Advice on buying Naim from UK

I do this ( next purchase on Saturday  )

I have a long history with the dealer that I buy from (it's not purely economic)

You may find that you have to travel to the UK but it would still be cheaper.

Warranty is five years.

5 years! Here you get 2... Another reason more...

Should we share the name of your dealer...

You also going for 272?

You might have a problem with dealers complaining about others poaching from their boundaries /  regions.

I believe there have been previous examples of this and delers have formally complained to Naim.

One arguement could be if you had previously bought from a dealer in uk and then moved to italy, and wanted to retain an existing relationship

Thank you Cbr600, but poaching=1345€ it is hardly to justify anyway... And 2 year of warranty also!

Bicela

buy what you want from where you want for as cheap as you can. If dealers don't like it then they can drop their prices can't they.

However if you use your local dealer for advice, viewing or demos then i believe it is only right you pay their prices, as this is the service your paying for.

Good luck

Agree 100%, even my dealer is disappointed by this price increase; he knows people looking already for other options and, I trust him, the % the dealer got is almost the same. I think distributors have much more discretionality and responsibility on that.

Now I must wait that some of you Sirs listen the 272 because audition seems not practicable for me at the moment.

If your friendly local dealer recognises the financial disparity AND is unable to demonstrate the equipment you are interested in, I imagine HE would have no problem with you coming over to the UK, demonstrating the said equipment, buying in the UK and taking back to Italy.

One or two UK dealers might be able or prepared to visit Italy to ensure things are properly set up, but I imagine they would want to be paid extra for such service. The financial disparity migh then be reduced, but the auditioning prospect migh still be of benefit.

Thank you Don for your comments.

Hoping isn't against forum rules, even in padded, I so kindly ask for suggestions on UK dealers would selling abroad the 272 to me, or it is compulsory to come to UK personally?

Do a search for NAIM UK and give a few dealers a call.

Anyone selling Naim from the UK to Italy would need to be able to support you. While that's certainly a requirement in the UK, that does not extend past these shores.  What support means is to set up the unit at your home, make sure the system is getting the best from it, and provide support should anything go amiss.  The supplying dealer would be your conduit for any warranty issues, factory support, firmware updates etc.. 

There's a lot more to it than just selling you a nice boxed up unit and saying goodbye hoping everything works out for the best.  

As for the price, every territory is different and each faces different challenges and costs that are sometimes not so obvious.  In this case, might I suggest you speak to your dealer and perhaps also the distributor first before doing anything rash that you may regret further down the road.

Dear Richard, first of all thank you for your welcome comment (instead of moderate me ).

You're right. But...

I already talk with the dealer that add units he buy for himself as demo in the shop even get not anymore discount. Maybe you don't know but seems in Italy have a new importer far different from the past one.

Sorry, but the price difference is too much, considering that even the list price in UK already include the service you mention.

I'm really confused by this difference, even more by the limited warranty of 2 year in Italy, is 5 year long in UK imposed by law?

AFAIK, there's a 2 year warranty in the UK and across the EU.  Some distributors offer additional limited warranty up to 5 years, usually once you have registered the product with them.

Check the website for warranty info. 2 years plus additional 3 years parts only UK & Éire.

I have bought Naim equipment from British dealers and from a local dealer in France. It's difficult to decide what to do sometimes.

I find British dealers generally more knowledgeable (which is only to be expected) on the subject of Naim stuff, and they will not let you down if you have a problem. I have had excellent contacts with one of the dealers who posts regularly on the forum. But then I only live 3-4 hours' drive from his very nice studio out in the sticks, I can go and see him if and when I have a problem. I know I can't rely on the French distributor, and I accept that.

So if you buy equipment from a British dealer, I would certainly advise that you visit the dealer in person, rather than order by mail from Italy or France. Also don't forget that exchange rates can vary - the euro was 15-20% higher a few months ago: today, Naim stuff is very expensive whether you buy in sterling from Britain, (then you have the bank charges, etc.) or in euros from your dealer in Italy, but it might be different in a few months' time.

Hifi dealers on the continent, as I've pointed out before, are more likely to give you a discount - possibly because the list price abroad takes into account the variations in exchange rates, or their profit margin is higher - I recently paid 550 euros for a HiLine (the list price was much higher at the time, and it is even higher now).

So, a difficult decision, but you could spend a very pleasant holiday in Britain with the money you might save...or not.

As far as warranty is concerned, I think it's 2 years everywhere in Europe (European regulations...).

In some ways its like buying used, you'll get it cheaper but you take a chance on support and warranty,  although not as big a chance.  The comment on audition is fair in my view, if I borrow a unit from a dealer to test and I like it,  I buy it from them. If I buy second hand,  I do it without an audition and I don't feel, then,  that my dealer has anything to complain about. Good luck with whichever route uou take

Thank you All for the comments, I really appreciate your helps in order to ponderate the right decision.

I must say that I'm very tempted to buy in UK, I just will wait for some 272 reviews and looking for a good dealer would "support" me in this operation.

Time by time I'm going in London (city) or Brighton for work.

Hi,

I think I have some experience gained from buying everywhere, and also a few unsympathizing friends in the local trade...

Contact me if you like, I'll share my experience with you.

Max

Thank you Max, you have a post on your wall! 

That's not the point. As Pev says, the price you pay in the UK includes the service of setting it up for you. Its not free. You paid for it.

Time and again, Naim re-iterate this fact on this forum,. If dealers don't play ball, they should be named and shamed and struck of the retailer list.

Sure, if you decide to buy from a distant dealer rather than your local dealer in the UK, you can't expect him to travel 200 miles each way free of charge. But he might. You'd need to agree what's included before finalising.

Well, if you have been paying full retail price then no, that's not very good service at all.  Naim may even want to know the details of the sales in question as it may well be reflecting poorly on their business.  That's the only way bad practices can change for the better to everyones benefit.

I did pay full retail. I also informed a senior Naim person at a show some years ago. I can't understand why Naim aren't more proactive in keeping retailers up to the mark as it must be damaging their business. You only have to look at the Streaming section of this forum to know that many people are not getting the support they deserve from their dealers.