So I am closer and closer to cough up the moolah for an espresso machine and grinder. I have looked around at a couple of online stores, but it seems they all have pretty much the same standard prices for all the different models I have looked at so far. Is there any online store recommendations with the lowest prices? This stuff is already way expensive and overpriced, so I would appreciate some saving when I can. Links would be nice

From How to choose an espresso machine and grinder at the "right" price:

HB wrote:Q. What are your recommendations for buying espresso equipment?

A. Keep in mind that when buying new from a reputable vendor, a lot of what you pay for is service after the sale. The espresso equipment we discuss on this site has a small, specialized market. While everyone enjoys a bargain, if something goes wrong with the equipment later, you may regret saving a fraction of the purchase price when parts/service/advice are needed. As the website owner, I am admittedly biased, but I believe the HB sponsors are among the best vendors on the Internet; you can find them listed under Commerce on the Resources page.

dgasmd wrote:Snip...So I am closer and closer to cough up the moolah for an espresso machine and grinder... This stuff is already way expensive and overpriced, ...snip

Compared to what?

While I understand what has been said above about service post sales and such, I also understand that some vendors provide equal post sales service at lower prices. Sure, this stuff is overpriced in relation to a lot of other things. And just because some other things are also equally or more overpriced, it does not make the prices any less ridiculous. $2000 for a coffee maker? Does it make great coffee? Sure it does, but it is still ridiculous to pay $2K for it. Don't get me wrong as I also have dropped coin on equally ridiculously priced things, but it is what it is.

Thanks for the replies anyway, and I will look at the different vendors/sponsors here.

Randy G. wrote:Look at it this way:
Approximate value based on street prices:
One Vibiemme Double Domobar = $35/lb.
One Seydel 1847 Classic harmonica = $584/lb.

Petrossian Ossetra Caviar, 4 3/8 oz. = $1,523 ($5,570/lb.)

This thread has exactly one helpful post. You guys take no mercy.

Most stores sell the same machines for the same prices. If there was some secret source which sold great machines for less it wouldn't remain secret for very long. But, that's by and large, not possible anyway. There are a number of reasons for this; for one, many manufacturers won't deal with retailers whom they feel discount too much -- or at least advertise very low prices.

If you want a big discount you either need to negotiate it with the usual negotiation tactics, get luck and buy barely used, etc. Never assume that the price you see on the internet is the retailer's bottom line. If you want to buy for less, start by asking. The question mark is a powerful tool.

However, since prices are so similar the real differences in retailers are in pre and after-sales service. And, with something as complicated as an espresso machine hand-holding in making a purchase and getting repairs is worth quite a bit.

BDL