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How did anyone afford gear in 70's-80's??
- Thread starter madpioneer
- Start date
First of all nothing sold even close to list price. . .My motto was that unless is was discounted at least 40% I wouldn't consider it period. . .Speakers 50%.
My last L-112s I bought new in the box for 425.00 and my L-150s a bit more at 700.00 also new in the box. I bought a brand new 1050 (299.99) and a new 1250 (479.00) the same year. . .
There were also demo sales around once a month where the police had to let you in the store. . .
I remember 850s at 199.00. . . Kenwood receivers nice ones under 250.00. I've seen 950 Pioneers blown out at 199.00.
It was late 80s when a few like Paradigm started 'fair trading' or refusing to cut deals however there were ways around that too. . .
Yea you could blow your money on new models before they actually came out if you wanted but even with those pieces there were always stores that would cut a deal. . . Or you could go to the botique shops or a few others that thought it was illegal to discount anything which was fine because it kept the riff-raff away from the really good stuff.
Then as today only better then were mail order like WDS (Wisconsin Discount Stereo) where you could get discontinued models for pennies on the dollar. I bought 4 Kenwood KT-917 Tuners delivered for a grand which was retail for one. . .
You shopped, looked for deals. . . There was so much out there that you could get your deal if you tried even a little bit. . .
My last L-112s I bought new in the box for 425.00 and my L-150s a bit more at 700.00 also new in the box. I bought a brand new 1050 (299.99) and a new 1250 (479.00) the same year. . .
There were also demo sales around once a month where the police had to let you in the store. . .
I remember 850s at 199.00. . . Kenwood receivers nice ones under 250.00. I've seen 950 Pioneers blown out at 199.00.
It was late 80s when a few like Paradigm started 'fair trading' or refusing to cut deals however there were ways around that too. . .
Yea you could blow your money on new models before they actually came out if you wanted but even with those pieces there were always stores that would cut a deal. . . Or you could go to the botique shops or a few others that thought it was illegal to discount anything which was fine because it kept the riff-raff away from the really good stuff.
Then as today only better then were mail order like WDS (Wisconsin Discount Stereo) where you could get discontinued models for pennies on the dollar. I bought 4 Kenwood KT-917 Tuners delivered for a grand which was retail for one. . .
You shopped, looked for deals. . . There was so much out there that you could get your deal if you tried even a little bit. . .
CDFixer
Number 1 USC Trojan Fan
A lot of this stuff was sold in military exchanges overseas (but not in the states). I bought my system
Sansui 8080DB
Pioneer CS-811 Speakers
Pioneer PL-530 Turntable
Pioneer Tape deck (I don't remember the number), It was destroyed in a move, I now have a CT-F1250.
The whole thing cost me new (Drum roll please) less than $500. I still have everything except the tape deck.
Sansui 8080DB
Pioneer CS-811 Speakers
Pioneer PL-530 Turntable
Pioneer Tape deck (I don't remember the number), It was destroyed in a move, I now have a CT-F1250.
The whole thing cost me new (Drum roll please) less than $500. I still have everything except the tape deck.
jimfet
Lunatic Member
I sold audio back then. Most audio companies had an employee purchase program. It was like advertisement, for you having the gear in your home. They had forms you could fill out and once a year, you could buy their gear for half off list(that was less than dealer cost) then it would be shipped free to your store. Had to have a money order from you to them.
I got alot of great deals like that. Bought some Altec 19s, some specs, etc...
The best deal I got was my Koss model 1a stats. When I ordered them, they had the model 1's for $3000 I ordered them for $1500 free shipping. But lucky me,after I ordered, Koss contacted me and said they no longer had the 1's anymore. They were the 1a's. They are now $4000 apair. They said they would accept my check for $1500, but I would have to pay the freight COD for $86. I scratched my chin and said...OK.
I got alot of great deals like that. Bought some Altec 19s, some specs, etc...
The best deal I got was my Koss model 1a stats. When I ordered them, they had the model 1's for $3000 I ordered them for $1500 free shipping. But lucky me,after I ordered, Koss contacted me and said they no longer had the 1's anymore. They were the 1a's. They are now $4000 apair. They said they would accept my check for $1500, but I would have to pay the freight COD for $86. I scratched my chin and said...OK.
ferninando
Lunatic Member
We worked, had good jobs, stores had lay-away plans and credit plans. Sales and good deals were common and for 1K$ or so, on credit, you could land a pretty good stereo system. Stores also always sold package systems, rcvr, TT, spkrs, maybe not totl but not everyone were peerfectionests.
