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Think Monster Cables Are A Rip Off?

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Bear in mind that this isn't even the cost to Monster. Makes you wonder what that is...probably cut that wholesale price in half again at a minimum.
 
I buy my cables from Monoprice, but I gotta admire Monster. Raking in the dough, legally, thanks to consumer ignorance.

Ain't nothing wrong with that 😀
 
most cable is over priced. i wonder what the cost to manufacture is. its the biggest scam ever. its not high tech stuff, its freaking cable..copper with some plastic and a freakin plug.
 
Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
Bear in mind that this isn't even the cost to Monster. Makes you wonder what that is...probably cut that wholesale price in half again at a minimum.
Click to expand...

And then some. There's no way those cables cost Monster $40+ to make. More like < $10.
 
I didn't see anything on my quick scan that was 100% markup. That's standard for most things. Oakley sunglasses? You pay twice what wholesale is. You must be stupid if you wear Oakleys. I would venture to say that most clothing is marked up 100% too. Buying Abercrombe or Hollister is just as dumb as buying Monster cables.
 
Originally posted by: Toasthead
seriously...the wholesale price is a complete ripoff!
Click to expand...

Yeah. Just because it costs $3 (materials) means a company shouldn't charge $40 for it? Don't buy them if you don't agree. What's wrong with a company trying to make money? It doesn't cost your cell provider anything for you to use your phone...they must be scamming you.
 
Originally posted by: compuwiz1
Snake oil

Actually, good cables, but not worth the prices. Most people would never know the difference, gauge for gauge.
Click to expand...
Actually, nobody can tell a difference gauge-to-gauge, because there is none.

This audio industry scam makes wattage ratings look like the freaking Gospel.
 
Originally posted by: apac
MONSTER 4FT HDMI CABLE | $79.99 | $41.78 | $38.21

Ouch, AND how the hell is the wholesale price still 41.78? This cable is like $7 from monoprice.
Click to expand...

yup, I think that list is fabricated
 
Originally posted by: Nitemare
Originally posted by: apac
MONSTER 4FT HDMI CABLE | $79.99 | $41.78 | $38.21

Ouch, AND how the hell is the wholesale price still 41.78? This cable is like $7 from monoprice.
Click to expand...

yup, I think that list is fabricated
Click to expand...

Wholesale price is what monster charges radio shack, not what it costs to make. What I am saying is Monster likes to rip off radio shack as much as radio shack rips off people buying from them.

Monster makes a cable for 2 dollars.
monster sells it to radio shack for 40.00
radio shack sells it to an idiot for 80.00

 
Originally posted by: Fritzo
Those cables all cost well under $7 to manufacture, so someone's making $$$$$$$$. What a scam. "High quality digital cables with NO signal loss" cracks me up everytime I hear someone at Best Buy or Circuit City say it. If it's digital- IT WORKS OR IT DOESN'T! There's no in-between.

Monster is a good name for the company- for Monster Profits.
Click to expand...

Wow, I can't believe there are still people on ATOT who believe that just because it's digital it either works or doesn't.
 
Originally posted by: Captante
Originally posted by: indamixx99
You should see the markup on Belkin cables. When i used to work retail, a $30 6' USB cable had a cost of $3
Click to expand...


No doubt about it ... and worse cost about 20 cents to make! 😛
Click to expand...

nah copper is at a premium now. we get copper stolen out of our cabinets on a regular basis. someone even drove a tgruck thru our warehouse door to get at new spools we just bought for a job. but i agree, they are overpriced. so i go to frys elec. and buy the usb cables for 4.99. not too shabby.
 
Originally posted by: broon
I didn't see anything on my quick scan that was 100% markup. That's standard for most things. Oakley sunglasses? You pay twice what wholesale is. You must be stupid if you wear Oakleys. I would venture to say that most clothing is marked up 100% too. Buying Abercrombe or Hollister is just as dumb as buying Monster cables.
Click to expand...

ding-ding-ding!
 
