Karaoke Forums

I am planning to buy a pair of Mackie SRM350 speakers for home karaoke, either in my home theater or in 1500' basement, no where else.  Since SRM350 is already a big upgrade from my BMB, what do you think about B-Stock for $120 less on each speaker?  How much will I suffer in sound quality?

I have heard many positive stories about buying B-stock, but it is still B-stock for a reason. The good thing is that they have the full manufacturer's warrenties, the bad thing is that there is about a 25% chance that you will need to use that warrenty, which is a pain in the (@$%&#!).

The most common source of the B stock is opened packages that people have returned for whatever reason.

Were it me, I'd spend the extra money to get it new. The scratch and dent is another option that costs between b-stock and new prices, and have less probability of being defective!!

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C Mc
KJ, FL

I've bought b-stock before with absolutely no problems, most of the time if you buy from a reputable dealer they are well tested before they are sold.

I buy B-Stock all the time with no probs.  All B-Stock is usually is either refurbs (from manufacturer), open box, customer returns, floor models, scratch & dent, etc....  All should come with full manufacturer warranty, if it doesn't - pass!  Never needed one yet though!

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LIKE Lonman on Facebook - Lonman Productions Karaoke & my main site via my profile!

What is B-stock?

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I can neither confirm nor deny ever having or knowing anything about nothing.... mrscott

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LIKE Lonman on Facebook - Lonman Productions Karaoke & my main site via my profile!

I suppose my concern would be allayed assuming I had a better knowledge of why the business is considering the item "B-stock",  I've called and inquired, and at times gotten a response I felt somewhat comfortable with, again, depending on type of electronics item.. I wouldn't feel overly concerned with a small blemish in a  woodgrain, or open-box issue... "Refurbished" however. Not so sure what that ever means,  "rebuilt as new" ?  Serious repair made so part's are still vulerable even though company acknowledges warrantee ?? .. I've often wondered just what this means in the case of certain items, "factory rebuilt" etc. How much of a chance do we take when buying "refurbished" ?  I know we take a chance when we buy anything like this... Yet I'm not sure about refurbs..

Aren't refurbished items marked as "refurbished" ?  I thought B-stock referred usually to cosmetic, but was new from the factory.  I didn't know B stock included refurbished,  didn't think it did.... interesting..  For some reason I was under the impression that a rebuilt or factory refurbished item sold from a company must specify the item as rebuilt or refurbished.

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Northeast United States runner up for the "Singing Hall of Shame".

Refurbished usually means they replace the bad circuit board (not just a single resistor, capacitor, etc.), or bad mechanical assembly (not just a single piece), or whatever needs replacing.  They don't try to isolate a single component, they replace the entire section that needs replacing.
Refurbs are generally items that are still new, just returned because something didn't work.  Then they are shipped back to the factory to get whatever is wrong, fixed.  That's why the refurbished item still gets the FULL manufacturer warranty.  In some respects I think it's better as it is made sure to be working before it leaves the factory again.



A refurb will (or at least should) be marked as such.  But it still goes into a stores inventory as "B-stock" since it is no longer technically new.  Again, maybe i've been lucky, but I buy B-stock (including refurbs - so i'm kinda cheap  :whistle: ) & have never had any problems (knock on wood).

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LIKE Lonman on Facebook - Lonman Productions Karaoke & my main site via my profile!

That's good to know Lonman.  I never thought about it like that.  I think certain individual's (myself included) see a red flag with the term because of the stigma, "damaged but patched up so weakened"... I would like to think that not only can I save a few bucks buying refurbs, but also get an item that in essence has been through a more thorough quality control process.

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Northeast United States runner up for the "Singing Hall of Shame".

Lonman,  I too have bought a few "B-stock" guitar's.  In such cases however, I did go to the store, and scrutinize the item.  In the case of guitars, or even speaker cabs at times,  the item was B stock because of some imperfection with the wood grain that was barely discernible to the eye, something small and visual.. usually the store know's the problem, and you can see what's supposedly wrong... Believe me,  considering after one hour of playing slight scratches happen anyway, I can live with that.... I like to consider myself frugal   however I suppose cheap will suffice !


(not to mention some of the money I save goes towards the stomp box, etc)

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Northeast United States runner up for the "Singing Hall of Shame".

Yep scratch & dent sales are sometimes like Christmas!

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LIKE Lonman on Facebook - Lonman Productions Karaoke & my main site via my profile!

So in addressing the original post, would it be advantageous to suggest that even though buying B-stock seldom poses a problem in terms of funtionality, or quality he might wish to call the company for POMG, and ask them for some detail (if possible) as to what will *I* be receiving that make these speakers B-stock ?  He might find that this was just an opened box, and customer changed their mind, they are near perfect...  Why not call and ask if possible ?   Sometimes the company will take the time to see to it you get a particular item as promised on phone.

ADDED IN:

I'm the type of shopper that likes to know the company I buy from has a reasonable return policy, will issue a call tag assuming there is a problem etc.
I like to call and ask ALL questions I have before ordering. Personally, this is one of the reason's I always liked AMS.. I have found their customer service to be excellent. Haven't bought from them in a while however.  If you have 3 days, or something like that to check out the item, and if you don't like it they have a no question's asked return policy, and you don't have to pay shipping on the return....Sometimes taking a chance need not be a bad thing. I suppose we take a chance whenever certain item's arrive UPS anyway.

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Northeast United States runner up for the "Singing Hall of Shame".

A B-stock answer to a redundant question. I should have read further down.

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I can neither confirm nor deny ever having or knowing anything about nothing.... mrscott