There seems to have been quite a bit written over the past several years regarding the myriad of reasons one can attribute to the demise of the brick and mortar audio shop. Rarely have I read however one of the most obvious reasons, which based on my experience, has got to be the simple fact that for the most part, they just didn't offer a high end listening experience. That, along with an elitist and careless attitude towards customer service, buried them as much as anything else. So here's my question. Who is the WORST audio shop/dealer you've ever encountered?
John Routan is a class act. I was there last year or so. We were listening to some stuff and I realized my meter was running out. I was going to go out to throw another coin in the meter. John told me not to go- he said I probably won't get a ticket and if he did he would pay it. Didn't get a ticket.
@jafant "As above regarding all dealers/retailers in the greater NYC area, no surprise there. New Yorkers are well documented as being "rude" all around. Only suckers would patron those establishments."
I won't badmouth a store here, but I concur with some already mentioned. I will however say that John at Audio Connection in Verona New Jersey is a gentleman, knows his stuff, and cares about his customers. He actually cares to make sure you are happy. Unpretentious and a true class act. Not many shops like this anymore. Highly recommend you go there, even if it is a trek. It will be worth it.
If you want to get treated right in NYC go to Bright Audio on Ave A between 12th and 13th street . Al the salesman has been around the business for many years and knows his audio . No prejudice just good people looking to help .
As above regarding all dealers/retailers in the greater NYC area, no surprise there. New Yorkers are well documented as being "rude" all around. Only suckers would patron those establishments.
@czarivey Thank you for posting that. After 30 years, I still feel the sting of racial discrimination that Sound by Singer offered me. That they are still in business shows that sucking up to parvenu will provide you with an income. Hopefully, Karma will prevail. B
If you walk in just as a casual customer, you will immediately feel that you don't belong there and everyone wants you to make your way out.
If you shine your Oyster Perpetual on your wrist along with law-school alumni ring and dressed with top of the line designer couture, you'll get attention from group of salesman square-dancing around you to offer you top of the line products.
When I was there, I felt my gypsy skin color was to tan for'm as well...
I remember Joe when he ran his business out of a condo, and he was a pretty nice and straightforward. Years later, I went into his new, and of course larger storefront, and he wasn't there at the time. There was another gent there and it was a different , and chillier experience. Joe was an early dealer of Sonus Faber, and I remember that he loaned me a pair of monitors to try out for a week.
JS Audio in Bethesda, MD is at the top of my "bad dealer list". I replaced my main speakers and enjoyed visiting nearly all the dealers in the DC area, visiting them to audition the Dynaudio's. Strike 1: When I arrived they asked me if I had an appointment. Though I did not, they said they'd let me audition the Dynaudio's anyway. Understand that I was the only customer in the store during my visit. Strike 2: I asked them if I could hear the Dynaudio's driven by a McIntosh amp, which would have involved unhooking the speaker cables from the speakers right next to them. They very begrudgingly allowed me to move the speaker cables. Strike 3: It was the summer and the sound of the air rushing thru the HVAC system was nearly as loud as the music. They refused to turn it off for a few minutes. Strike 4: Since I'd taken the salesman's time, I offered him my business card, but he refused to take it. Obnoxious people work at this place, including the owner. Too many other places to spend my hard-earned money.
I am little late in following up but here's two examples of what I personally know occurred at the shop long out of business. A friend, now deceased, bought a lot of gear at the shop. Apogee speakers, Peaurreaux amplification, Denon CD player which in the day cost him over a grand. One day he finds no sound in one channel. We are able to pinpoint that it's the CD player. He brings the CD player to the shop, they bring it to the back, come out 15 minutes later and give him the bad news- he needs a new CD player. He thinks that's BS and brings the CD player to me. We open the CD player. One wired needs to be resoldered. That restores 100% functionality.
I go to the store as at the time they were the only place locally selling The Absolute Sound. I buy a couple of issues. He insists on charging me sales tax on magazines. There's no sales tax on magazine, at least not in NY.
