Are you buying now because you anticipate higher prices?

[napfkuchen]

It would be nothing short of a miracle if DiracART were to be released soon. That would be worth an upgrade with two additional subwoofers. Until then, I'm happy with the status quo.
When it comes to cars, I thought long and hard about whether to buy an electric car and ultimately decided against it. At the beginning of March, I ordered a Skoda Scala (Czech Golf) as a re-import for €26,000. I have no idea if that was a good decision. Electric cars with heat pumps and (for me) sufficiently large batteries are still too expensive.

 

[Timcognito]

On March 31st, last day of a sale, I got a brand new Hyundai Ioniq 5 SEL for $13k off MSRP. Dealership was telling potential customers they would have to wait two hours to talk with a sale person because of crowds. Luckily for me I had test driven the car a month previous. I just called the rep but paper work signing took six hours and got second choice on exterior color. Love the car so far.

 

[NADKEF listener]

Being in Europe, i bought some of the better Bourbons. Not only because of expected higher prices but also due to the strongly diminished popularity of anything American, it will be harder to find.

 

[Timcognito]

Not only because of expected higher prices but also due to the strongly diminished popularity of anything American, it will be harder to find.

I know it's a shame because polls overwhelmingly show that most Americans disagree with the policies that affect our allies.

 

[antcollinet]

If I was in the market for something "big" and imported YES I'd probably buy it now.

If I was selling, I'd jack-up the price now! Maybe sell it now in the frenzy or sell it later.


That's what I was thinking... I never understood the TP panic. (But it did stock-up a little bit at the time.)

My Mum - who was living on her own at the time - and though we didn't know it was entering the early stages of dementia ....

Built a pyramid of the stuff in the basement.

 

[Snoopy]

In Europa i guess price going rather down than up taking in account brands like Topping try to find other sales channels.

Yup. Time to wait. It’s not only topping etc.. I also think more highend brands will be looking to offload more of their stuff in the EU/UK etc.

Let’s just think about the IAG group for example.. and that’s just one of many.
Cayin, matrix audio.

I will definitely buy nothing made in the USA .. even though I was in the market for a new Dan Clark or Audeze Headphone.
Rather buy something from Asia / EU / UK.

 

[Karmacoma]

There seems to be a point where everyone involved decides that if people were willing to pay more ?"

Exactly what happened, margins skyrocketed after the COVID. Every western country had some equivalent of congress hearing about this involving manufacturers and dealers, to make things more obvious. Took years for the prices to go a little bit down.

I could see scenarios with higher prices, lower prices, or prices staying the same.

If you see a scenario with lower prices, you should sell it to Netflix .

All countries outside the US will see, I believe, some price decrease on chinese products and probably very aggressive dumping due to overproduction.

But yeah who knows, the only sure thing is unpredictability reigns and trust is broken, two things markets and business in general hates.
Just the laws of gravity there.

I'm not planning to buy any audio gear following that logic, if things get really bad, I'd better buy gold.

 

[Hue Man]

I bought my Klipsch sub for my basement to avoid a possible 0% to 145% tariff. I just got done purchasing my retirement system for about $15,000 between Oct and Feb. I would wrap any major purchases soon.

 

[Hue Man]

My experience is that predicting the future is a fool's errand. I could see scenarios with higher prices, lower prices, or prices staying the same.

You must be late a lot then if you don't bother to foresee rush hour or holiday traffic. My experience is that ignoring the future is a fool's errand.

 

[MaxwellsEq]

Prices never seem to go down. Actually, as I understand it, that's economically a good thing. If people believe prices will fall, they never buy anything, but wait..

 

[levimax]

You must be late a lot then if you don't bother to foresee rush hour or holiday traffic. My experience is that ignoring the future is a fool's errand.

OK, please let me know what will be going on 6 months from now, thanks.

 

[diablo]

I read an article which suggested that Apple might increase prices worldwide to subsidize prices in the USA. Maybe to avoid them being smuggled over the border?

Being in the UK I did wonder about updating one of my 8-year-old Ipad Pros before that happened - though decided not to.

I don't suppose they'd do similar for hifi kit? Or would they?

 

[dpturner]

i was going to buy a new refrigerator this summer. i might pull the trigger sooner, and just store it in my garage until my kitchen is ready to accept it.

 

[Hue Man]

OK, please let me know what will be going on 6 months from now, thanks.

