Group Buy / EOI new generation DNS head units (RNS-510 alternative)

[raymondtrudeau]

Hi sandy did you get that firmware today?

[lankfert]

It's always tough to make decisions like this.

It's hard to know if the product Sandy offers is any different

Im sure the service Sandy offers is better

It's hard to know if the difference between $375 and $700 is worth it

The $375 is a price for five units shipped to Victoria, I need three myself and I was going to sell two

It's hard to know what to do.

The long wait and constantly changing delivery date has been really frustrating.

Why take the risk? Coming from a retail background, i find it disappointing when someone tries to save money on importing an item from China or through eBay etc and not support a local supplier.

With Sandy you will get peace of mind and local support. I would hate to think that if you had a problem what you would have to go through to get it sorted. I also see a lot of people who purchased elsewhere ask Sandy for support which makes me feel sorry for him.

It's your decision but consider everything before making your purchase.

PS. I also found there is a Blog bagging the product and service from LSQ Star. I would stay well away.

[moda]

It's just risk versus reward, but I'm still undecided despite your emotive flag waving

At $375 I could sell it on eBay if I don't like it and still come out even

But thanks for taking the time to share your opinion

Sure. If you want to take the risk, go nuts. But I would say with certainty, based on the things we know and making some fairly safe assumptions that 1) she's not going to sell you a DNS (when their price for the ANS is ~$500, why would the DNS be cheaper?), and 2) you won't get it any faster than with Sandy, because like I said, we're at the mercy of the manufacturer, not the reseller.

The comment on buyer power is more from LSQs POV.... Sandy has more purchasing power because he's ordering in larger quantities, meaning he's able to bargain a better cost price from Audiosources.

He's already said that there is no way his cost price would be anywhere near $375... so unless LSQ is ordering thousands of units, the only way their cost price can be under that is either 1) they're lying to you, or 2) It's not actually the DNS.

Like I said, go nuts, but in my opinion, based on the things we know, you're taking a pretty big risk. We're also clogging up Sandy's thread (sorry mate!) :p

PS, no emotion here, i'm an Engineer so i'm inherently rational

Edit: Again I can't emphasize enough that i'm not trying to attack you.... i'm just trying to offer an alternative opinion... play devils advocate, if you will.

Edit2: Just collecting a list of things we know, a list of assumptions and conclusions, from my thinking.

Things we know:
1) DNS Cost price is around ~$600, Group Buy Price $680. ANS cost price ~$400-500, sells for $560.
2) Delays have been on Audiosource’s side. Due for mass production 27/08/2013.
3) Standard product, manufactured by Audiosources.

Based on 1), it seems unreasonable to me to expect that the DNS would be available for anything less than $5-600 (this is considering the ANS sells, from LSQ, for ~$500, and the DNS is a more expensive and complex product).

Based on 2), it seems reasonable to assume that first batch orders will arrive at roughly the same time (so there's no benefit to going with another reseller, particularly because Sandy is local and offers local support).

Therefore based on those, i've come to the conclusion that LSQ either has incorrect information for pricing (either a guess, or are trying to string you along, bait and switch style), or they're just flat out lying.

[fmflex]

In my humble opinion, we do live in a democracy and people are free to do or buy whatever they like from whoever they like. hotbmwm3 is entitled to buy whatever he likes from whoever he likes if he thinks he's getting a bargain. On the other side of the coin if he doesn't work out like he planned and he gets burnt for whatever reason then the fault will be no one's but his own.

I think Sandy has stated previously that anyone wanting any support for something that wasn't purchased from him then it'll cost them a small fee. If he's a nice enough guy to offer that then that's his prerogative.

[moda]

In my humble opinion, we do live in a democracy and people are free to do or buy whatever they like from whoever they like. hotbmwm3 is entitled to buy whatever he likes from whoever he likes if he thinks he's getting a bargain. On the other side of the coin if he doesn't work out like he planned and he gets burnt for whatever reason then the fault will be no one's but his own.

I think Sandy has stated previously that anyone wanting any support for something that wasn't purchased from him then it'll cost them a small fee. If he's a nice enough guy to offer that then that's his prerogative.

Hey, I did say go nuts :p

[fmflex]

Hey, I did say go nuts :p

True mate, wasn't having a go at you, just saying he's free to take any risk he likes without anyone trying to convince him otherwise. He sounds like a big boy that can make his own decisions.

[moda]

True mate, wasn't having a go at you, just saying he's free to take any risk he likes without anyone trying to convince him otherwise. He sounds like a big boy that can make his own decisions.

Yep

Meanwhile, my franken-TDI/GTD build is coming together this week.... I was hoping to have my DNS and RVC by now so that I could fit it at the same time so I wouldn't have to take bumpers off for a second time, but oh wells.

