Ever feel like a "low dollar" customer that your dealer doesn't think worth their time?

@big_greg I had a thread once asking about good shops to buy used and someone mentioned Echo Audio. I immediately bookmarked them and surf them all the time. Some of the deals they have there are *unreal* and correspondence has been great. Everyone should bookmark their used page.
    
  @asvjerry
  "We're not inexpensive, but you will get exactly what you want."
  That is the perfect, perfect sales line -- because it's honest and speaks both about your company's integrity and desire to connect with the customer. And it's short.
  And I bet if someone can't afford something of yours, you offer them suggestions even if it might not mean a sale right now.

I wish it was just the salesperson. 

@oldhvymec Thanks for your story. The whole situation has a very weird vibe to it. In my story, a customer who spent $4k with you is asking about spending, potentially, another $4k and yet… And in your story, you still wind up supporting brick and mortar — but with the right kind of customer service.

@erik_squires I think they do care about the stuff they carry; it seems well-chosen. But there is, I think, a generational difference. These guys are not from a era of the knowledgeable owner and salesperson, someone much more like a trusted mechanic than a quick appliance sales guy. They are from a later era where you learn vocabulary and get a store up and running with good stuff, and then get bedazzled when a tech millionaire comes in and drops $100k on gear. Running a store and dealing with customers is pretty boring to this generation, so there better be a high payout or it just feels like *work.* (And maybe it’s just an *ethos* and not an age-thing, because I know younger people who really do care about their customers.)

@stereo5 I appreciate your story, too. Brick and mortar are becoming fewer and further between, so it’s hard to play hardball. But I know what you’re saying and wish I could emulate.

@oregonpapa I definitely come across like a middle class person; I was raised to be thrifty. I am not eager to buy something I don’t need or pay more than something is worth. That may seem to these guys like I’m cheap; what they don’t understand is that, so far, I have put together a $12k system — everything but the speakers — for $9k by buying used, open box, and demo. The money I have saved is going toward speakers and it will finally tap me out. But they have to be speakers I really believe are right for me.

@lwin Wow. That's interesting. I was really trying to avoid that conclusion, but I think we all know when we're being given "the bum's rush." I do sense that the people at my shop know their stuff and I do feel like they've dealt more than fairly on purchases. That's why I have some cognitive dissonance about this other kind of treatment. But people are complicated, and what I think folks here are saying they like about their longtime dealers is consistent respect over a long period of time. Not just one good deal.

@devilboy WTF, indeed.

@mitch2 -- You're giving me the "talking to" I probably deserve to hear -- and which I'm already telling myself, however quietly. What makes it hard is that there is such value in *hearing things* that it seems worth it to put up with some mistreatment. But you're right — it is demeaning.

Thanks for those stories. It makes me realize that it may wind up being necessary to support good brick/mortar dealers *somewhere* but necessarily down the road. I have heard numerous good things about John Rutan at Audioconnection. I'll go read about Advanced Audio, next.

@mitch2 -- I didn't get that tone at all from your comment. I was re-framing it that way because I found you saying something that I was kind of saying to myself! No worries!

@4krowme That's a great story. And I keep hearing about how much trouble the brick/mortar folks are in. But if the bookstore people are willing to walk me all over the store to find a paperback or talk to me about other books I might like, why is it so hard to do that with someone buying an amp? After all, the bookstore people are not going to sell me a $500 cable a month from now.

@gs5556 they know I’m interested because I’ve auditioned their speakers before AND I bought other gear. But your point is well taken and it makes sense. On the other hand, why would it be a waste of time to try? Isn’t that what “sales” is all about? Maybe they’re already *too* successful? I don’t think that’s it...

@fuzztone I only used the phrase "your dealer" in a weak sense — in the sense that they are local, carry gear of interest, not a lot of alternatives for try out. I’ve lived places where we said "our supermarket" because it was one of the only alternatives nearby. We didn’t like it much, but it was "our" market. But I hear you about "direct." I bought my DAC direct and am dealing direct for speakers, most likely. Thing is, I don’t object to dealer markup if I’m getting something for that. But in this case, it *subtracts* from the exchange in both money and respect.

@chorus

"The retailer offering home automation, theatre, lighting and security combo is the new survivor."

That’s exactly right. There are at least three dealers of good stuff here that are now mainly this. They still have good gear, but they’re mainly installing Push Buttons for Busy Executives. That said, at least one of them (the Totem dealer) was super helpful and good with my tryout visit there. I may go back to hear more. Problem is their gear is limited and aimed at super rich houses who want "elegant" looking gear (e.g. Burmester). So I can’t really hear more than 1 thing there.

