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

I'm a careful researcher for audio gear and I also understand the value of brick and mortar stores. I am not OCD and I am not an irascible haggler. Indeed, I have told my local stores that if they carry something I like, I will buy from them and not try to find it cheaper on the net. I have purchased major pieces of gear from them.

Nevertheless, one local shop is erratic in how it treats me. Emails can take a long time to get acknowledged, and often exchanges take several back-and-forths to get clear questions answered. This shop sells gear at my price point and up to 10x more (think Wilson speakers, $7k power cords). I often feel I'm more like a fly buzzing around their heads than a valued customer trying to establish a customer-dealer relationship. I am trying to be loyal, but it makes me want to shop online. I could be reading the situation wrong, but this is definitely a pattern.

Has anyone else had the sense that they were too much of a "low dollar" customer to be worth the dealer's time?
128x128hilde45
big_greg
6,623 posts
 
@hilde45 

@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.
I'm always torn between giving them a shout out and just keeping my mouth shut for selfish reasons.  All too often I see a great deal and it's already been snapped up, but the less selfish part of me wants to see them continue to enjoy great success, so whenever anybody asks, I always mention them. 

In general, people are more likely to mention bad experiences than positive ones.
sokogear
1,095 posts
 
 If you deal with an owner versus a salesperson, you will have a better experience, just like any other retail encounter. Audio retail is a declining business, so you see stores morphing into "whole house automation" with security monitoring, multi room speaker installs, in home theaters (with chairs) and even automated blinds! Think Best Buy Magnolia....who has "designers".

I long for the good old days when there were 5 times as many (or more) independent audio stores in the area or small chains that all sold different equipment. The iPod, iPhone, internet are all hurting it, and the ones who know how it adapt will make it, and they need to treat their customers right to do so. 


schteveuhn's avatar
schteveuhn
5 posts
 
I have felt that way before, definitely, but I can remember even as a clueless high school student in our local hi end hifi store being treated with respect by a nice gentlemen named Vic! 
hilde45's avatar
hilde45 OP
4,974 posts
 
I wish it was just the salesperson. 
asvjerry's avatar
asvjerry
4,610 posts
 
I think we've moved on and into the era of the 'boutique' dealers...

To survive, they offer a 'complete package' vs. the individual item(s) of interest to that diminishing group of shoppers.

Yes, we've become dinosaurs....the digital comet struck, and the shock wave is wiping out the substanance of our desires.  We can either adapt (and quickly), or bleach our bones as the 'famliar' becomes scarcer.

We, as well as our equipment....have become...'vintage'. *G*
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