I agree with the 60% of the CEOs that there might be a recession ahead (which is an economic prediction). More importantly, I also believe that almost all of these CEOs (even the ones that don't think there is a recession ahead) are not on a fools errand for trying to understand what may happen in the future and plan accordingly. https://fortune.com/2025/04/14/recession-outlook-60-percent-ceo-survey-slowdown-trump-tariffs/ For me, it made economic sense to get my sub at current prices rather than risk the potential price increase (in my opinion). I doubt that this sub is going down in price, especially since I got it on sale. Based on your message to likes ratio, I'm sure you know what you are talking about in most cases, but I hope that you makes decisions/plans based what you think the future may hold. I have been a lurker since about Oct and a recent donor because this site provides a lot of info.

 

[levimax]

I agree with the 60% of the CEOs that there might be a recession ahead (which is an economic prediction). More importantly, I also believe that almost all of these CEOs (even the ones that don't think there is a recession ahead) are not on a fools errand for trying to understand what may happen in the future and plan accordingly. https://fortune.com/2025/04/14/recession-outlook-60-percent-ceo-survey-slowdown-trump-tariffs/ For me, it made economic sense to get my sub at current prices rather than risk the potential price increase (in my opinion). I doubt that this sub is going down in price, especially since I got it on sale. Based on your message to likes ratio, I'm sure you know what you are talking about in most cases, but I hope that you makes decisions/plans based what you think the future may hold. I have been a lurker since about Oct and a recent donor because this site provides a lot of info.

My view of predictions comes from time I spent as a professional Stock Index Futures and options trader. If I knew even one day in advance what the market was going to do I never would have had to work another day in my life. Predictions 6 months out are very difficult in my experience. Take the current environment as an example, 8 weeks ago the stock market made an all time high and everyone was talking "boom". Everyone also knew about Trump's tariff promises at the time as he had been talking about them for years. Now 8 weeks later the stock market is down 10% to 20% and everyone is talking about a recession or worse. I can come up with multiple scenarios of what is going to happen over the next 8 weeks or 6 months but I have learned I really don't know. I do think that uncertainty and volatility are higher now than usual and if you you were planning on buying something it is wise to buy it now but I don't think there is enough information to justify "stock piling" or " waiting for lower prices" at this point. Enjoy your new sub, it will be fun no matter how things work out.

 

[antcollinet]

I read an article which suggested that Apple might increase prices worldwide to subsidize prices in the USA. Maybe to avoid them being smuggled over the border?

I read that also. I decided that if Apple decide to put prices up globally so that we have to subsidise USAnians for USA's own dumbass tariffs I would no longer be an apple customer.

They are good, but they are not that much better than Samsung.

 

[Titurel]

The time to buy ended months ago. The seller's market started in January, perhaps earlier. Hoarders are only just now getting the message. Sadly, their activities can only worsen the disruptions. (In my opinion hoarders are only slightly more respectable than looters.) My advice would be to buy as local as possible and calmly wait out the storm, which will likely be far less devastating than C. Little predicts.

 

[Salt]

I read that also. I decided that if Apple decide to put prices up globally so that we have to subsidise USAnians for USA's own dumbass tariffs I would no longer be an apple customer.

They are good, but they are not that much better than Samsung.

Harsh but true

 

[Titurel]

My view of predictions comes from time I spent as a professional Stock Index Futures and options trader. If I knew even one day in advance what the market was going to do I never would have had to work another day in my life. Predictions 6 months out are very difficult in my experience. Take the current environment as an example, 8 weeks ago the stock market made an all time high and everyone was talking "boom". Everyone also knew about Trump's tariff promises at the time as he had been talking about them for years. Now 8 weeks later the stock market is down 10% to 20% and everyone is talking about a recession or worse. I can come up with multiple scenarios of what is going to happen over the next 8 weeks or 6 months but I have learned I really don't know. I do think that uncertainty and volatility are higher now than usual and if you you were planning on buying something it is wise to buy it now but I don't think there is enough information to justify "stock piling" or " waiting for lower prices" at this point. Enjoy your new sub, it will be fun no matter how things work out.

If I understand you correctly, I believe one of the messages buried in your post is a reminder to us that the market is not the economy. It's the off-track betting parlor for the economy. And, as you point out, it is ridiculously volatile. I would also point out that much of that volatility is the result of professional traders fleecing the punters.

 

[Mort]

We're veering close to politics. So my thread doesn't get shut down, let's get back on topic? I'd appreciate it.