I went to a dealer last week and listen to some really sweet pieces. I was ready to throw down some coin but am confused about the dealers approach. He comes in the room and says how is everyhting. I say it is amazing this is just the sound I am looking for. He says okay and leaves. Comes back in 10 minutes and I am ready for hardball. I sit back with my hands above my head in an inviting posture and say- can you beat prices that I see on Audiogon? He says he will be right back- great i think he knows- I know my stuff. Another guy comes in and says he needs to use the room for a client. I say where is the other guy and he says he's on the phone. So I wait in the lobby for 20 minutes and don't see anyone. I left my name on a paper and put it on the desk and ask him to call me with the best he can do on the system because I can buy some of it on AUdiomart. I asked my wife and she thinks that's too hardball- maybe i should have lied and said I'm shopping around for best price. Any info on how to speed pitch softballs?
The markup of audio gear is steep. The better model is direct sales and free returns. Most modern businesses have moved to this. I understand you want to listen before you buy it. The stuff will sound different in your room. If someone sets up a service to demo stuff in your room pay them for the service it can be 20% of the price or a flat fee.
Unless the selling price is already a terrific deal I usually ask the seller if there is any wiggle room on the price. I don't approach a seller with attitude or a take it or leave it proposition. They can either discount an item or not, thats their choice. I have had some very good experiences buying from retailers and private sellers by just being respectful and sincere and making a fair offer.
You exemplify the low baller mentality. I'll post something on Audiogon for sale that was $4000.00 Price it for sale at $2000. half price then I get the Low Baller offers say a $1000.00 which is politely refused.. I'm sure you can guess the next thing is "what's you best price" my reply is always "I'm not interested in negotiating against myself" Please make a realistic offer..That'll be the last I hear from that one.
And you do realize that the Dealer is selling you new gear with a warranty and Audiogon or USA Audio Mart are for the most part individuals selling their Used Gear?
I agree with most of the respondents here. Your attitude that you are a "manly negotiator in a feminine hobby" speaks volumes of the respect you offered the dealer and you got the response you deserved.
Any decent salesperson would have asked, "What do you have in mind?" This one might have been working for a dealer with lots of tire kickers. My local store has Saturday's reserved for appointments. I like the idea, because it keeps you out, so we can talk.
Any dealer who answers the question, "What is your best price?" is a fool. Any sales person who cannot answer that question with a question needs to pump gas for a living.
Tubebuffer, Not surprised you specifically mentioned putting speakers in your gym.Honestly, I think your style is more suited to buying used cars, than it is for negotiating the purchase of audio equipment.Honesty, an understanding of the market and a less aggressive approach would get better results.
You’re confused by the dealer’s approach? Okay, I’m confused by your confrontational approach. Rather than throwing out the name of a site that sells used equipment, simply ask if there if there would be any discount if buying the entire system or with cash. Unless you’re a long time repeat customer, or you’re buying a lot of equipment at one time, OR you’re offering a way to not cost the dealer money through credit card use - you tell me why you should get a discount. It has to be a win - win situation. It doesn’t do anyone any good if the dealer gives smoking hot deals to everyone and goes out of business because they can't make enough money to stay open.
Oh yes, the Maggie. Big and flat like my first wife, except with big sweet voice, and clear purpose. I just like all of the kind advice and positive feedback. This the most positive group of people I’ve ever met in a audio forum. I pay full price for the Maggie and got a great deal on a powerful demo amplifier NAD and some good cable to rig it all together. i very satisfied with the system and the speaker mate well with my old B&W subwoofer. The only thing now is my wife complain that the speaker block and she can’t watch me bench press while she run on the treadmill. I now looking to staple them up on side walls to get out of the way.
Why would someone say "do you match Audiogon prices?". That is a ridiculous question. Some dealers sell on Audiogon. You can ask a general question after speaking about a component or two and get tactfully determine if they discount.
After they get to know you and like you, they'll tell you anything from no discounts to 15% (with some minor variation based on the manufacturer) in my experience with mid to high end stores. If they carry used gear, they probably are very aware and competitive with Audiogon in that area.
After all is said and done, you can make up your mind where the best value lies, not the cheapest price. Sometimes cheapest is best, but not usually. I have bought new, used from dealers, and only once from a very highly regarded private seller a box with no moving parts or switches (a phono stage). I like peace of mind, and in the instances of issues arising after the purchase, it is good to be able to go back to the person who sold it to you for help.
