Topic: $499 for 5 feet of ethernet cable

[WindAndConfusion]

http://www.usa.denon.com/productdetails/3429.asp

Denon's 1.5 meter (59 in.) proprietary ultra premium Denon Link cable was designed for the audio enthusiast.  Made from high purity copper wire and high performance connection parts, the AK-DL1 will bring out all the nuances in digital audio reproduction from any of our Denon DVD players with the Denon Link feature connected to a Denon Link enabled Denon A/V receiver.  The AK-DL1 employs high level tin-bearing alloy shielding not typically available in commercial cabling, to eliminate data loss caused by noise.  Additionally, signal directional markings are provided for optimum signal transfer.  Attention to detail when building this cable was used by employing high quality insulation and woven jacketing to reduce vibration and to add durability. Rounded plug levers help prevent breakage.

It comes with a manual, as well.

[Quemaqua]

For the rich and chronically stupid.

[Xessive]

It's the metallic blue colour that makes it superior!

[scottws]

LOL, you never know.  Some people will buy anything.  I especially loved reading the part about vibration reduction, because you know, that's a major problem with other digital audio cables today.

Digital signal, people!  At 5 ft. a couple of coat hangers would probably work just as well.

[Cobra951]

I  imagine a dozen suckers a month is all it takes to make this worthwhile for them.  As scams go, this one is pretty mild.  People are told what they're getting for the money.  The selling points are pure bullshit, but at least they get the goods they expect to get.

[K-man]

Sort of in the same vein, I'm a fairly hardcore vinyl collector.  But even I have to say this is ridiculous:

http://www.bornrich.org/entry/top-10-most-expensive-turntables/

[scottws]

I  imagine a dozen suckers a month is all it takes to make this worthwhile for them.  As scams go, this one is pretty mild.  People are told what they're getting for the money.  The selling points are pure bullshit, but at least they get the goods they expect to get.

I bet one every few months makes it worthwhile.  The cable probably costs $1.00 or less to make.

[Pugnate]

Whatever the minimum production order is... say it is a 1000. You just need to sell two to break even. Then, for the next 998 idiots, you laugh at the bank.

[Cobra951]

I'm thinking advertising cost is probably much higher than cost of materials and manufacture.  It's all in the sales pitch, and that has to be hammered regularly.

[K-man]

They actually sell things like wooden tuning knobs costing hundreds of dollars and things to lay on the floor to keep your speaker wire from hitting the ground, all in the sake of improving the sound.

and people buy this shit.

[Pugnate]

I'm thinking advertising cost is probably much higher than cost of materials and manufacture.  It's all in the sales pitch, and that has to be hammered regularly.

Yea that's a good point.

[Quemaqua]

I highly doubt advertising is a big issue.  Again, if all you need to sell for profit is a couple of the things every now and again, how much ad space do you really need?  Throw it on the internet, advertise your *brand*, and eventually a few suckers will buy one just because they happened to wander into your website with too much money and too little sense.

[Xessive]

There are people out there who operate on the principle that if it's more expensive then it must by all accounts be better.. somehow. Regardless of how much they actually know about the item in question, if it's more expensive it stands to reason that it must be superior due to its higher value. The sad part is that it's very difficult to convince such people that a pricetag is not necessarily a viable measure of quality, unless we're talking about jewellery (and even then some brand names assert price fluctuations).

[scottws]

Oh, I don't think there is any question whether or not this cable is quality.  I'm sure it is.  The (rhetorical) question is whether or not it is necessary.

[Xessive]

Oh, I don't think there is any question whether or not this cable is quality.  I'm sure it is.  The (rhetorical) question is whether or not it is necessary.

Haha how do you feel about a nuclear powered wristwatch? I get you though, it's a frivolous expenditure.

[Ghandi]

$499 for 5 feet of ethernet cable

SOLD

Anything else I can buy to feel superior to everyone else?

[Xessive]

Anything else I can buy to feel superior to everyone else?

This.

[WindAndConfusion]

Personally I'd have recommended Das Keyboard.



Then again, I guess that keyboard doesn't make you feel better than everyone else so much as it makes you better than everyone else.

[Pugnate]

Yea I never got the appeal for spending more than 20 bucks on a keyboard.

I waste money on good mice for some reason though.

[scottws]

I've never spend more than $10 on a keyboard.  But I'm the same way with mice.  I've had a Logitech MouseMan Dual Optical ($40), Logitech MX-510 ($50), and now I have a Logitech G5 Laser Mouse (I think it was $60), all since around 2002.

[Quemaqua]

Same here.  Except for my latest keyboard, which was a bit pricier.  It was some Microsoft thing with extra buttons, and I don't know why I got it.  I think it came recommended from somebody when I was getting my new rig built and it was the one Newegg had at a reasonable price at the time.  I don't use any of the extra functions, but it types nice enough.  Mice I don't tend to go too crazy with either, though.  I have a Logitech optical that's pretty nice, and probably the most expensive I ever bought, but I don't think it was too expensive in the end.

[Xessive]

I paid $35 for my Logitech Cordless Desktop EX110 mouse + kb set. Handy, reliable, comfortable, and the battery life is quite durable.

[Cools!]

Denon.... go figure...