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Post by ChrisB on Feb 10, 2019 23:38:02 GMT
The tide comes in and goes out out in the world of the hifi trade, so I thought it might be of interest to have a place to notify members of the latest stuff that gets washed up on the beach (or otherwise).
First up - the Superfi chain if stores went into administration a few days ago. They had several shops - Camden in London, Nottingham, Birmingham, Manchester, Lincoln & Derby. All are now closed.
ADMIN NOTE: This thread is not for members who also happen to be in the trade to post details of their latest business adventures.
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Post by julesd68 on Feb 10, 2019 23:46:55 GMT
I had one experience of the Superfi shop in Camden and it wasn't a good one.
They didn't have much of a range and the salesmen came across like stereotypical second-hand car dealers ... never went back.
Good to see that Bartletts on Holloway Road seem to be still going strong - they have some good mainstream brands there and friendly service.
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Post by ChrisB on Feb 10, 2019 23:49:47 GMT
I bought a Technics cassette deck from Superfi a v-e-r-y long time ago - back when there was a thing called Mail Order. I still have it somewhere.
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Post by julesd68 on Feb 11, 2019 0:02:14 GMT
As far as I could see they were the kind of shop that didn't really move with the times.
They had a superb location in Camden - just needed the right management I guess!
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Post by MartinT on Feb 11, 2019 8:12:20 GMT
I'm trying to remember what the Superfi in Camden was called before that name?
They were definitely a bit behind the times and somewhat lost in dogma. They setup a pair of ATC speakers for me to hear once, I didn't like them one bit.
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Post by Slinger on Feb 11, 2019 14:15:53 GMT
Expanding, slightly, on a post I made at HFS, I think it really is a case of moving with the times. Julian Richer seems to have got the hang of it, and Sevenoaks is still at the wicket. I get regular emails from Sevenoaks, which is odd, as the last time I bought something from them was probably before emails had been invented,  and both they, and Richer, seem to have invested in the AV route, and both of them probably sell as many TVs and AV amps as they do stereo amplifiers and systems these days. Diversify or die seems to be the motto of the day.
Stuff I didn't know about Julian Richer.Richer donates 15% of the profits from Richer Sounds to his charitable trust, whose main areas of support include human rights and animal welfare. He founded the charities ASBhelp, which supports victims of anti-social behaviour and ACTS435, which allows people to donate directly to those in need. In 2018 he bankrolled TaxWatch which launched in October, dedicated to the research and exposure of aggressive tax avoiding corporations. Richer was created an LVO by HRH Prince Charles in 2007.
He is a vice president of the RSPCA. |
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Post by MartinT on Feb 11, 2019 14:33:21 GMT
I always thought Julian Richer was one of the good guys.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 21, 2019 18:32:06 GMT
I'm trying to remember what the Superfi in Camden was called before that name? They were definitely a bit behind the times and somewhat lost in dogma. They setup a pair of ATC speakers for me to hear once, I didn't like them one bit. Was it the one that was owned by Howard Poppeck. |
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Post by MartinT on Feb 21, 2019 18:56:14 GMT
It might have been? Was it Studio 99?
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Post by MikeMusic on Feb 22, 2019 10:53:29 GMT
If it was that was where I went for a Meridian dem a very long time ago.
Comparing to Linn/Naim a week later it came up short although went staggeringly loud
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and both they, and Richer, seem to have invested in the AV route, and both of them probably sell as many TVs and AV amps as they do stereo amplifiers and systems 