@decooney You’re exactly right. This is my ticket to shop elsewhere. They carry Dynaudio and I’m intrigued by Dynaudio, I won’t lie. But others sell Dynaudio, too. Hell, some are even on Agon.

@fdroadrunner I love your story. Especially in the age of the internet, you can never know the difference between a "local" and "regular." It makes sense this happened in Omaha, where I’d expect people to be nicer than they might be in, say, New York (where I’m from, so I know). But as MillerCarbon points out, money can change even nice Seattle folks into keepers of dens of privilege.

@Rushfan71 I have also had good dealings with Brent Jessee about tubes and was surprised to get a nice notes back quickly from Don Sachs, Kara at DeHavilland, Quicksilver, and Vandersteen himself. Some of these sell direct, so you can almost expect that direct response (still, they deserve credit). Others sell through dealers and yet there they are — keeping friendly dialogue going. These folks all know that the audio community is not *that* large, that these are often passed down, and that folks talk to one another.

@jerbeast said:

I've been lucky enough through patience and being a thrifty shopper (ok, cheap m*f*), to put together a decent system, and try to improve it as I can.

I think that makes you a true audiophile — because you love sound/music enough to struggle to achieve it. Anyone can throw money at gear and anyone can sell to such people. The "love" root of audiophile is completely missing from those transactions.

@brownsfan said:

"borderline rude treatment in my experience seems to hinge more on being recognized as audiophile cogniscenti than looking like a fountain of cash."

That's exactly right. I have provided plenty of evidence that I am learning the terms of the audio arena and learning to listen; I'm not throwing around terms like a neophyte, but rather trying to make discriminations that will matter. That has probably soured these folks on me.
And agree — the AG forum — especially several key members — has taught me a lot. More important, they have put up with my questions and my need for clarification. The Harley book was one of the best suggestions anyone made, and I bought and read most of it as soon as I could. But this does not endear me to the audio store.

@stereo5 I wonder if you ever bumped into my cousin Hillary who lived in Northampton and was an audiophile. Would have been back in the 1980's. He had big Maggies and a sweet Denon turntable. If so, please P.M. me.

@gator899 That's a great story. It seems obvious that someone merely entering the store — no matter what their ability to spend — has already indicated 1000 times more interest than everyone else. Why that is not seen as a starting point is beyond me.

@ebm said:

If a dealers treats you badly MOVE ON!!

Yes, this makes sense. Maybe this is easy for you, but it’s not that simple for many people. In an age of declining B&M stores, really helps to audition things, and there are not many places to do that. In a single store, one might be able handle quality components or speakers from half a dozen makers. I know we can get things on trial, etc. through the mail but that is very time consuming and the shipping costs will mount up. So, it’s hard to totally break with a local shop -- unless there are many nearby.

@tomic601 Appreciate your points. There's no way I put up with abuse; what I've experienced is erratic and disinterested conduct which shows they don't care about my patronage. You and others have pointed me toward other really good dealers -- and I have noted them and will consult them if I need to.

If I was far away from these dealers, I'd not give a second thought in forgetting them forever. There are two things which motivated me to discuss the issue -- the desire to support *local* businesses and the desire to *audition* gear before paying shipping, etc. Otherwise, there would be nothing here to discuss!

@danvignau Appreciate your point and perspective. It's very important that we all consider one another's position; I always remember that the salesperson is, well, a person who needs to make a living. I try to be up front about my intentions, and I always assure them I am not just using their store so I can go buy online.  That helps, sometimes, but not always.
@tomic601 Thanks for the kind words.
@firebird66 Love that story. The way we deal with the next generation is so crucial to who they turn out to be. After all, those "young kids" will soon enough be our doctors, nurses, business owners, teachers, etc. We will be in their hands (as a generation) soon enough. Mere self interest argues that they're treated with patience and kindness, now.

“Studiously ignored” is the perfect way of capturing what I experienced, with one additional fact: I have spent money there already!

By Paul Barton you mean Paul McGowan, I think. Agree with your comment. I'm in same region.

@denverfred No worries. We Denverites stick together!
And Paul Barton is in audio, so it's a pretty nice switcharoo.

@denverfred  Now you've triggered an Agon discussion about whether it's worth paying more for an expensive, boutique "brain fuse" from an American maker or whether Chinese brain fuses are good enough. Not to mention whether said brain fuses can be tested in a double-blind A/B way and whether measurement is even up to the challenge. Buckle in.