Since MAP pricing means the number is the same wherever you shop, here is a straight comparison of what actually differs — on the items in our catalog carrying the Authorized Dealer badge.
| Proper HiFi | Buying direct from the brand | Amazon / marketplaces | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | MAP | MAP, where they sell direct at all — most of our brands do not | Often lower, and that is the warning sign |
| Warranty | Full manufacturer warranty, valid from day one, on badged listings | Full warranty | Frequently void — manufacturers do not honour warranties on units from unauthorized sellers |
| Advice before you buy | A person who knows the catalogue and will talk you out of the wrong component | Limited — they sell one brand | None |
| If it arrives damaged | We file the carrier claim | You file it | You file it |
| After the sale | We are your first call | Manufacturer support queue | Nobody in particular |
The honest version
We're a specialist retailer earning authorized relationships brand by brand — the Authorized Dealer badge on a product page tells you exactly where that stands today. Many manufacturers in this category don't sell directly to the public at all; they sell exclusively through a small number of authorized dealers. That's the position we're working toward on every badge you see, one written authorization at a time, not one we claim in advance. So on a badged item, the real choice isn't us versus the brand — it's us versus another authorized dealer, or us versus a grey-market listing that will cost you the warranty.
Against another authorized dealer, we ask you to judge us on responsiveness and honesty. Against grey market, we would simply say: on a component at this price, the warranty is not the part to gamble.