So, what's with the Chicago used gear dealer who constantly advertises tons of used Wilson, (the same models for over a year or more) yet anyone who calls him to buy a pair get's totally discouraged by him on Wilson?
Is this just the old bait and switch with him having none of them in stock? Right now he must have 12 ads of the 20 on Audiogon- yet when called about actually buying a pair he doesn't even attempt to subtly switch you to something else. He makes you feel like an idiot for considering buying Wilson and will "only sell you a pair of you insis"t and then tells you "but I know I"ll only be buying them back from you".
"Why do you think he has so many Wilson’s ? People don’t keep them . "
Sad. It’s a shame really when people make generalizations like the above and try to spread disinformation. I don’t know how many speakers Wilson Audio has made over the years and I wouldn’t try to speculate, but I’m sure it is more than a few dozen. I know I have seen more than a few dozen Wilson Audio speakers myself over the years.
As a Wilson Audio speaker owner I will state with experience on my side that Wilson Audio speakers are a great addition to a stereo rig. When my speakers stop giving me goosebumps and reproducing music that moves me emotionally, I’ll let you all know that I am moving on. I don’t see that happening- ever. I’ve been around the block and I have found my stereo home.
Yes, it is true: Wilson Audio speakers require patience and skill to set up properly in a room. They also require- demand actually, the best in electronics and cabling. If someone buys a pair of WA speakers and stops short on good cabling and electronics then they will likely not be entirely satisfied with the sound. They are not the speaker to buy to make up for shortcomings further up the audio chain. WA speakers are like clear windows back to the source material. Now, don’t take that to mean I can play only audiophile recordings. That is not true. 60’s and 70’s rock sounds amazing. The bass, the clarity comes through making an emotional connection to the music. It is a matter of getting the room and the system components working together with the speakers. If I were to play you, "Ain't no Sunshine when She's Gone" and your eyes don't get wet, well you likely aren't alive.
I had a pair of Thiels before the WA speakers. What I learned from getting the system set up and working with my new speakers could have been applied to my Thiels. Almost didn’t want to sell the Thiels after I learned so much; but the WA speakers still do several things better.
Albert is only open if you contact him and make a appointment. Many high end dealers are doing this to wean out the tire kickers and cry baby's . Looking at most of these posts here now I see why . Albert has a ton of Wilson and stocks more gear than anyone in Chicago . I've been buying from him for yrs and prices are excellent . I know one thing for sure he's very good at figuring out if someone is out to waste his time . As far as the Wilson go he was trying to save you time and money and you complain ? Why do you think he has so many Wilson's ? People don't keep them .
Hey guys it’s Albert I get 10s of phone calls everyday asking the same questions. Why I have so many Wilson and I tell everyone they get traded for focals and magico for most part!! If you don’t believe these speakers exist come by there are at least 20 pairs. I don’t post them all because people would have a heart attack. My doors are open come by and see for yourself. Those that know me certainly have seen the gear. I think Wilson build a great speaker and they would be so recognized if not but note there not perfect for every environment. My doors are open you guys are welcome to come compare anytime.
Has anyone else had difficulty getting in touch with Precision AV? I have read pretty positive reviews and have been trying to get in contact for almost two weeks now over a pair of speakers listed on here, but haven’t been able to get a response. Looking to buy my first speaker system, so not sure if this is the norm
It was 3 years ago that I noticed an ad listing on his store page here on audiogon. It was for a pair of speakers that I had interest in and they were used. The manufacturer had discontinued that particular line so I thought they were a good deal and looked like new in the pictures. So I made a phone call the owner told me why buy those when he could sell me a brand new pair of the newest model for the same price and that I would really like the newer model. I made the decision to purchase the newest model and less than a week later the delivery truck backed into my driveway with my new speakers. I really like my speakers>brand new and sealed in their boxes. Even today the same speakers used for sale are more than I paid for these 3 years ago. Happy customer> Thanks Albert.
Albertportis I’ve met Him when he was still working at Van L Speakers, extremely nice guy, , after 20 yrs he is still the same guy I met.He will never cheat anyone, that I know, If you meet Him in person I bet you will like him more.He never tries to judge anyone the way other dealer. Very kind human being.i am planning to visit Him this year at his store..To see if those audio research preamp are still available.
the op posted a thread a few days earlier about trouble buying Wilson's from 3 different dealers...also issues with trades, set up, delivery/pickup...curious how this all resolved
I know which dealer you are referring to. I've had nothing but positive experiences with the gentleman. He will steer you in another direction only because he knows the best match for the system you have. He's saved me a ton of money with his expertise.
