Where are all the mp4 retailers?

[Amigajoe]

I've noticed that doing a search for 'mp4' brings up many review and news sites, plenty of 'wholesale' and manufacturer sites, but precious few people actually selling these things to the general public. I can't find even 10 separate places selling individual players. The Chinese factories seems to be cranking these things out by the shipload, where the hell are they all going?! I know you can't find them in retail stores here in the states, how about overseas? Is it mostly an Asian thing?

[lattesurf]

I guess most reputable retail stores do not simply bring in such players unless they are of reasonable quality (which remains to be seen), and generate good profits (which is very likely so).

I'm not very sure about the States, but here in Australia, some large retailers like K-mart, Target, etc, do retail such players. They are simply rebranded players going by all sorts of names but all running off the Actions/Rockchip/Sigmatel/Sunplus chipsets. Of course the prices are "Recommended Retail Prices" which usually costs double the price you'll pay for via ebay.

I've seen some posts of other members and also on youtube, buying such players from Shenzhen, China. Where it is a large shopping complex with practically every shop selling such players.

Perhaps most of these players make their way to such shops, and for those wanting a better profit would be selling via ebay.

[Amigajoe]

Well in a way that's actually a good thing. It means the market is still wide open here. ;-). Good news for me. Hopefully I'll be expanding beyond the flea-market route before long.

[geostar]

www.ebuyer.com
www.datakits.co.uk
www.mp4nation.com
www.computersupermarket.com
www.uxcell.com
www.mchmedia.co.uk
www.pockettechie.co.uk

[Amigajoe]

Yes, I find all those too, geostar(Ok, all but 1 :wink: ). Took awhile though, and most are in the UK (and not Asia?). It really just emphasizes how relatively few there are. They must be doing a heck of a business! If I have my way there'll be another one on that list, me! ;-0
I always liked 'MP4less'

[ashley_rb]

There are not alot of retailers, espiecally on ebay, that is honest sellers. Wtih so many scams going on against sellers most of the honest ones retailing cloned players are gone.

In the next few weeks, ebay is loosing a huge honest seller. He's packing it in. He was the best! Its a huge loss. He's either started or is starting soon auctioning off his stock. I haven't checked yet. Its so sad. He was the best. He would have made a great sponser here.

My friend emailed me yesterday with the email he sent out. I got the email this morning. He's contacting all the past buyers to tell them that the warranties and guarantee's will stay in place and how to contact him. It is so sad to be loosing him. After he leaves I won't be shopping on eBay for a player, and for me, I've had it with cloned players.

There are so few good cloned players left coming out of china that the rule is quickly becoming - don't buy any cloned player or a cloned player that has been branded - no acceptions - the rule is becoming No Clones.

At one time a good cloned player offered buyers a great option at a great price. Not now. If you buy a clone, expect problems and hassels regardless of where you buy it. The players coming out of china are garbage.

[knob]

don't buy any cloned player or a cloned player that has been branded - no acceptions - the rule is becoming No Clones.

I'm inclined to agree with that, If you avoid buying anything that looks like an ipod you are less likely to have any problems. :!:

I really can't understand why folks are so hell bent on getting a player that looks like a ipod anyway. :wink:

p.s. another seller to add to the list:-
http://www.climaxdigital.co.uk/epage...tore2.Shop2153
(this one's also in the UK I'm afraid)

[Amigajoe]

Well, if you check the wholesale list I uploaded, you'll see clones as well as non-clone players. The question remains the same: Who is selling them? Where are they going? Shenszen must put out 10's of thousands of these things a week, SOMEBODY must be buying them! I guess the majority go through ebay, which, as you've pointed out, is full of unscrupulous sellers. You'll find that type anywhere theres' $$ to be made, but ebay makes it so much easier and safer to be a crook.

[mastershake916]

I'm gonna buy one from this place:
http://www.dealextreme.com/


Well a big electronics store (big store, small chain), Fry's, sells some mp4 players, I remember a fake nano, as well as cheap mp3 players. I believe they buy wholesale. Also, I think I recognized one at target that I had seen at Fry's, at target, it only had 512MB while costing about twice as much as the 2GB one at Fry's.
EDIT: this is it, now it's 4GB and maybe a little more expensive.

[Amigajoe]

Yes, they seem to have some pretty good deals over there, Shake. And $90 for a 4GB 2.4" isn't bad! Thing is there are so many different models of these things being made (one email I got said 4000!)and nobody has more thsn a few. You could fill an entire store with 'em. I just wonder where they are going...