[DkN]

Ok let me REALLY clear a few things up.

LSQ does in fact have big buying power, they specialise in export and they do not only sell Audiosources units. They buy in huge quantities for many units and in turn offer wholesale to other buyers. I could buy from them at almost identical prices as from Audiosources themselves, so that's saying something.

However, many people have had terrible experience with them - they do not manufacture (or if they do for some units, they definitely don't manufacture the Audiosources units), and they buy so many different units in such quantities that they are not going to care about you as a consumer, or even a small-medium retail customer, once they make a sale to you. Other than the one-page product information which you can see yourself on Audiosources's website, they know barely anything else about the units anyway.

I am also telling you the absolute truth when I say that Audiosources has NOT released DNS pricing to LSQ. I confirmed yesterday with an LSQ sales rep myself. I don't know where another LSQ sales rep is getting $375 from, but that is cheaper than my buy price.

I also am in fact speaking directly to the owner-manager of Audiosources and all information regarding release dates come from him, so LSQ can't have any more up to date information than what I have.

I should also point out again that I am supposed to be the sole distributor for the DNS units in Australia. I'm not about to go around telling people they can't buy if someone's selling, but if they are openly offering DNS units to you knowing you're in Australia, they're being a bit dodgy. I also don't believe that I need to go chasing anyone down since I believe set a reasonable price based on what I'm offering.

I have plans to expand and deal in wholesale in Australia with local support so you can see these units hit your local physical shops, and the sole distributor thing is more to not have shops skip over me once they learn about the unit. I don't intend to stop consumers who want to buy direct or through other means and choose to forego local support, I just think you should do so being fully aware of what you are actually buying and what services you can expect. Further, Audiosources also has plans to expand and properly establish their brand, and in doing so will focus on finding quality distributors and probably stop direct retail sales where they have an existing distributor in any event.

I hope that paints a clearer picture of where things stand. Fact is if things work out as planned Audiosources may not even co-operate with LSQ Star for much longer - right now it's the volume of their purchase that is retaining the relationship, but Audiosources is becoming increasingly aware of their poor service. If you do want to buy direct, I always recommend dealing with Audiosources themselves.

[moda]

Thanks for clearing that up Sandy. I guess we were all basing our 'argument' over a bunch of hearsay and halftruths.

Anyways, enough about that.

Any updates?

[richmurphy]

I guess we were all basing our 'argument' over a bunch of hearsay and halftruths.

Nooo.... misinformation on a forum!? I doubt it.

[kordo]

IS this still going?

[eplurbisunum]

Group Buy / EOI new generation DNS head units (RNS-510 alternative)

I usually don't usually do this, but I feel it's necessary. ADMINS, this thread has gone way off topic, it's a group buy for a product FROM DkN, not a discussion about alternative sources. Those who wish not to purchase it from DkN, or discuss other options should perhaps create another thread, rather than doing it here. I had to go through way too many pages of bs to find out what the latest update is on the ETA of the unit.

Edit: Sandy, since the dates are constantly changing perhaps you should update the first post with the latest expected delivery date.

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[kwalsh24]

I usually don't usually do this, but I feel it's necessary. ADMINS, this thread has gone way off topic, it's a group buy for a product FROM DkN, not a discussion about alternative sources. Those who wish not to purchase it from DkN, or discuss other options should perhaps create another thread, rather than doing it here. I had to go through way too many pages of bs to find out what the latest update is on the ETA of the unit.

Edit: Sandy, since the dates are constantly changing perhaps you should update the first post with the latest expected delivery date.

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Spot on.... to each their own I say, however I believe that if you do go outside of what Sandy offers I truely think you'll get burned. As it sounds like this item is really hush hush to any other resellers, so you could very well be getting quotes on fake units.

Anyhow I shall go blacktop waiting for my kick ass unit, I have a road trip coming up at the end of October... really hope its installed into my car come then haha

[DkN]

Edit: Sandy, since the dates are constantly changing perhaps you should update the first post with the latest expected delivery date.

The reason I stopped doing that was because of the numerous delays. Not everyone reads all the latest updates and if they just see the release date get pushed back week after week on the first post at some point they will lose faith. So for now I will withhold an actual date until I'm 100% sure there can be no more delays.

Right now though, a new sample unit is making its way to me and this one will have the finalised hardware plus the latest software. I've been told they are soon to enter into production now so expect a 100% solid date and a demo video this weekend if I receive the unit in time.

[Fanaki]

"100% solid date this weekend" should kept that little gem to yourself for now Sandy haha

Anywho, here's hoping

Sent whilst on the go