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We all know how crappy the economy is for everyone, except for the wealthy, and the wealthy are not as sure as they used to be that things are good.

So not to continue a gloomy picture for those of us trying our best to be cheerful, be positive, and watch movies, let’s see how we can save money while buying things we want and need.

Many people know that there is money to be saved in buying refurbished items. Refurbished is such a bad description when it comes to video and audio equipment. Most of these items are things that were not the 5th or 7th on the assembly line, so they were shipped without the Quality Control checks, and just happened to be bad when the box was first opened. The worst that happened to most of these things is that the original consumer got fingerprints on the item when hooking it up.

Not only will the fingerprints be gone when you purchase a refurbished item, you can bet that a complete check was done, and the product you are getting is fully working, and within all specifications. It has gotten a better workout than 97% of the other identical models, and you can be fully happy with your purchase. The manufacturer has lost money, had to ship the product at least 3 times, done more checking  than usual, and made you the owner of a great piece of gear.

Crutchfield Request a free catalog and sign up for e-mail offers

Crutchfield is known for great deals on closeout items.

There are many ways to get these refurbished products. It is possible to go to any retailer at the end of a product cycle and find closeouts, and usually refurbs, at a slightly lower price. Because of what you just learned above - go for the refurb!

Also, there are stores that have been established by larger retailers, usually grouped together, where closeout and refurbished merchandise can be had easily, as that is all the stores have. These ‘outlet stores’ are usually near a freeway, and far from any other retailer of that company’s products.

Bose has several outlet stores, if you want a deal on their products, these are the places to obtain one.

In the area where I live there are 3 outlet malls within 50 miles. In those malls, I can find closeout or refurbished Sony, Bose, and Harmon-Kardon equipment. I can also find a store that has prices almost as good as Amazon for CDs and DVDs.

Sony doesn’t like to advertise their outlet stores, but they are listed in the phone book - and if you go to their website, look for ’special deals’.

Another way to find these deals is online shopping. Of course, you say. But then you don’t really know what I am speaking of. Several manufacturers prefer to keep closeout and refurbished items quiet, as they believe it gives the customer a higher impression of quality. These companies stress that the quantities are very low, as very few mistakes are made. While this is true statistically, as the company would not be viable if large numbers of mistakes came through the line, the sheer quantity of product makes for large amounts available. Onkyo is one of these companies, and if you look carefully on their website, you’ll find a link to join ‘Club Onkyo’. This is a great deal for two reasons. First, it gets you on the e-mail list, and you become aware of products you want very quickly. Also, if you are being contacted by e-mail, no money is used for advertising, allowing the manufacturer to sell these items to you without ruffling the feathers of its dealer network.

this is a good thing, and you will save money on things you want - otherwise you wouldn’t be seeing the sign.

Onkyo is a good name in audio and video gear. It does not have the brand recognition of other companies, but in audio especially, is not eclipsed by any other Japanese brands except Sony ES and Sony Esprit.

If you are buying something very unique or normally costly, you can sometimes strike a deal with the manufacturer to become a ‘dealer’. Even if you only do this on a limited basis, it allows the company to get more of their product out in the public eye, and you to get a deal. The more expensive, as less well-known the brand is, the greater your chances of doing this. Remember that this is totally dependent on you allowing at least some others to audition what you are ‘dealing’. An example would be, let’s say, Ampzilla 2000. If you were going to pick up one of these pieces of art and science, you might - remember, that’s might - be able to convince Mr. Bongiorno to cut you a deal when you tell him you will allow the audition of the product by others. No guarantees here - but I will say I have personally done this with a couple of different manufacturers.

Let’s face it, when you have one of these to listen to, you want to share the goodness!

Remember, where there is a will…

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