Richer Sounds Ireland Closed?

Mr. Fancypants

Article in the Sunday Tribune says that the Irish franchise of Richer Sounds is to close temporarily as it owes €800,000.
Just looking at their website now and it doesnt seem to say anything about it...

byte

God I hope it doesn't close. That'd be a shame if it did. Have to wait and see, i guess..:eek:

daveirl

This post has been deleted.

Kali

Lyric Hi-Fi, the more higher-end arm of Richer Sounds closed their premises back in November afaik and haven't relocated since (although when I ring them up they say they're still in the process of moving).

Vexorg

The other week I noticed that the RicherSounds.ie website shows the belfast number as the contact number, and when I was up in Belfast a couple of weeks ago, the shop had the richersounds.ie address in big letters accross their front window.

May have nothing at all to do with the above.


Vex.

Borzoi

Not surprised if they did close, I started to hate that shop, despite having bought half a dozen bits o kit from them.

Why? Because their staff were, IMO, twats.

Last incidence was when they said that I couldn't get a Pioneer radio that could be controlled via the main amp remote, and tried to sell me €400 tuner instead. I went up to hifi corner who ordered in the Pioneer one for €130

Latest incident where a Sony multichanger I had my eye on was €20 more expensive in riecher than ina Sony shop. FFS.

Again recently to repair my CD changer, they wanted to charge €17, to give me an estimate on the repairs, and take up to 2 weeks. Rang the Pioneer agents, who said drop it in and we'll see what it costs, shouldn't take more than a week to fix.

So, really it's no surprise to me if they went belly-up, but then again they do have a habit of taking short (cheap) leaases, and moving every 6-9months to a nearby spot.

Bard

First I'd heard of Richer Sounds was years ago in an advert in Viz in which they claimed "Our sales staff have larger sexual organs than those in other hi-fi stores!"... 'Cheeky!', I thought, '...must check 'em out!'

I got a voucher for their store as a gift and used it against a Sony MemoryStick Walkman (MP3 player basically) which I ended up returning as it was faulty. The staff were friendly and accommodating...

If they're closing down, I hope they have a closing down sale ... need some stuff

Kali

Their website says the Dublin one is closed until further notice and the Cork branch is closed temporarily.

Bjorn

i ordered an amp there last week - and the guy said (in Belfast) that the Dublin Store was closed until April 7 (today) didnt say why though , would be a real shame if they closed ive bought a number of items from them, found them excellent

byte

Originally posted by Bard
First I'd heard of Richer Sounds was years ago in an advert in Viz in which they claimed "Our sales staff have larger sexual organs than those in other hi-fi stores!"

Yea, that's where I first heard of them too, though they were only in UK at the time, AFAIK (ah the great ol days of adult comics like Viz, Gas, Electric Soup, etc sadly not as funny anymore) :rolleyes:

johncorleone

It's an awful pity if they have closed down
There are now *NO* decent commercial hi-fi stockists in Dublin
Sure they made their mistakes from time to time but who doesn't, Ive always found them to be fairly good and at least they made specialist hi-fi kit available in this country. All I can say is that to be 800,000 Euro in debt someone must have been doing something *very* dodgy. The place was always packed when I was there and the markup on that kind of kit has to be pretty good.

A sad loss

John

daveg

Not surprised if they did close, I started to hate that shop, despite having bought half a dozen bits o kit from them.

Same here. Not that pushed if they do close. I tend to buy all my stuff over the web now.

viking

Yep, they have definitely closed down. Passed by their store today on the quays in Dublin and there is a notice on the window stating that Richer Sounds Ireland have closed and that any pending business or after sales enquiries should be directed to Belfast.

I have to agree with Borzoi, their prices recently were far from competitive. E.g. A Philips LX3000 was being sold in RS for €499, if you walked 30 seconds around the corner to Dame Street to the Philips store on the corner of Georges Street you can find it for €399!! I'm afraid the writing was most definitely on the wall...

Anyone know when RS dropped the "Cheapest in Town" slogan, last time I saw then use it was about 2-3 years ago?

viking

commited

Originally posted by johncorleone
It's an awful pity if they have closed down
There are now *NO* decent commercial hi-fi stockists in Dublin
Sure they made their mistakes from time to time but who doesn't, Ive always found them to be fairly good and at least they made specialist hi-fi kit available in this country. All I can say is that to be 800,000 Euro in debt someone must have been doing something *very* dodgy. The place was always packed when I was there and the markup on that kind of kit has to be pretty good.

A sad loss

John

TBH, I disagree with some of this..
THey werent the only decent commercial stockist, infact they were no where near the best..
Cloney Audio in Blackrock is definately the place to go, or HM entertainment..
Surprised that they lost that much.. doesnt sound quite right..
Maybe he was writing losses from the UK to Ireland, so he could get his World record for most amount of ££ generated per cubic metre!