If you were in the military overseas in the 70s (74-77 for me), there wasn't much to do. IIRC, about 300 thousand GIs were stationed in the Far East during this period, with about 800 thousand in Europe at that time. Rotation back to the world for everyone was approximately 24 months, some more, some less. Everyone, and I mean EVERYONE, owned a great stereo system with all the bells and whistles; turntable, cassette, reel to reel and whatever else you could buy. The PX had every model of every conceivable manufacturer available at least 50% off. Save up a little and buy the receiver or tuner amp of your choice along with your dream speakers (Sansui in 1975, whatever it was, and a pair of Pioneer speakers, I think they were HPM 100s), then next month get that great turntable (Garrard 100, I think), then that great cassette deck (Dual 901c, had to have auto-reverse), finished it off with a Dokorder 7140.
In 1977 I fell into a windfall of sorts from Uncle Sam and bought another whole entire system (Sansui QRX7001 with 4 Pioneer HPM60s, Pioneer turntable and Pioneer cassette). All shipped back to the world for free courtesy of Uncle.
I would guesstimate about 500,000 great stereo systems were coming back to the good old USA with GIs every year in the 1970s. I was lucky enough to bring back two.
Both of those systems are long gone now. I didn't know what I had then, and not just in good stereo equipment!
By the way, this is my first post, been lurking for a while. Started to get back into music. Bought a pair of Insignias based on this sites recommendations, and then bought a pair of Radiients with the little tweeters on top to run an A+B configuration (no more Quad or 5.1). Running them thru the Black Plague JVC 888VBK and listening to FM for the moment, but I've got a Yamaha CR-820 coming to me, courtesy of eBay. FM will do until I can get that turntable and reel to reel I want.
I have to say thanks to all of you and all the great posts to help me "turn back the clock" and enjoy great music again!
In 1977 I fell into a windfall of sorts from Uncle Sam and bought another whole entire system (Sansui QRX7001 with 4 Pioneer HPM60s, Pioneer turntable and Pioneer cassette). All shipped back to the world for free courtesy of Uncle.
I would guesstimate about 500,000 great stereo systems were coming back to the good old USA with GIs every year in the 1970s. I was lucky enough to bring back two.
Both of those systems are long gone now. I didn't know what I had then, and not just in good stereo equipment!
By the way, this is my first post, been lurking for a while. Started to get back into music. Bought a pair of Insignias based on this sites recommendations, and then bought a pair of Radiients with the little tweeters on top to run an A+B configuration (no more Quad or 5.1). Running them thru the Black Plague JVC 888VBK and listening to FM for the moment, but I've got a Yamaha CR-820 coming to me, courtesy of eBay. FM will do until I can get that turntable and reel to reel I want.
I have to say thanks to all of you and all the great posts to help me "turn back the clock" and enjoy great music again!
70salesguy
Only 99 easy payments!
View from the other side of the counter
How did people afford gear in the 70's ?
I think I have seen the answers in several previous posts.
In 1973, a single JBL L-100 sold for $ 273.00 I ran that figure through an inflation calculator and it comes out to $ 1100 - $ 1200 today!
People had less competition for disposable income back in the day. No cell phones. ipods, computers, etc. Car Stereo was a $69 Craig. Gas was .40 a gallon. Music was LIFE.
Really GOOD systems with Kenwood or Pioneer Receivers, Garrard 42M/S turntable and a decent 12 inch 3-way speaker system available after discount for $500 - $600.
No VCR's, dvd's, plasma tv's, atv's, jetski's.
McDonald's - regular burger, small fries and small coke and change back from a buck!
A few kids had a new car, but everybody else drove hand-me-downs or Chevelles, Mustangs, GTOs. No kids driving BMWs.
But the biggest factor was we LOVED the music that lives FOREVER!
CCR, the WHO, Grand Funk, Cream, Guess Who, Deep Purple.
Do you think 30 years from now, middle aged guys will be going to a cruise night in their 98 honda and listening the whiny crap they play now?
Will they be watching ESPN for the Barrett-Jackson auctions and see people bid $60K for a 2001 Acura with matching numbers drive train.
I think not.
How did people afford gear in the 70's ?
I think I have seen the answers in several previous posts.
In 1973, a single JBL L-100 sold for $ 273.00 I ran that figure through an inflation calculator and it comes out to $ 1100 - $ 1200 today!
People had less competition for disposable income back in the day. No cell phones. ipods, computers, etc. Car Stereo was a $69 Craig. Gas was .40 a gallon. Music was LIFE.
Really GOOD systems with Kenwood or Pioneer Receivers, Garrard 42M/S turntable and a decent 12 inch 3-way speaker system available after discount for $500 - $600.
No VCR's, dvd's, plasma tv's, atv's, jetski's.
McDonald's - regular burger, small fries and small coke and change back from a buck!
A few kids had a new car, but everybody else drove hand-me-downs or Chevelles, Mustangs, GTOs. No kids driving BMWs.
But the biggest factor was we LOVED the music that lives FOREVER!
CCR, the WHO, Grand Funk, Cream, Guess Who, Deep Purple.