Originally posted by: torpid
Originally posted by: Fritzo
Those cables all cost well under $7 to manufacture, so someone's making $$$$$$$$. What a scam. "High quality digital cables with NO signal loss" cracks me up everytime I hear someone at Best Buy or Circuit City say it. If it's digital- IT WORKS OR IT DOESN'T! There's no in-between.

Monster is a good name for the company- for Monster Profits.
Click to expand...

Wow, I can't believe there are still people on ATOT who believe that just because it's digital it either works or doesn't.
Click to expand...

also that the gauge of a wire isnt important... it determines how well your power gets across, as well as the life of the cable. its not the most important, but it is a fairly significant factor. monster cable does use many fine strands (at least the cable i got with my stereo did) and it was 12ga instead of the standard 18ga. i dont know about any others here, but we use 10-12ga for medium voltage and 18-20ga for control and low voltage for a reason. im not defending monster, i think they are a rip off too. i also think its the same as buying name brand jeans. if you want it, use it... just realize youre buying the name, mostly.
 
Originally posted by: torpid
Originally posted by: Fritzo
Those cables all cost well under $7 to manufacture, so someone's making $$$$$$$$. What a scam. "High quality digital cables with NO signal loss" cracks me up everytime I hear someone at Best Buy or Circuit City say it. If it's digital- IT WORKS OR IT DOESN'T! There's no in-between.

Monster is a good name for the company- for Monster Profits.
Click to expand...

Wow, I can't believe there are still people on ATOT who believe that just because it's digital it either works or doesn't.
Click to expand...

You're right that it's not really true that "it works or it doesn't." But with a digital signal, it's really OBVIOUS when you have a signal issue. If you have a bad analog signal you might get a fuzzy picture or some noise in your audio. With a bad digital signal you'll get blocking in the picture or obvious disruptions in the audio. So it's easier to fall for the snake oil with an analog signal, because without doing a blind comparison you can convince yourself that you're seeing a significant improvement.
 
Originally posted by: hanoverphist
Originally posted by: torpid
Originally posted by: Fritzo
Those cables all cost well under $7 to manufacture, so someone's making $$$$$$$$. What a scam. "High quality digital cables with NO signal loss" cracks me up everytime I hear someone at Best Buy or Circuit City say it. If it's digital- IT WORKS OR IT DOESN'T! There's no in-between.

Monster is a good name for the company- for Monster Profits.
Click to expand...

Wow, I can't believe there are still people on ATOT who believe that just because it's digital it either works or doesn't.
Click to expand...

also that the gauge of a wire isnt important... it determines how well your power gets across, as well as the life of the cable. its not the most important, but it is a fairly significant factor. monster cable does use many fine strands (at least the cable i got with my stereo did) and it was 12ga instead of the standard 18ga. i dont know about any others here, but we use 10-12ga for medium voltage and 18-20ga for control and low voltage for a reason. im not defending monster, i think they are a rip off too. i also think its the same as buying name brand jeans. if you want it, use it... just realize youre buying the name, mostly.
Click to expand...
Incorrect. The gauge, particularly with speaker wires, DOES matter. I don't care what kind of wire you use, if you use, say, 20 gauge speaker wire with a decent-powered amp, it's going to make your sound quality suffer until you replace it with larger wire.
 
Originally posted by: RossMAN
Originally posted by: jpeyton
Originally posted by: apac
MONSTER 4FT HDMI CABLE | $79.99 | $41.78 | $38.21

Ouch, AND how the hell is the wholesale price still 41.78? This cable is like $7 from monoprice.
Click to expand...
Methinks Best Buy would be better off burning their bridges with Monster, buying $3 cable from Monoprice and marking those up to $20.

They would sell a lot more $20 cables than $80 ones.
Click to expand...

Don't forget the $199.95 professional GeekSquad installation.
Click to expand...

