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Shure, you gotta be kidding.

Jul 25, 2006 at 2:34 AM Thread Starter Post #1 of 135
spinrite

spinrite

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which other canadian head-fier here got a email from the Shure E500 retailer, saying that a USA retailer cannot ship the E500s outside the US? I just got a email from earphonesolutions.com and here the email quote. I've been on the waiting list for the E500s since early this year, i was probably one of the first 10 to put my preorder in and to get this email today saying they cant deliver...really pi**** me off. theres gotta be a way around this. i was wondering if a US member of head-fi could recieve my purchase to a US residence and then forward it to me, of course i'll pay for the extra shipping cost? all i can say is this..SUCKS.

We have just been advised by Shure that we will not be allowed to ship the E500 outside the US. We apologize for any inconvenience.

If you want we can find out from Shure who will be handling the E500 distribution in your country and let you know.

We can also ship the new Triple X Triple Driver Earphones by Ultimate Ears (available in August) and all earphones made by UE and Westone.

We can also ship your Shure E500 to an address in the US. Perhaps a friend or relative.

Again please accept our apologies but unfortunately it's beyond our control.


Thank you,


FMASOLUTIONS.com
1-888-473-9661
EarphoneSolutions.com
MicrophoneSolutions.com
WirelessMicrophoneSolutions.com
 
Jul 25, 2006 at 3:40 AM Post #2 of 135
I received that email today too and was about to cancel them anyways. I know it sucks not to be getting them espcially when some people placed the order over a month ago. I placed mine about 3 weeks ago and got an email today. I dont know why they wont sell to international buyers unless they only got limited shipment for the E500s and would rather sell to us customers first.

Very unprofessional if you ask me for advertising to place pre-orders and at the last minute send an email saying...oops, we are sorry but we can't do it. Compensate me for something at least. I wonder if its that way with all the retailers selling E500s or just earphonesolutions.
 
Jul 25, 2006 at 3:49 AM Post #4 of 135
I think it's just the same policy that Grado pulls internationally; it's almost as if they don't want international buyers to listen to their headphones. Maybe the company heads once got burned by foreign goods and want revenge. who knows?
 
Jul 25, 2006 at 3:55 AM Post #5 of 135
Quote:

Originally Posted by Meyvn
I think it's just the same policy that Grado pulls internationally; it's almost as if they don't want international buyers to listen to their headphones. Maybe the company heads once got burned by foreign goods and want revenge. who knows?


I can only speak to Japan, but if you've ever been in the Japan market you would understand why Grado is so protective over its distributors and international distribution rights.

Headphones in Japan are rediculously overpriced in general. HD650 go for $600. SA5000 go for $500+.

Grado are overpriced in Japan as well. A SR-225 will go for $300-ish. But this is simply reflective of the Japanese market and going rates.

Were Grado to not be strict on its licensing policy, and vendors like TTVJ or HeadRoom allowed to undercut these prices and sell a SR-225 for $200 into Japan, this would be to the detriment of the bricks and mortar stores in Japan that live by different economics.

Licensing rights between Grado and its distributors is as free market as you can get. Without strict price controls, Grado would not get the store space that it does. I'm still surprised that I saw Grado displayed in stores. But that was due, in part, to their international distribution policy.

Now does this work in every case? No. In countries where there are no official distributors, it does prevent the sale of goods. But in some places at least, there is a clear rational basis for such policies.

Best,

-Jason
 
Jul 25, 2006 at 3:56 AM Post #6 of 135
I'll hook one of you Canadians up.
smily_headphones1.gif
Look at my feedback if interested.
 
Jul 25, 2006 at 4:05 AM Post #7 of 135
To elaborate further on jjcha's excellent post:

The answer is a simple one. Shure has appointed an exclusive distributor in Canada. Manufacturers want to protect their distributors. By prohibiting a sale from a retailer in the U.S. to a Canadian purchaser, it ensures that Canadian buyers will only be able to purchase from the Canadian distributor (or through Canadian retailers it designates as authorized retailers). Ultimately, exclusive distributorships such as these cause prices to rise, as they reduce availability from alternate sources. OTOH, exclusive distributorships are useful in the sense that they provide some price protection to the distributor and thereby encourage it to invest the requisite money in developing an effective distribution system that will generate a profit and provide consumers with service after the sale.

You are merely a witness to one of the great tensions that exists in international business - the struggle between the borderless internet and the dogged attempt of manufactures to "wall off" markets from one another and prevent the sale of gray market goods.
 
Jul 25, 2006 at 4:41 AM Post #11 of 135
Quote:

Originally Posted by AndrewG
greed greed greed


Or, depending on your political persuasion, . . .

capitalism, capitalism, capitalism.
wink.gif
 
Jul 25, 2006 at 4:41 AM Post #12 of 135
Greed? Aren't they losing money with this policy? Won't less people outside the states actually buy them?
 
Jul 25, 2006 at 4:55 AM Post #13 of 135
I've taken enough international business classes to know that middle-man distributors generally suck.

What's up, Shure? Care to comment?
rolleyes.gif
Do you have anything at all constructive to say to loyal customers who waited months to pay top dollar for your new product, only to be told, "Sorry, you can only get these at a higher, artificially inflated price, because we decided to protect some middleman over you."
 
Jul 25, 2006 at 4:55 AM Post #14 of 135
eh, I wouldn't say greed in this case. I don't think they plan to aggregiously overcharge the Canadians. I mean, the retail is $500 USD, and the price on TigerDirect is near that after the conversion.
 
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