From: niklas.holsti@tidorum.invalid   
      
   On 2026-01-23 18:37, David Brown wrote:   
   > On 23/01/2026 10:43, Niklas Holsti wrote:   
   >> On 2026-01-23 10:25, BGB wrote:   
   >>   
   >>     [snip]   
   >>   
   >>> I am currently using some ~ $35 Logitech gaming headphones.   
   >>   
   >>     [snip]   
   >>   
   >>> Granted, more expensive headphones exist, but I am not made of money.   
   >>   
   >> Indeed. I had occasion recently to inquire about headphones at a large   
   >> local electronics shop. The assistant asked for my price range, and   
   >> when I hesitated, he mentioned that their range went up to 65   
   >> kilo-euro. Talk about "framing" a price discussion :-)   
   >>   
   >> The shop had one of those items in a locked glass display case.   
   >> Reportedly each pair of headphones is hand-built. They come with a   
   >> white veined marble stand that is also an electronics box, with eight   
   >> or ten vacuum tubes mounted visibly on the top surface. The builder   
   >> comes to your home to personally install and tune the stuff for your   
   >> environment. The price, however, was only 62 999 euro; perhaps it was   
   >> discounted as a display item.   
   >>   
   >   
   > With that level of work involved in making (and installing) them, it is   
   > not surprising they cost such a lot.   
      
   Sure, plus the luxury factor (higher price => more luxurious). I was   
   more surprised that this shop -- which is not an "exclusive" luxury   
   store, although a very large one with a wide product range -- had such   
   an item, and ...   
      
   > as the quantities sold are low   
      
   ... the shop assistant admitted they had not sold a single one, so far.   
   That may be because Russia's attack on Ukraine prevents rich Russians   
   from visiting Helsinki, where the shop is.   
      
   Probably the shop only keeps this item on display to amaze the   
   customers. They also keep an old Soviet MIG fighter jet on the roof of   
   the building, and one can view it up close, even touch it. But no price   
   is listed for it.   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)