Why are Harmony remotes so ridiculously expensive?

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jtvang125

Diamond Member
Nov 10, 2004
5,399
51
91
Sure it can turn on all your devices and start playing a source with a touch of a button. But that convienence isn't worth $80 to me. And good lord some of the newer models are upwards of two to three hundred dollars. For a remote!!!

I guess this is what happens when there's no competition.

/rant
 
E

erwos

Diamond Member
Apr 7, 2005
4,778
0
76
Originally posted by: jtvang125
Sure it can turn on all your devices and start playing a source with a touch of a button. But that convienence isn't worth $80 to me. And good lord some of the newer models are upwards of two to three hundred dollars. For a remote!!!
Click to expand...

OK, so it's not worth it to you. But for those of us with a spouse who might not have memorized the "turn on TV, turn it to HDMI 1, turn on receiver, turn it to HDMI 2, turn on the Wii" combination, it is _well worth the money_. Not to mention the fact that one remote instead of 5-6 is a blessing for pretty much anyone, even if they know what they're doing.

I'm guessing you wouldn't get why I've got a $3000 receiver+speaker setup, either. "Isn't the Z-5500 good enough for everyone?" :roll:

I guess this is what happens when there's no competition.
Click to expand...

There's _tons_ of competition. Harmony remotes are amongst the cheapest, too. I bought my Harmony One off eBay for $125 shipped, and it was one of the better bits of gear I've bought for my HT setup.
 
R

RKS

Diamond Member
Oct 9, 1999
6,824
3
81
My mother-in-law watches our kids a couple times a week. I have a number of devices plugged into our tv. My Harmony 880 is the only remote she can use/uses, without it she wouldn't watch any tv (which may actually be a good thing).
 
IcePickFreak

IcePickFreak

Platinum Member
Jul 12, 2007
2,428
9
81
They're fully customizable is why. You can buy new components 2 years from now and most likely the software will have it added to the library. You can even set up custom macro commands where it will input your defined string of commands at the touch of one button. Plus if you happen to have something that isn't in their library, the harmony can learn the signals from the OEM remote.

Besides, when you have $5000+ (and this is on the low end by far) in A/V equipment, spending $100-$200 on a part that makes it all work together is money well spent IMO.
 
Shawn

Shawn

Lifer
Apr 20, 2003
32,236
53
91
definitely worth it. i could never go back to having 4 or 5 remotes and switching between them to change TV input, then switching the receiver input, then turning on the blu-ray player, or controlling the HTPC, etc.
 
J

JackBurton

Lifer
Jul 18, 2000
15,993
14
81
Originally posted by: jtvang125
Sure it can turn on all your devices and start playing a source with a touch of a button. But that convienence isn't worth $80 to me. And good lord some of the newer models are upwards of two to three hundred dollars. For a remote!!!

I guess this is what happens when there's no competition.

/rant
Click to expand...

lol, are you serious? No competition? LOL! Don't look up URC or Crestron remotes. You might have a heart attack. :) Harmony remotes are pretty DANG cheap in comparison. I personally can't stand Harmony remotes. I gave my last Harmony 550 (which was about a week old) pretty much free to an AT member. I basically traded it for two slices of pizza. :) I'm personally looking to get a URC MX6000 remote. SUPER customizable, just the way I like it to be. :)

 
palehorse

palehorse

Lifer
Dec 21, 2005
11,521
0
76
The combination of a high quality product and large market share allows them to dictate pricing to a certain extent -- even so, they are certainly not the most expensive options out there.

Most Harmony remotes are well worth the money.

/thread
 
aphex

aphex

Moderator<br>All Things Apple
Moderator
Jul 19, 2001
38,572
2
91
Having used a Harmony for the past 3 years, I will never use a normal remote again.

The simplicity in which it can work my complicated system is WELL worth the $50+ admission.
 
kalrith

kalrith

Diamond Member
Aug 22, 2005
6,628
7
81
I agree with everything on here. I don't want 4 remotes for my receiver, TV, PS3, and DVR. I also don't want to have to hit several buttons on a few different remotes just to switch between inputs.

BTW, $80 is a stretch. The 550 is frequently $50 at Amazon, Best Buy, and PC Richard & Son. It's $60 at Best Buy right now.
 
D

dwell

pics?
Oct 9, 1999
5,185
2
0
I have the 1000 and hate it only because its touch screen. Have the 550 too and would rather use that. Might sell the 1000 on ebay and get the One.
 
Kaido

Kaido

Elite Member & Kitchen Overlord
Feb 14, 2004
50,049
6,333
136
Totally worth it. TV, Receiver, Tivo, HTPC, etc., all programmed with automatic macros. My family doesn't have to memorize anything to use the media center or watch TV. It's expensive from a consumer standpoint, but like others have said once you start looking at other remotes like the Pronto it's actually among the cheapest!
 
3chordcharlie

3chordcharlie

Diamond Member
Mar 30, 2004
9,859
1
81
The batteries in my Harmony died today. It's making me v.sad having to use three remotes.

In fact, it might be worth it's own trip to the store!
 
Modelworks

Modelworks

Lifer
Feb 22, 2007
16,240
7
76
Its priced that because they can sell it for that. If they thought they could sell it for more they would.
Otherwise, its about $15 worth of parts wholesale :)
 
R

rsd

Platinum Member
Dec 30, 2003
2,293
0
76
Once you try one it is very hard to go back. Put it this way, when my 680 broke I literally had to go to the store and buy a replacement that very night. The thought of of having to drag out my 6+ remotes brought me to tears ;)
 
L

Liberator21

Golden Member
Feb 12, 2007
1,003
0
0
Picked me up a refurb for $35 at Tiger. Best remote I've ever had. You don't have to buy the $80 one if it's too much, you can get pretty good deals virtually anyone can afford.
 
Elcs

Elcs

Diamond Member
Apr 27, 2002
6,278
6
81
Im tempted to pick up a 550 for about $70 but not sure I can justify the price to replace 3 remote controls.
 
Zorba

Zorba

Lifer
Oct 22, 1999
15,613
11,254
136
I was BSing with the guy that sold me my speakers. And he was telling me how someone had just came in to buy a replacement $900 remote, because his dog chewed up the one he had bought two weeks earlier.
 
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