That place is long since done and over with. Unfortunately, I know of four other businesses, not Audio related- where the story was the same. Dad built a great a great business and the sons destroyed the business. One of them- dad ran it "lean and mean" but the son had grand ideas which included building a fabulous office building for the company. And then the company expanded way past its core competencies. They got their clocks cleaned, went out of business, lots of people lost their jobs and a beautiful building now mostly empty still remains.
I hung out at Singer a bit back in the day, and if I recall correctly, Dave Lalin (now of Audio Doctor) was a salesman there. He always BS'd with me and let me play with the gear, even though I clearly wasn't a fat-wallet type. (I did buy a fair amount from them, though.) He was a decent guy. It's nice to know his business is doing well.
As for Andy S., well, the less said, the better . . . . :)
Unfortunately most of the stuff I'm interested in is not available locally so my recent major purchases have been online or over the phone from out of state dealers. No problems to report.
I live in the NYC area. I’ve bought and auditioned at Lyric. Never had a problem At either their NYC or Westchester store
The only really bad and outright unethical experience I've ever had was at a shop long out of business that was in upstate NY. It used to be a good shop, then the original owner's kid ran it into the ground.
I still contend that they have me mixed up with someone else. I talked directly to the then Sales Manger who said that I also call and speak to there sales staff and then don't buy anything.
The worst dealer I've had worked out of a white Chevy Astro van. He sold me some NIB speakers for cheap. I gave up the cash, took them home, and discovered the boxes were filled with old newspapers. I got even though by posting a negative YELP review, who's laughing now sucker!!!??
rsf, I don't think anyone should be required to give a discount off list, if they do, it is a nice gesture. My bugaboo is rude behavior coupled with racial/religious superiority. That they are still in business shows that there are enough people who will patronize them despite/because of their behavior. .
Why would anyone buy from AA, they charge LIST price for most items except those items they cannot even give away. There are great dealers that will give 15-25% off list!
Audio Advisor banned me because I sent a couple items back for a refund. One of the items was actually defective. So much for there money back guarantee. .
Funny that people still don't like Sound by Singer. I still remember 30 years ago, they had the same attitude. I went in on a rainy day, salesman says to put my umbrella in the stand. No problem. After listening, I went back for my umbrella and it was gone. When I mentioned this to the salesman, he just sneered and turned away. I hope more people post their bad experiences in the hopes these crappy dealers can read how much people hate them.
I laugh when guys on here tell you that you must audition and compare. I've never felt comfortable enough to spend more than 15 minutes in one of these places. Audio Advisor is a dealer that will treat you very nicely.
Taters, thanks for sharing your experience with Sunny's. I don't live in his area, but I was considering on Audiogon- I won't bother. BTW, I have heard other chatter that echoes your experience. But really, a non-refundable deposit to audition a pair of speakers!!! Thanks for posting on Audiogon, but I also suggest that you write a letter to every product manufacturer that he represents. Some dealers are better than others but that should be disqualifying. Thanks
Mr Tennis, I assure you that my experience with In Living Stereo was all too real and left me wondering what rarified world the shop keep lives in where he can afford to be so off putting to people. I had not intended to air this publicly until I ran across this thread and saw Guppy's post which so closely reflected my encounter.
i think it is preferable for people to form their own attitudes based upon their experience rather than complaining, or being influenced by the experience of others.
Had the same experience as Guppy with In Living Stereo. Too bad for them as I was considering a new Cortese. That distasteful conversation pushed me farther away from dealers and closer to the used market and I will never consider doing business with ILS again. Receiving the 3rd degree about my personal matters from a stranger is inappropriate and offensive.
Check out the "It's 2013, People" letter in the Feedback to the editor section, (pg. 11) of the newest edition, (Feb.2013) of Stereophile. That's what I'm talkin about. Jayh31
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