Thumper Long

Good bye richer sounds and good riddance to rising prices, shams of staff (well the more recent ones anyway) who dont know their arse from there elbow and refurbished eastern european ****e. the last item i bought there looked like it had been used to chop logs on it was a refurbished sony vcr sold to me as new, full price too, what a cheek, so i hope the city sherrifs come and pull mr rs out of bet in the wee small hours of the morning and torture the fecker. !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

dmeehan

i only ever bought blank mini dics from them
didnt fancy paying the "HMV tax"

Kali

Originally posted by commited
TBH, I disagree with some of this..
THey werent the only decent commercial stockist, infact they were no where near the best..
Cloney Audio in Blackrock is definately the place to go, or HM entertainment..

Cloney Audio are ridiculously over-priced on most gear, my cans are twice the retail price there, and most if not all its stock can be sourced cheaper on the web (including the associated huge delivery charges when you're talking about larger equipment), if you have the money to spare though, I don't doubt their expertise and the quality of the merchandise they stock at all.
For smaller stuff they're not too bad, quality interconnects & speaker cable (I bought by Van Der Hul connects there).

HM Entertainment aren't too bad, small range of gear though (and no decent cables) and again prices are bit high (tho not anyway as bad as Cloney), not bad for Marantz gear, I can't recall what speakers they stock off hand though.

Samson

Where are HM Entertainment?

Makaveli

Main street in Blackrock. Beside Supermacs I think.

the corpo

also a hm on dawson st

eth0_

Originally posted by Kali
Lyric Hi-Fi, the more higher-end arm of Richer Sounds closed their premises back in November afaik and haven't relocated since (although when I ring them up they say they're still in the process of moving).

I'm pretty sure Lyric were owned by Virgin ...even if they weren't, the premises they were in was Virgin megastores.

NIBBS

I think it's a real pity that they are gone, I agree that the staff and prices in recent times left a lot to be desired - all you had to do was check out their .co.uk website to see how much they'd added to the price of certain items over here.............but there aren't other discount hi-fi shops around here now are there ????

places like Clooney and Lyric are well and good, but they have generally high prices and high markups, they service the higher end of the market............there have been a few closures of smaller hi-fi stores in recent months, it's not a good sign, maybe someone else will take it over or come in fresh...

KdjaCL

Richer Sounds were the best HiFi shop Ireland ever had anyone who thinks the staff were twats must be a bit of a dumbass to go into a hifi specialist shop needing help, you go in knowing exactly what you need and shouldnt need assistance ,only to get it if its up high.

I always found them excellent tho never needed to ask them anything i usually researched the product i was buying well inadvance and always got it in RS cheaper than anywhere in Ireland.

kdjac

mike65

Always a pity when a choice goes bust, and there are
defintily fewer retailers around these days. Waterford though has two places - Sherwoods and Toner but I'm sure there were 4 about 15 years back.

Cork had a decent place the name of which I've forgotten with two outlets, the hifi stuff was in the centre, in Washington Street (?) Is it still in business?

Mike.

Altheus

So what happens now, does that mean my ****ing 3 year walk in repair and replace warranty is null and void, there was me thinking it was a bargain for €20.

Kali

They're not gone bankrupt, RS UK will still have to honour your guarantee, plus it isn't usually with any particular store, I'd say theres fine print covering themselves over delivery etc. but apart from that I wouldn't worry.

Borzoi

Originally posted by KdjaC
anyone who thinks the staff were twats must be a bit of a dumbass to go into a hifi specialist shop needing help,

LOL

What is the role of specialists, except to advise non-specialists?

In your case K, you know so much that the shop was irrelevant, you'd always get something off the interweb. For mere mortals like myself I found hifi corner and HM to be better and more helpful, and not full of staff who were twats.;)

Kali

Was in HM on dawson st. the other day, asked did they stock any high-quality analog interconnects, was greeted with a "what do you mean by interconnects?" and a puzzled look. After I explained he went "ahh twin phono cables" and showed me a bog-standard 20EUR cable (err no thanks mate I have enough of those)

Borzoi

Was in Maplins in Blanch on Saturday, good selection of interconnects and adaptor etc.

Got bits to connect the X-Box to the AV amp for top quality sound.:D

s8n

any ideas where you go with returns for richer sounds???

s8n

see post above this one

Lenny

Does this mean that X-Music is closed down too?
It is apparently their 'sister store'

Kali

X-Music are still open.

Lenny

Thanks for the info Kali, as I've kinda seen X-Music as the cheapest round for new technics decks..

