Does anyone want to comment on why Crutchfield Electronics, traditionally a big Sony dealer, continues to avoid selling Sony dvd recorders for apparently the 2nd year in a row?
I have my theory, but I'd like to see others comment on this.
In so far as your question, I do not know. However, if my experience with Sony equipment from Crutchfield is even remotely typical then they probably are tired of all the returns for defective quipment.
On a side-note my 3100ES replacement (3rd one) from Crutchfield should arrive today.
Joined: Oct 20, 2003
Posts: 8509
From: Winthrop Harbor, IL USA
Posted: 2007-05-23 07:36
dragon53,
I did notice a few things while looking at the 9 DVD recorders that Crutchfield carries;
3 are combo VCR/DVD, 3 are share stations for direct connecting to a camcorder and the rest are stand alone DVD recorders as we would typically think of them.
Therefore, Crutchfield only really carries 3 stand alone DVD recorders. But, you have also struck my curiosity and as Joe, I am also interested in your theory.
On a side-note my 3100ES replacement (3rd one) from Crutchfield should arrive today.
3100ES was on the porch when I got home last night. Hooked it up and it works; video and audio is great. Hopefully, it keeps on working.
Amusingly, in a black humor manner, while I was waiting for the 3100ES to arrive I reverted back to my Sony 975 DVD player, and it broke during this period. So, I had to drag out my 1999 Sony DVD player to use. Although it only has 480P component out, it still looks good, and more importantly, still works.
Maxxwire Moderator Premium Member Rank: Sony Adept
Joined: Aug 29, 2002
Posts: 25772
From: Portland, Oregon - USA
Posted: 2007-05-23 14:32
bbeacham- So glad to hear that your new NS3100ES arrived safely and works well!
BTW My 1999 Sony S530D DVD Player is still working perfectly also!
~Maxx~
----------------- A Satisfied Sony Fan Since 1974!
BTW My 1999 Sony S530D DVD Player is still working perfectly also!
I have a 550 and its list price was the same as the 3100ES. Granted, the 3100ES is technically superior, but the 550 is built solid and has proven very reliable. I hope this latest 3100ES lives up to the 550's reliability standards.
Maxxwire Moderator Premium Member Rank: Sony Adept
Joined: Aug 29, 2002
Posts: 25772
From: Portland, Oregon - USA
Posted: 2007-05-24 14:35
Member Quote
On 2007-05-23 22:38, bbeacham wrote: I hope this latest 3100ES lives up to the 550's reliability standards.
You know what they say about the third time!
~Maxx~
----------------- A Satisfied Sony Fan Since 1974!
Joined: Oct 20, 2003
Posts: 8509
From: Winthrop Harbor, IL USA
Posted: 2007-05-25 07:32
jttar,
I notcied that dragon53hasn't posted since 5/19 when he started this thread. Maybe he went on vacation. I am also interested in hearing his theory. Did you notice my post above? It looks like Crutchfield really only carries three DVD recorders, not very many in my opinion.
Joined: Feb 28, 2003
Posts: 9160
From: Chicago,IL, USA
Posted: 2007-05-25 22:30
Toli,
I did see your post about Crutchfield only carrying 3 stand alone DVD recorders. I never paid attention to it but it does seem a little strange considering that they don't have any Sony DVD recorders.
Hopefully, dragon53 is on vacation and not having problems with his new computer.
As for why I think Crutchfield stopped carrying Sony dvd recorders, my theory ties in to previous comments I've made about Sony's shift in priority from making products that were superior in engineering and reliability, thus, worth the higher price to products with inferior technology and reliability but still at a higher price. To Sony, customers would gladly pay the higher price because "Its a Sony" with Sony's supposedly superior technology and reliability.
In other words, with some, but not all, Sony products the consumer is paying for the name and not a superior product.
I'm choosing dvd recorders because I've been looking at them since they were introduced on the market. Sony's first dvd recorder, the RDR-GX-7, drew considerable praise for its performance, but it was a lot more expensive than its Panasonic, et al. counterparts.
After the RDR-GX7, Sony's dvd recorders dropped in price so that they were more competitive with the competition's prices. However, in lowering prices, Sony also lowered the quality of the product. 2-3 years ago, the RDR-GX315 was almost unanimously blasted for its inability to work properly and for one of the inputs normally located on the back panel being placed on the front behind a panel door--many customers returned it because it was unsightly and plain stupid for the input to be on the front behind a door. To make matters worse, the RDR-GX315 was still more expensive than its competition. Looking at many owners' comments on various merchant websites, the RDR-GX315 was either returned for a less-expensive Panasonic (that actually works properly) or a refund. Sony had to resort to a rebate to unload this lemon. Imagine being a prominent Sony merchant such as Circuit City, Best Buy or Crutchfield and being stuck with many returned or unsold RDR-GX315s.
Sony apparently learned their lesson and replaced the RDR-GX315 with the RDR-GX330. By most accounts, the RDR-GX330 actually worked and the input jacks are on the rear panel and customers were happy with it....until they found out there is no PAUSE in the record mode. Apparently, Sony pinched pennies again and a lot of customers returned the RDR-GX330 for....Panasonic units. One customer complained Lite-on was selling a dvd recorder with PAUSE for 1/3 the price of the RDR-GX330.
In a giant like Sony, where in the R&D/business hierarchy did someone come up with the idea of deleting PAUSE in the record mode and then the same hierarchy approved it---maybe because it saved 10 cents in production costs. RDR-GX330 bottom line: Sony saved maybe 10 cents/unit but lost a lot of goodwill and faith among its customers and merchants who are opting for Panasonic, LG and Toshiba. Sony sold their soul to save a few cents/ unit and sold their many loyal customers and merchants down the drain (the Panasonic drain as it turned out).
That's why I think Crutchfield stopped selling Sony dvd recorders.
I would be interested to see other responses to my theory.
Maxxwire Moderator Premium Member Rank: Sony Adept
Joined: Aug 29, 2002
Posts: 25772
From: Portland, Oregon - USA
Posted: 2007-05-27 14:22
dragon53- I think you have come up with the universal theory describing the pervasive poor quality of today's consumer electronics products.
Simply put any Mass Market Consumer Electronics Manufacturer's name and product line into the equation and it will reveal the same shameful decline in product quality and reliability over the last 25 years that exists across the board in the industry.
~Maxx~
----------------- A Satisfied Sony Fan Since 1974!
Sony's new RDR-GX355 dvd recorder has been on the market for several months and, so far, it has received mediocre owner ratings. Not surprisingly, Crutchfield does not carry the RDR-GX355.
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