I know the dude. Young guy. He is a hustler. Always hustling. Nothing wrong with it. If you want to pay full MSRP, deal with your local 19th century shop. Nothing wrong with that either. Pick your strategy. No need to piss off in your pants.
Yes, I have been to New Orleans many times and on our last visit, my wife and I went to Wilson Audio, The Store. I agree with you regarding Doug, he is a real jack***. I bought 3 items from Albert over a 3- or 4-year period and although I spent less than 4K total, he was quick to ship, and I had zero problems. He also bought my GE Triton 2's I was selling here, and he sat on them over a year before they sold. He was quick with the payment, and I was happy. This does not mean I am friends with him, I am just a satisfied customer. I got irritated over the insinuation that the satisfied customers are his friends. I really care less about the guy. Regardless, Blessings in the New Year to you and your family.
I am not a robot, I picked 3 tractors out of the lineup.
Also if you have ever been to New Orleans and visited Wilson Audio the store, you will know Doug the original owner is the same way if not worse Except he will not pretend to have a product
Yes, I have Mr. Thin skinned. I looked at his McIntosh MC275 for a second too. They have been there for well over a year. My uncle even went to Chicago to inquire about purchasing an amplifier for me and even with a well heads up timeline, he still couldn’t get in. I ordered my Mc2301 from Audio Excellence in Canada. But here is the fun part since you asked so candidly, lol. He doesn’t bother me or sway me one bit. I’m my own individual and can make up my own mind. Some folks are leaders and some are followers. The key is knowing who you really are and what you are capable. I’ve been to some of the best Hi End stores all over the world. I’m fortunate but not everyone has that ability. If a store or a person can’t get it done especially if it is a simple process, I don’t wine about it, I keep it moving. I don’t expect you to understand. One more thing. If you want to sound smart, try not to use other folks words, it makes you sound desperate.
hes a good guy. decent prices. i dont like that he takes lousy pictures... but my main gripe is that he advertises things HE DOES NOT have in stock.
ive bought & sold with him. hes just a different cat.
I don’t know person. But I do know Wilson speakers and agree , they are junk not worth the money even used one , that’s why there is so many for sale. Happy new year to everyone
It’s amazing some of you take things literally. Apparently some can’t read what the whole message stands for, lol. The truth hurts and based on some of the responses to what I said, it definitely struck a nerve. You’re right, you don’t know me and truly your opinion don’t matter one bit. It is beneath me to be honest. Only trash looks for anything negative to make themselves feel better. If you spent your time speaking with him and built a bond, good for you, lol. That’s called developing a relationship good or bad. It’s called Motor Learning Behavior skills, lol. (Friend, Aquantis, etc). You sure as hell are defending this individual based on my and others comments instead of talking about you honest experiences, good or bad. The individual who started the post was giving his honest opinion. You don’t have to like it but it is his reality. It’s always the same individuals with the same negative nonsense. My message was meant for the individuals who had issues not for a troll to pick a comment from the whole point of the message. We see enough Karen’s on Youtube, we don’t need them on this site. Go listen to some music, and maybe you will feel better.
His friends? I don’t know Albert, just as I do not know you. I have purchased from him multiple times and NEVER experienced any problems at all. Your blanket statement means nothing, and just who are you to insinuate that everyone defending him are all his friends? Regarding your statement, I would rather talk to Albert than you, any day of the week.
I bought my Sasha 1's from Albert almost 4 years ago. I really liked him a bunch - very professional and knowledgeable. I was able to audition several speakers and he was very gracious in moving gear around. I left with the Sashas he helped pack into their crates for a nice price.
He does have a boatload of gear in his shop which is many rooms deep. He also stated he just keeps his ads running non-stop and they may not always be fully updated. He expects you to interact with him and go from there.
For those of you (which I’m sure are his friends) are defending this guy, ask yourself a common sense question. He uses COVID as an excuse when business are open all the time. So has he been to your home? He doesn’t know if you have COVID or not. How does he truly know if the Wilson or any other speaker will perform in your room. It takes more than the 4 walls in you listening space to make that aggressive decision. To me it sounds like an old 1990’s sales technique they used at a car dealership. You come in wanting to buy a Camaro and he sells you a ZR1 Corvette. At the end of the day, it is your hard earned money. Spend it how you want. Don’t get scammed by a person or a company who doesn’t know you or your situation. Remember, utilize your common sense and don’t get suckered.
