I work in a small B&M HiFi store founded 45 years ago. Our business is ekeing out just enough to hang on. Our customer base is ageing out...WE are ageing out! We get more calls from widows wanting to unload their late husbands' systems than "new blood". But we all are schooled in phono setup and never let a customer do it themselves (unless they insist). We don't charge extra if they buy the cart from us. That's a significant value we add compared to anyone else in our area. Service is not dead!
Am I asking too much?
I’ve been looking to finally buy the cartridge my turntable - a restored Garrard 401 with Reed 3P tonearm - deserves. So I sent a note to a local Koetsu dealer - wanting to support them over your typical big names (e.g., Music Direct, Upscale Audio, etc.) particularly during covid. Though I’ve never bought from this local place, I’ve visited them before a couple times, and live less than 10 miles away. When I asked the dealer if they provide turntable set-up — remember, this is for a $7000 cartridge — he told me that they refer people to a local company for that (which means of course at an additional charge).
wtf? So the only service provided by the local dealer is to order the cartridge that I can get cheaper on-line and then refer me to someone else to provide actual service. Anybody else have a reaction to this?
wtf? So the only service provided by the local dealer is to order the cartridge that I can get cheaper on-line and then refer me to someone else to provide actual service. Anybody else have a reaction to this?