Yes..."professional" :laugh:
 
Originally posted by: hanoverphist
Originally posted by: torpid
Originally posted by: Fritzo
Those cables all cost well under $7 to manufacture, so someone's making $$$$$$$$. What a scam. "High quality digital cables with NO signal loss" cracks me up everytime I hear someone at Best Buy or Circuit City say it. If it's digital- IT WORKS OR IT DOESN'T! There's no in-between.

Monster is a good name for the company- for Monster Profits.
Click to expand...

Wow, I can't believe there are still people on ATOT who believe that just because it's digital it either works or doesn't.
Click to expand...

also that the gauge of a wire isnt important... it determines how well your power gets across, as well as the life of the cable. its not the most important, but it is a fairly significant factor. monster cable does use many fine strands (at least the cable i got with my stereo did) and it was 12ga instead of the standard 18ga. i dont know about any others here, but we use 10-12ga for medium voltage and 18-20ga for control and low voltage for a reason. im not defending monster, i think they are a rip off too. i also think its the same as buying name brand jeans. if you want it, use it... just realize youre buying the name, mostly.
Click to expand...

I would say it IS the most important factor. Wire gauge and shielding are both up there, but you can add all the shielding in the world to an inadequate wire gauge and you're still going to lose significant signal strength. What is "adequate" depends on the length of the run and the impedance of the speakers, but for most people 16 gauge is more than adequate (according to someone who is much more knowledgeable than myself and most others here: http://www.roger-russell.com/wire/wire.htm#wiretable). The thing about Monster is, you can get the same quality product for much less money. The comparison to jeans ignores the fact that wires are supposed to be hidden. 😉
 
Originally posted by: Pacfanweb
Originally posted by: hanoverphist
Originally posted by: torpid
Originally posted by: Fritzo
Those cables all cost well under $7 to manufacture, so someone's making $$$$$$$$. What a scam. "High quality digital cables with NO signal loss" cracks me up everytime I hear someone at Best Buy or Circuit City say it. If it's digital- IT WORKS OR IT DOESN'T! There's no in-between.

Monster is a good name for the company- for Monster Profits.
Click to expand...

Wow, I can't believe there are still people on ATOT who believe that just because it's digital it either works or doesn't.
Click to expand...

also that the gauge of a wire isnt important... it determines how well your power gets across, as well as the life of the cable. its not the most important, but it is a fairly significant factor. monster cable does use many fine strands (at least the cable i got with my stereo did) and it was 12ga instead of the standard 18ga. i dont know about any others here, but we use 10-12ga for medium voltage and 18-20ga for control and low voltage for a reason. im not defending monster, i think they are a rip off too. i also think its the same as buying name brand jeans. if you want it, use it... just realize youre buying the name, mostly.
Click to expand...
Incorrect. The gauge, particularly with speaker wires, DOES matter. I don't care what kind of wire you use, if you use, say, 20 gauge speaker wire with a decent-powered amp, it's going to make your sound quality suffer until you replace it with larger wire.
Click to expand...

You just agreed with him.
 
Originally posted by: mugs
Originally posted by: torpid
Originally posted by: Fritzo
Those cables all cost well under $7 to manufacture, so someone's making $$$$$$$$. What a scam. "High quality digital cables with NO signal loss" cracks me up everytime I hear someone at Best Buy or Circuit City say it. If it's digital- IT WORKS OR IT DOESN'T! There's no in-between.

Monster is a good name for the company- for Monster Profits.
Click to expand...

Wow, I can't believe there are still people on ATOT who believe that just because it's digital it either works or doesn't.
Click to expand...

You're right that it's not really true that "it works or it doesn't." But with a digital signal, it's really OBVIOUS when you have a signal issue. If you have a bad analog signal you might get a fuzzy picture or some noise in your audio. With a bad digital signal you'll get blocking in the picture or obvious disruptions in the audio. So it's easier to fall for the snake oil with an analog signal, because without doing a blind comparison you can convince yourself that you're seeing a significant improvement.
Click to expand...

That's definitely true, but on the flip side I bet monster and others often claim that all the pixelation/blocking will be gone with their cables, even though it is often due to the signal coming in (from cable or satellite or antenna).
 
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