At the end of the day, you want the best value, and I consider asking a question like that kind of obnoxious. That being said the salesman could have spent another 5-10 minutes sizing up your seriousness and he could have gotten specific with you and see if he scared you off, not the reverse.
I'm on the salesman side of the equation. Not audio gear. Vented heating systems. I get the same thing. Tire kickers. That's okay but; I do have a strategy to employ when the customer doesn't seem to be moving forward. I insist that they buy SOMETHING from me so I can continue to invest my time in them! It has never failed. I'm not impatient with people. There are people who need to be nudged in the right direction when the time is right. I just had a guy who was begging me for a "deal". I told him "Buy from me and I'll work hard for my money". He did and so did I. I was at his house for 2.5 hours yesterday advising him on the installation that he is going to do. I gave him a $500.00 lifter pump (used but perfect) for no charge as he did buy three heaters from me. NOW, he is a nice guy and that goes far with me. I gave him $400.00 in free accessories because he was a gentleman and I liked the guy. Putting ones best foot forward is always the best policy. Joe
Where I'm from, we refer to insecure individuals that obviously lack mental acuity, knowledge, experience, confidence, strength and humility, but adopt various pretensions in a misguided effort to compensate, as wannabes and posers. These flawed individuals typically garner little sympathy, offering them constructive advice is usually viewed as futile, a few pointed and choice words of negative reinforcement are offered instead and we just walk on. My intent with this post was to do likewise.
sokogear:"
noble100 - looks like they removed your earlier post. I liked that better :-)"
Hello sokogear,
Your comment made me check, but it's still there on the first page of this thread. I'm just calling them as I see or hear them, keeping it simple and honest.
i did not read all the comments made by the OP but i did read his loose analogy to how he buys real estate, and in my opinion it is a classic apples to cement blocks comparison. you can beat the snot out of a real estate agent, and i have no problem with that, but i also bear in mind that the agent must take my offer "good" or "bad" to the seller, and the seller in turn can return with a counter offer or tell me to go pound sand. the agent really could care the less whether or not i buy the house or not, there seems to always be a buyer for every seller in real estate, sort of a lid for every pot. and after the sale, so long as she disclosed what the law says she has to?? then the roof leaks, or the A/C quits? hey baby its on you! so drive a hard bargain if you can? if you are lucky you live in an area where you can, in some markets, your kicking the tires means someone else has offered full price or 10% over asking and bought it out from under your expert negotiation.
as opposed to a seller of a product, who has skin in the game so to speak. he has bricks and mortar to pay for, lights and insurance to keep paid, property tax, ambiance to keep current, etc. "and" he has to put up with my "whining" and "bitching" both before and after the sale. and also put up with a certain amount of grief from folks like me coming in the door, taking up time, leaving, and coming back in time and again, only to buy it online for 50 bucks less.
compare that to the online seller, who can be a broker, reselling out of a regional warehouse, or maybe his own warehouse that may well be in an industrial area with as low rent as possible, barely lit up, using labor that knows little more than how to read a barcode. if the thing quits? then what? maybe they handle the warranty claim, maybe the refer you to the manufacture, and likely will not provide you with a loaner to get you buy meanwhile you are waiting the round trip of your product. there is nothing wrong with driving a hard bargain, just do it respectfully, and understand what and who you are dealing with and what you are getting in return. there is a way to ask respectfully for his best dollar and be friendly, and a plethora of ways of making yourself into someone that he will never sell to under any circumstances. you want the best deal? tell him you don't need any warranty help from him, you don't need an invoice, and no help loading it up or installing it, and he will never see you again.... you can get a bottom line deal under those circumstances, so long as you shoulder all the risk and take up very little of his time. i buy all manner of stuff from products to services using this method, everything from specialty building products, to atty legal fee's, to dr. visits,,, i am just prepared to shoulder all the risk, and they never talked to me. somehow i don't think the OP wants to step up and take that level of risk.
I take my damage Maggie’s back today and the dealer strike up a great conversation that ultimately really help me out. He traded me in the damage set for a new pair after I decide to go with McIntosh rig for the speakers. I was going to go with the big NAD’s like some of you like but for better sound I go with the McIntosh instead. Only other update is that the dealer wife tells me she wants to come look at my setup to consider better placement and treatments.
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