Japan is the headphone paradise, and here's the proof
Aug 17, 2011 at 12:40 AM Post #122 of 199

 
Quote:
So what do the Japanese spend their money on then? I'm curious.


Nothing besides the necessities - most save their money for the rainy day, some simply don't earn enough to splurge on anything (average salary of Japanese is 3.5 mil yen a year, which is roughly 45k USD, but in a city where rent is one of the highest in the world).  Asians had been known to save their money already, Japanese had it even worse gone through some massive social changes that instills many uncertainties towards the future - the property crash, abolishment of life long employment and knowledge that their pension system is broken and unsustainable due to low birth rates and an aging population, the young generation knows that relying on government handouts after they retire isn't going to let them survive and work isn't stable anymore so people save the hell out of their salary and put them into government bonds for interests.  Any school of economics would tell you this is rational and expected behaviour on the micro (individual) level but on a macro level it is bad for the revival of the economy.    
 
Aug 17, 2011 at 2:44 AM Post #123 of 199


Quote:
I haven't been there, do they let you demo headphones at djwarehouse on Victoria St. like in Japan? 



Yep, they had some SHURE 440's and 840's on show that allowed you to road-test using your own DAP.
I spent a bit of time with the 840 especially but still walked away with the M50. Things may have changed
but I found out that they Beyer range for example along with the higher tier AT's are mostly left for
'special orders' - they usually don't have them on hand.
 
Aug 17, 2011 at 3:20 AM Post #124 of 199
Aw only 840, I tried the 840 at Singapore airport and then tried the 940 directly after and I felt the 940 was a huge improvement at least to me and my tastes, I love the SRH-940.
 
Oh well back on topic to Japan I sure wish I could be there now demoing the XB1000.
XD
:B
 
Aug 17, 2011 at 3:48 AM Post #125 of 199
Confused me there. Items in Japan cost a lot more because they have better pre-sale and post-sale support.
 
But once you purchase an item, you cannot return it?
 

 
Quote:
  • Prices are comparatively much higher than in the US and that's not just because of difference in buying power, it's also because there is a very large portion of the cost to finance both pre and post sales support.
  • You cannot return goods (like the mandatory 30 days return policy in the US, no questions asked) so people will want to go check them out at the stores (stores are thus not dying from competition against internet sales like in the US)
 



 
 
Aug 17, 2011 at 4:28 AM Post #128 of 199
Holy smokes, I want to move to japan now.
 
Aug 22, 2011 at 4:21 AM Post #132 of 199
 
Quote:
I'm interested in the XB1000 too. Do you know if any shop in Australia selling them?
 


Nope, not sure if any retailers here have ordered massive quantities of the XB1000 yet? I'd venture it's still at the "special order" and slightly expensive stage, better to order one from overseas yourself perhaps? It's such a cool looking headphone if I was a retailer I'd have 30 of them lined up next to eachother lol.
 
Aug 22, 2011 at 5:08 AM Post #133 of 199
Now if only JB-HiFi would come to the rescue regarding this dilemma..
 
Aug 22, 2011 at 6:36 AM Post #134 of 199
isn't there a remailing service in Australia? 
 
like you ship to an imaginary US address and have them ship it to you? 
 
you get to buy cheap headphones from retailers who are not willing to ship international,
 
and you get "international" warranty.
 
 
 
 

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