Guy:Incognito

i notice no mention of the sony centres, which as has become blatently obvios are one of the very few people who like to handleany complaints them selves, unlike the likes of D***ns who answer complaint about an in-warranty sony repair with the answer " we cant do anything, go to a Sony Centre" which iss attrocious behaviour not to mention the fact that imsure theyre obliged to look after theryre own sales. Also on the price issue, the Sony Centres, like anywhere else do discounts and anyone who walks into a shop, looks at a price tag and walk out, r the people who dont no theyre arse from they're elbow.

Kali

Wow do you work in a Sony store per-chance?
While I firmly believe because of the small nature of their stop they tend to have nice and friendly staff, the major problem is that they really don't know an awful lot about the equipment they sell.. (this is a factor prety much everywhere mind you).. plus if you have a sony product thats not on their stock sheets they won't touch it with a bargepole if you come asking questions or need it repaired... that said I do recall having a conversation with a chap in a sony store last year for about an hour about the workings of an aibo...

Lenny

Things I find about Sony centre shops is that they sell their own products dearer than other shops..?
I bought a pair of SONd MDV headfone for €80 in a hi-fi shop, also saw then in a dj shop for the same, while sony were selling them for €95 ... odd

Guy:Incognito

The repairs issue is one you will encounter anywhere as, y would anyone want to deal with other peoples repairs. it costs money to take-in and handle repairs so y should they pay for product that hasnt been bought from themselves. I have generally found that each shop has at least 1 no-all geek type, and if u find ur not get the answers u want u can ask to speak to some1 else that does know.

commited

Originally posted by KdjaC
Richer Sounds were the best HiFi shop Ireland ever had anyone who thinks the staff were twats must be a bit of a dumbass to go into a hifi specialist shop needing help, you go in knowing exactly what you need and shouldnt need assistance ,only to get it if its up high.

I always found them excellent tho never needed to ask them anything i usually researched the product i was buying well inadvance and always got it in RS cheaper than anywhere in Ireland.

kdjac

Tbh I'm surprised at the paradox/crap in your post..
Richersounds first of all is no where near the best Hi-fi shop in Ireland - Cloney Beats it hands down, not only for quality of product, but also for the sales people and listening environment.
Second of all, Richersounds always prided themselves on their staff being knowledgable, and they directed their advertising towards people who dont know much about hifi - i.e always offering to show you how much better separates are than all in ones.
Now, I went into Cloney Audio which is a Hifi specialist, and instead of them saying "oh yeah, have a look around + pick whatever you like the look of", they told me honestly if, in their opinion, one component sounded better than another. I was only spending about IR£1100, but I took up, in total, about 7/8hours of their listening room over a few weeks, and they didnt mind at all.
You say that they are only there to reach the "high" products, but how do you know what you want if you cant dem. it?
Now, you say you always researched a product, but u cant research a product fully without listening to it, so you treated your hifi, like ur PC, going by what others say, which is the stupidest thing you can do.
The only bit out of my Hifi that i didnt demo was a £30 interconnect for my MD->amp connection, and that was the only bit bought from richersounds.
Not saying I didnt go in there to look at set-ups, I did, but I found them to be useless.. Maybe it was because I was 16, but that should make no difference.

mike65

Just a general point - why should anyone need help in buying
a bit of hi-fi? Its not brain surgury. Just read the reviews and get user feedback. Richersounds were/are cheaper than most and had a decent range of gear. Cloney Audio on the other hand seem to be operating with audiophile type snobbs in mind it seems....Just checked thier website, alot of esoteric stuff priced to make most potential buyers look eleswhere!

Mike.

edit> Just checked the price of a Mark Levinson 383 amp.
Cloney charge €9950, in the States its $6000!

http://www.audioreview.com/PRD_123790_2717crx.aspx

commited

Originally posted by mike65
Just a general point - why should anyone need help in buying
a bit of hi-fi? Its not brain surgury. Just read the reviews and get user feedback. Richersounds were/are cheaper than most and had a decent range of gear. Cloney Audio on the other hand seem to be operating with audiophile type snobbs in mind it seems....Just checked thier website, alot of esoteric stuff priced to make most potential buyers look eleswhere!

Mike.

edit> Just checked the price of a Mark Levinson 383 amp.
Cloney charge €9950, in the States its $6000!

http://www.audioreview.com/PRD_123790_2717crx.aspx

But does anybody just go out + do brain surgery, i think not, so of course its nothing like brain surgery.
Thats like saying why should nebody test drive a car, just look at the reviews (which can vary hugely, just like hifi reviews, but ppl only read what hifi which is the most corrupt (maybe a bit strong) of the hifi publications) and ask ppl what they think then pick the colour, and add on some alloys for smart looks. Then when you drive it, you realise that the driving position doesnt suit you at all + its as slow as your grandmother in the morning.
Surely the whole point of going to a place like richersounds is that you enjoy music + want to get the best sounding SYSTEM for you money. Reading reviews and talking to your neighbour isnt going to achieve that.
As has been said earlier, richersounds failed to compete in recent years, but before that, its prices were fantastic + those occasional cunday sales were amazing