Do you think 30 years from now, middle aged guys will be going to a cruise night in their 98 honda and listening the whiny crap they play now?
Will they be watching ESPN for the Barrett-Jackson auctions and see people bid $60K for a 2001 Acura with matching numbers drive train.
I think not.
Yamaha Nutz
Active Member
Word:
Student loans:thmbsp:
, although I already had a headstart w/my Cerwin-Vega DJ system w/V-12's, CV Mixing board, and CV 500W amp that I sold-off. Along w/those, I also had a set of CV R312 speakers, Sansui 8080 Integrated Receiver, and several TT's.
Student loans:thmbsp:
, although I already had a headstart w/my Cerwin-Vega DJ system w/V-12's, CV Mixing board, and CV 500W amp that I sold-off. Along w/those, I also had a set of CV R312 speakers, Sansui 8080 Integrated Receiver, and several TT's.
Twenty20Man
Is that you Michael?
growing up we had some console stereo after that I invested in a car stereo where I spent a majority of my listening to 8 tracks. then I traveled around in the Navy and listened to quite a few Sansui's. I think Sansui sold enough gear to servicemen to qualify for a defense contract. I digress...after I got out I worked in a bank for peanuts then NCR Corporation where ultimately I was trained in electronics. I got married and then bought my very first Home audio gear an SX-838 with 4 pioneer speakers and a CT-2121 cassette deck and a Dual 1215 ( i think) TT. I was in hog heaven took me a year to pay it off.
We started out, my buddy and me, putting our paper route money together and buying enough gear to start a small mobile DJ business. I swear we probably never made a dime, investing most of the profits back into new gear or records. That was 1978. When I walked away from the DJ biz for the last time in the winter of 1993, we divided up our gear and both walked away with a great record and CD collection, and some outstanding gear, some of which is still in use today.
Got my first stuff when I took a year off college to work on the line at American Motors for $5.35 an hour in 1973. Had scraped thru my first year of college with headphones and a Teac top-loading cassette that my bro in service scored at PX. With the auto job, I bought a Philips 212 turntable (loved the green touch buttons), a Pioneer receiver, and (ugh) Ultralinear boom speakers.
After that, I did retail at two different shops. One in WI had started as a CB radio mailorder and retail co. and was testing the audio market. Sold a lot of Pioneer receivers/speakers/tape decks/turntables, Kenwood receivers/amps/tape decks, and Genesis speakers. Got myself a 60 wpc Kenwood integrated amp and a 1030 3 head cassette deck there.
A few years later, after finally finishing college, I worked in the Twin Cities for Sound of Music, Best Buy's predecessor company. With the exception of Carver amps/eq's, they sold a lot of low-end packages. I didn't get anything but tapes and accessories while working there, cuz the pay was so lousy. (I never was the best comission salesman, and everybody who came in asking for "my name here", was looking for my boss 'cuz he was a local high school grad.
Since then, if it ain't 70's to early 80's, I don't want it!:thmbsp:
After that, I did retail at two different shops. One in WI had started as a CB radio mailorder and retail co. and was testing the audio market. Sold a lot of Pioneer receivers/speakers/tape decks/turntables, Kenwood receivers/amps/tape decks, and Genesis speakers. Got myself a 60 wpc Kenwood integrated amp and a 1030 3 head cassette deck there.
A few years later, after finally finishing college, I worked in the Twin Cities for Sound of Music, Best Buy's predecessor company. With the exception of Carver amps/eq's, they sold a lot of low-end packages. I didn't get anything but tapes and accessories while working there, cuz the pay was so lousy. (I never was the best comission salesman, and everybody who came in asking for "my name here", was looking for my boss 'cuz he was a local high school grad.
Since then, if it ain't 70's to early 80's, I don't want it!:thmbsp:
I know of no evidence where the 70's gear actually went for MSRP. The pricing was more like automobiles of today - a lot of room to move.
case in point: the SX-3700's my brother and I had were $375 MSRP. 'The Sound Store' in Monroeville Pa sold them at $188, 4-5 per store, about 2-4 times a year. Were they alone? I recently for another SX-3700 from the original owner and he sent all of his paperwork - he paid $219 xmas 1981
Even still, the 'actual paid' numbers were good bank for back then, but we had different priorities.
btw - my HPM40s were $149 for the pair, $300 MSRP. Same place.
case in point: the SX-3700's my brother and I had were $375 MSRP. 'The Sound Store' in Monroeville Pa sold them at $188, 4-5 per store, about 2-4 times a year. Were they alone? I recently for another SX-3700 from the original owner and he sent all of his paperwork - he paid $219 xmas 1981
Even still, the 'actual paid' numbers were good bank for back then, but we had different priorities.
btw - my HPM40s were $149 for the pair, $300 MSRP. Same place.