Thank you Albert for great help and with my purchase of a pair of REL Carbon Specials! Super service etc! Also thank you for help with my REL Bassline Blue cables! Ken
He rarely replies to an offer. I admit they are lower than asking but he sits on products for years on end. All dealers need to understand that I'm not lowballing you if your product hasn't sold in a year. You are highballing me. Anyway I usually give up on these guys. So much easier dealing with fellow audiophiles.
i have spoken to albert several times over the years, always fun conversations, pointed sometimes but he is definitely a guy who feels out who he is dealing with in early interactions, as most sharp retailers in any business do
certainly not vouching for him nor his business practices, but i would say, as we all get older, we often get somewhat crankier in our day to day disposition, and extensive knowledge in a subject often leads to one also being opinionated and even directive, as a matter of human nature ... so not surprised albert has gotten this way (or maybe he was always this way 😆)
i just get pretty amused when folks like the op posts something like he did, but now -- he wasn’t naming names 🤣 ... thinks that lil ol qualifier coats him in teflon and kevlar from incoming...
...and he says he used to run a hif retail shop in new jersey... this would be the least street smart retailer in the state 😂
I tried to get him to sell me one of these two Rel S/3's 4 years ago and he wouldn't break up the pair. I've always wondered what the heck was going on to have them years later, but maybe he does, maybe not. The mystery is getting free advertising.
Hi all, FWIW I too have dealt with Albert multiple times and there are shreds of truth in these posts from both sides. For reference I just scanned a small video I took when I was in there in the spring and there are multiple Wilson’s in the shot. So he does have them and I don’t believe there’s some mischievous bait and switch plot going on. I’ve also had him talk me out of Mac gear before. When he’s not a fan of something he’ll tell you as much. I’m in sales and I respect that vs. just telling the customer what they want to hear. Look it up it’s called the challenger sales model. You earn trust by being honest. I would agree it probably hurts his business overall, but can respect it .
So is he difficult to deal with, sometimes hard to get ahold of….etc yes. Does his style suit everyone? No. Will he open his very prodigious showroom and let you demo for hours with little to no pressure? Absolutely. I’d have no problem working with him again. And as someone else mentioned his deals are very fair.
I had a similar bait and switch interaction with Albert Portis. I was interested in either one of 2 AudioQuest Niagara 7000 Power Conditioners he had listed on Audiogon. Since he had 2 listed for weeks I did initially low-ball my offer and was turned down. Another week or so later I decided to meet his asking price (it was still well below retail). When I made the full price offer he told me 1) the double listing was Audiogon’s mistake, and 2) he had “just sold” the one 7000 he was listing. BUT he could offer me a like new (out of the box but never titled) PS Audio PowerPlant 15 with full warranty for about 1/2 list price. I had been debating between these 2 units and the deal was great so I went for it. In AP’s defense, the unit arrived with factory cellophane still on it and appeared brand new. The unit worked great and later when I had issues the unit was replaced by PS Audio so it wasn’t a knock off. Note: This was well before COVID so that is not a factor.
So while I did end up a satisfied customer, I wasn’t comfortable with the process. It seems like this is a standard mode of operation for him. Agree with others that he is extremely knowledgeable. I will purchase elsewhere going forward.
on the phone he told me its junk and that hes a luxman dealer and can offer me the 900u for $11k new. He was helpful on the phone but yes he tried too hard to redirect my purchase and thats what lost him the sale
I live in the area and honestly thought about it but passed.
There is a vivid/gryphon dealer nearby and i wanted a particular gryphon amp. A foreign guy who is a penny pincher.. he was irate that i wanted to use a credit card even though i offered to pay 1% of the 2% fee. No discount at all on amp or cables and he was a big baby. made fun of my demo music as well apparently hes a classic pianist and my selection of certain songs he made sure to show his displeasure
Wasnt pleasant to deal honestly would rather have done business with albert but at least i got the amp i wanted
I have had very positive experiences with this Chicago dealer and have personally met with Albert at his store in Chicago. Earlier this year, I drove +3 hours one way and I spent about 4 hours with him demoing different equipment from brands like: Wilson, Magico, Martin Logan, Focal, Luxman, Boulder, Aurender, Lumin, McIntosh, to name some of the product I listened to as well as different cabling options. All in, I learned more that day than I have about product, etc. than in many years listening to different products all over the place. He explained to me in layman's terms why the pairing of certain components/equipment and manufacturer's worked well together (or not) then we would listen to it and he was "spot on" 100% of the time. Having said that, I felt no pressure, and the reason I did not buy the Wilson Alexia II's was that the blue color would not work well in my house considering color schemes in my listening area. He absolutely would have sold me the speakers that day and I came prepared to drive them back home with me had that color been more palatable to my room. I can't speak for other's experiences; however, Albert has been extremely kind and giving of his time to me. He even offered to drive, set-up and take my trades the 3+ hours one way.