Onto the topic of cloney.
If you'd read my post, you would ahve seen that I didnt find them to be snobby at all + although i was only spending about a grand, they never made me feel like I was taking up demo time that could have been used on the rich "audiophile type snobs"
Now, judging from what you have written, though I may be wrong, you have never visted cloney audio, so dont start talking about their clientele. I am not an "audiophile" (hate the word), neither is my father, who loves music, therefore has spent alot on his hifi. The only buyers that the prices put off would be the kind of people who have mistaken cloney audio for a place to get a cheap mini system, their prices are reasonable + I respect what Noel Cloney has done.

As for the Mark Levinson amp, think about the amount of tax that you would pay, as well as the postage on an amp that heavy, and it all looks fair.
But I suppose if noel cloney didnt stock it, and you wanted to buy it, you would talk to your mates, pick up a copy of what hifi, see that it is a good amp, and then order from the internet, wouldnt you? I doubt it, you would go down to cloney audio, audition it to see if you like it + then buy it from them, because its easier, quicker and they know what they are on about.

mike65

Originally posted by commited


Onto the topic of cloney.
If you'd read my post, you would ahve seen that I didnt find them to be snobby at all + although i was only spending about a grand, they never made me feel like I was taking up demo time that could have been used on the rich "audiophile type snobs"

Only a grand? Jeeze! I'd want to be given cups of tea and choccy bicuits if I were in an audio shop for that kind of spending. If I even suspected they'd be looking down thier nose at me I'd never darken thier doors again.

I'll stick to the net, aim low (Marantz CD4000 etc) and save a pile of cash...

Mike.

commited

Originally posted by mike65
Only a grand? Jeeze! I'd want to be given cups of tea and choccy bicuits if I were in an audio shop for that kind of spending. If I even suspected they'd be looking down thier nose at me I'd never darken thier doors again.

I'll stick to the net, aim low (Marantz CD4000 etc) and save a pile of cash...

Mike.

Ok, buy blind, but I think its stupid tbh..
You could always go into Hifi Corner, or HM entertainment to demo a few setups around ur budget, even if u buy them off the net, its worth listening to them anyway.

I would advise going into Cloney to see what Second hand gear he has in.. give him your budget + he will tell you what he can do - worth a try - You dont have to buy if you demo stuff there + I guarantee that you wouldnt regret it

qwertyup

Would you believe that I had the bad luck to have stuff in for repair when they went bust?

And that being the fool I am, I waited on a call on it, not knowing that they were bust?

And that even worse, I have just now managed to get my kit found again, as it was placed in with stock somehow. And it is only now being sent off for repairs.

Bah.

Evac101

Out of curiosity, how do people rate Dublin HiFi on Aungier St.?

I am one of the know nothing buyers mentioned in previous posts but on both occassions I've visited their store I've found the staff friendly, courteous and very helpful, even after discovering my budget was below the cost of their low end kit.

robbie1876

Yes Dublinn Hi-Fi are always really friendly. Shame they don't have a wider range of kit, but I know they are very much tied to Linn.

IMO the recent closing of Hi-Fi shops in Dublin is because of the industry wide trend towards custom install. All over the UK businesses are shutting their retail operations and operating out of offices, dealing with architects / builders on new build projects etc.

In Dublin, Hi-Fi Corner have done exactly this, and are now operating out of an industrial unit under a name like 'Smarthouse'. They won't do retail trade anymore, only custom install projects. Also, I know for a fact that some of the guys from HM and Lyric have left these companies to set up custom install businesses. That is where the money is at nowadays, not Hi-Fi.

BTW, I heard a rumour that HM in Blackrock has closed down too. Can anyone confirm this?

commited

HM in Blackrock hasnt closed down, i walked by there the other day..
Where is Dublin hifi?
I dont recognise the street name, how do I get there?

Mr. Fancypants

Its Dublinn Hifi (They sell lotsa Linn Kit) and Aungier St is at the end of Georges St heading towards the canal. It is directly opposite DIT Aungier st college.

TwoShedsJackson

Originally posted by robbie1876

BTW, I heard a rumour that HM in Blackrock has closed down too. Can anyone confirm this?

They have a sale on due to 'Change of Management' according to the window display. Haven't passed it while it was open in the last week or so, so can't say what might be left.

robbie1876

I heard today from an 'insider' that HM are indeed in trouble and that they are actively seeking a buyout. I guess if nobody makes the investment in HM they will be gone too, and Mr Cloney will be rubbing his hands with glee....

Makaveli

HM on Dawson/Nassau St. (can never remember which one it is) has a sale on too I think. Well at least that's what I thought it said on the window when I was driving past it.