Meridian Unplugged - Powered by MrTechGuy.co.uk Forums Discussion Meridian - Systems German Distributors, support and pricing discussion

Maybe this should be taken to another thread, but I just feel like answering to this.
First, let me say that I find this forum very useful as well. This is always the first place to come to, looking for infos.

Last time spoke to Mansour Mamaghani in person in May at High-End this year. We spoke about several things including the trade-in of my 861. I've called my dealer long before and asked about a trade in price. My dealer had to call Audio Reference and informed me he spoke to Mansour Mamaghani, was given a price which he quoted to me long before May. When I mentioned that price during our conversation, he backed out. He said he couldn't offer it for that price and if my dealer is offering it for that price, that would be the responsibility of my dealer. I then specifically asked about a price for the trade in and the balanced output cards. So I was given the "official" price.

When I called my local dealer three weeks later to get a final price, he had to call Hamburg again. I told my dealer about the conversation and the official prices. Yet the response from Hamburg was negative. Prices went up again and my dealer was told those were always the official prices and it was never cheaper, even tho I've been given those prices in person a few weeks earlier by the distributor himself.

Early May when I spoke to him (Mamaghani), he claimed he has the first units from Meridian. No-one in europe or anywhere else in the world would have a unit. Of course, members of this and other forums already received their units. That's what I told him, and he refused to believe it. I told him about this forum and the people that posted here about their impressions. He insisted no-one except for him would have a new v6 yet (same for the 808.3) and that people posting here would lie and make things up.

I asked specifically about the details of the trade-in and he said, he has to send all units back to HQ in the UK and can't keep the old v4 units to sell them. That's why the price would be so much higher. I asked him about the difference in price, since there was a trade in special in the UK where one could get a v6 for �6500,- via the limited-time only upgrade program. I was informed by him, there is no such deal in the UK. Again I pointed him to this forum and Meridian UK about this price. All UK based dealers knew about this. He went backstage and came back a few minutes later to tell me he just spoke to someone from Meridian UK and they confirmed there is no such trade-in deal in the UK. I asked if I could speak to that person from Meridian UK, but he wouldn't let me. I again told him to check retail prices of dealers in the UK and this forum for further information. Again I was told, dealers quoting such prices in the UK wouldn't be reliable and everything written in this forum would be posted by liars (that is a quote) who just make things up.

As far as false information goes, I was told I could mix SpeakerLink output at full rate (96/24) with non-encrypted digital output to a subwoofer. Simply wrong, because when a digital sub is hooked up without encryption, then 96/24 isn't possible anymore.

I also asked about new speakers, specifically for a 3100 replacement for a friend. I was told he just visited Meridian HQ not too long ago and there would be no replacement coming. 5200 would be the lowest entry level speaker.

Not to mention the full video Sooloos which is supposed to be released in december this year.

And that is only part of what we spoke about in May this year. Don't get me started on the nonsense I've been told the past couple of years.

As I have pointed out before, I'm all for buying locally and was told 10% increase in price would be ok. I can't argue with that. After all, UK VAT went back up again in january.

While the Sooloos may be there, I wonder where my math is wrong going from �17.5k (�20.830,-) for a pair of DSP7.2k to �30k. Or �30k (�35.710) to �50k in Germany for a pair of DSP8k. I'd say that's a bit more than 10% he claims. Maybe the dealers offering these prices in the UK are making them up again...

On the other hand, it could very well be those prices have changes since I last checked.




Dealer is not an issue. I find it a pleasure to deal with the dealer where I traded in my 861v4 to v6. It couldn't have gone any smoother. Absolutely no difference to my local dealer, infact it was easier as the dealer knew exactly what he was talking about. My local dealer always has to call Hamburg and get back to me, be it for technical detail or price negotiations.

Shipping isn't an issue at all, as I've said, trading in my 861 was much, much cheaper via the UK. If I take delivery via a shipping company or the driver of my local dealer doesn't make a difference at all. In both cases, I make an appointment and take delivery at home (or office, or any place I want).

Robert made the mistake of making a registration himself at Meridian. Meridian doesn't talk to end users anymore. The right way is to make the registration either online or via the dealer he bought from. I spoke to Robert on the phone after he bought his 5500 from his dealer, maybe I should have mentioned it.

Either way, enough off-topic rant. As I always say, to each their own. I have no problem if people buy from a local dealer in Germany. I've made my decision where I buy my Meridian stuff in the future (switch to DSP speakers still pending for this year, and possible switch of my second living room system to a G61R + 5200 speakers next year, plus Sooloos for both my systems next year).

I found it alot easier and pleasant to deal with dealers in the UK as to deal with the german distributor via my local dealer. Cheaper too which is a plus. If there's something I'd like to demo and I know no one who owns that component, I simply hop on a plane and fly over to the UK for a day and I'm sure dealers there are happy to set me up with a demo. The first time I've done that was almost a decade ago when I first bought into Meridian.

But again, this is a decision I made for myself. I think Robert feels the same, as this is something we spoke about a couple of times. If someone wants a local dealer, setup help and who knows what else, that's fine. No bad feelings or anything.