt this kind of national pride... who knows? Maybe things where I live will get better than they are... maybe not, but at least I can go to sleep each night knowing that I tried to do my part.

Peace

Oh, I do my part. I pay $1.50 P/L for fuel when I should be paying 60 cents, I support charity organisations like the Australian Tourettes Association, through the studio, I run music workshops for under privileged kids and offer discounts to those who are struggling to get ahead (students etc). Hell I even used recycled materials to build as much of the studio as I could, and run a Solar power system! Where is the support for my business and my family? I try to support local musicians and retailers but I just can't afford to pay double for my studio equipment and maintenance. Sorry but I need to eat Man.

I've been trying to get my studio up and running for five years and now that it finally is, I look back at all money I've pumped into it and think "If I lived in the US this would have cost me half as much and been finished three years ago!".

So keep preaching Dude, when things level off I'll be right there with you. Until that day I'm just going to try and survive as best I can. National Pride has nothing to do with it when you loose your home, your car, your wife and your business.

[Tomiboy]

Originally Posted by anthonythecat

Here's some random price comparisons between sweetwater (US) and turramusic (AUS) published prices. rrp is recommended retail price and sale price is how much the websites advertise the product to be sold for. Dollars are in local currency (ie US$ for US prices and AUS$ for AUS prices, I'm too lazy to convert them for you). The recent exchange rate is increasing the value of the AUS dollar (it jumped 1c yesterday when the reserve held interest rates) and at the moment the rate is $1.00 AUS buys $1.08 US.

Shure SM58
US rrp $124 sale $99
AUS rrp $179 sale $139

Allen and Heath Zed R16
US rrp $3499 sale $2499
AUS rrp $3995 sale $2890

Korg Kronos 61 keyboard
US rrp $3750 sale $2990
AUS rrp $3999 sale $2890

Avid MBox 3 with PT9
US rrp $1099.95 sale $999
AUS (with PT10) rrp$1099 sale -- not given contact retailer for best price

Rode NT1000 mic
US rrp $599 sale $329
AUS rrp $770 sale $489

Some interesting variations in price. Mbox 3 and Korg are around the same prices (although the exchange rate gives the advantage to the US). Zed mixer is a little bit more expensive (which is what you'd expect considering Australia is more remote than the US). The US shure is about a third cheaper than the AUS price.

What's weird is how the Australian made Rode mic sells in the US for considerably less than it does in Australia. How the hell is that possible?

Now do the same exercise with some high end gear, see what you come up with.

[Tomiboy]

Originally Posted by Companda

Fletcher's right. Add legacy audio, soundtown in Perth and awave are pretty good too. Turramurra has quite a lot too. Soundtown are actually within 10-15% of US prices in some cases lower, legacy are the same.

The OP obviously hasn't looked around, what specifically were you after? If you're talking low to middle of the road stuff then of course a "pro" dealer won't stock it. If you want something costing under $1k it probably is best buying overseas.

You try buying a new API 3124 in Brisbane for under $2800.00 let alone picking it up inside a month! I can get one for $1800 in the US and have it in the rack in a week. That's a grand in the bank and three weeks less waiting. Then try it with used gear, it's even worse. Or pots for your Messa Boogie Mk iii ......don't even bother trying!

[Tomiboy]

Originally Posted by Companda

Fletcher's right. Add legacy audio, soundtown in Perth and awave are pretty good too. Turramurra has quite a lot too. Soundtown are actually within 10-15% of US prices in some cases lower, legacy are the same.

The OP obviously hasn't looked around, what specifically were you after? If you're talking low to middle of the road stuff then of course a "pro" dealer won't stock it. If you want something costing under $1k it probably is best buying overseas.

A quick Neumann comparison

Kosmic Sound

KMS105 $1049
TLM 49 No Mount $2999
U87ai No Mount $5249
TLM 103 No Mount $1949

Yeah......bargains.

Sound Devices (Australia best prices so far).

KMS105 $749 Special Rec retail $1049
TLM 49 No Mount Don't have them
U87ai No mount $2999 Special, Rec retail $4399
TLM 103 No mount $1495 special, Rec retail $1999

Wow! Prices slashed!

eBay

TLM 103 with shock mount $1099 including shipping
KMS105 $589 including shipping
TLM 49 With shock mount including shipping $1599
U87ai with shockmount and lead including shipping $2849

Now fill your mic cabinet and see the difference mate.