Based on my experience with Albert, I would try to connect with him on the phone, as he is an incredibly knowledgeable dealer. Albert legitimately knows the retail audio world including pricing, +/-'s of different brands and how they work together, as well as being "wired" to any brand you may be seeking at amazing prices.
So, what’s with the Chicago used gear dealer who constantly advertises tons of used Wilson, (the same models for over a year or more) yet anyone who calls him to buy a pair get’s totally discouraged by him on Wilson?
Is this just the old bait and switch with him having none of them in stock? Right now he must have 12 ads of the 20 on Audiogon- yet when called about actually buying a pair he doesn’t even attempt to subtly switch you to something else.
haha -- well no you didn’t call him out by name... check...
don't want to start a flame war ... er... check?
perhaps the worst insult of all is when you think everyone reading your op is stupid
This guy has had a McIntosh C-53 integrated amp for sale for many, many months. When I used to own a McIntosh 6900 integrated amp, I was interested in his C-53. The Absolute Sound Paul Seydor raved about it just like he did a few years back about the very successful C-52. I wrote to the dealer asking why the owner had traded this newly released integrated so quickly. His comment was 'People buy McIntosh for the blue meters but performance is not that great". I wrote back remarking how strange it was that he was dissing the very product he was trying to sell. So he was either very foolish or fatally honest. I decided not to make an offer on the unit as I had a very bad feeling about this guy - classic smartaleck.. I decided I would never buy anything from this dealer. I eventually purchased an McIntosh MA-325 hybrid integrated amp from a reputable dealer in the Phoenix area and contrary to the Chicago dealer's remark, I think the McIntosh unit (my third) performs just great!.
Cowen217 these companies never use top Xover parts They bought Rel caps they are good but far from tops like#1 Duelund the others between 2-4 all are close at this level ,Milflex, Jupiter ,VH audio which Copper foil
is the best ,Silver foil better detail stil most use metal particles sprayed on plastic poly caps , and Resistors Mundorf New, and worlds only Audiophile copper foil resistor best detail without question Magico now starting to use from A5 on up ,
psth audio is a close 2nd a bit warmer but not quite as detailed .
inductors Jantzen are a great buy and excellent quality their copper foil waxed paper inductors much less then Duelunds inductors but very close , Jantzen copper open coil are great for Bass. Just go to Humble homemade Hifi capacitor rest
this is a capacitor cook book very accurate Wilson’s caps are rated around a 9
Uh, I've never named the dealer in any of this conversation, not looking to start a flame war. Other's have and have indicated similar experiences but I've not named the dealer.
I have bought and traded with uncle Albert before .
he is honest and gives very fair dealers .i may buy from him again next year
if I don’t but my MBL monitors ,r Martens ,Wilson Sabrina2 I was looking for used
but in high demand , many great used Wilsons , myself I rebuild the Xover to very high quality standards having 20 years in Xover rebuilds it is a great way to get a great speaker and make it even better.
1. albert portis sometimes posts on this board, perhaps he will chime in
2. retailers will often skew their sales pitch towards what is in stock... that is human nature, it takes an exceptionally high integrity retailer who is hungry for a sale to not do that
Yep, I used to run a hi fi chain in NY/NJ years ago - we had loss leaders (but we did really have them in stock and would happily sell them), we used them to attract customers on big holiday sale events...
I had a different dealer try and talk me out of Harbeth 30.2's saying the 30.1 were just as good. Of course, he didn't have any 30.2's but happened to have two used pairs of 30.1s in stock. Interesting.
Also, I used to work at a mid-fi audio store 30 years ago in the NYC area, and we always advertised product that we didn't actually want to sell at the advertised priced. Bait and switch is a long time practice. Very hard to prove, this guy may or may not be doing it, I've no interactions with him so no opinion on that, just talking about what I have experienced.
Could the dealer have been steering you away from a poor fit, in his opinion, with your room and/or associated gear; or did he just trash the speakers?
Most of the threads you have started are complaining about others. This may be legit, but maybe your style of communication is challenging for some? Just a thought, but I also know that dealers are busy and needing to sort real buyers from tire kickers, etc. Good luck getting your speakers in any event.
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