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What's your experience with snooty HiFi salesmen?

I began my Hifi journey in 1976 at a shop in Birmingham MI called Audio Dimensions. He was a Magnapan and ARC dealer who was kind to a 15 year old kid who bought a set of MG 1s with paper route money. The ARC amps he carried were about $4K back then- a LOT of money in 1976. In the beginning I drove my MG 1s with an old Fisher Studio Standard integrated amp. Since those lovely innocent days I have encountered some real buttholes. They act like they are doing me a favor as they quiz me about what gear I have and if I'm listening to "approved" recordings. Needless to say I don't buy from those guys. Several wives and businesses later I'm back into the hobby with a much vengeance as a 61 year old  can muster given only so many free hours in a day and only so much cash to apply due to my other vices: Classic cars and salt water fishing. 

Have you ever encountered a really good or really bad dealer (or employee) that changed your buying actions?

Darko posted a video on this topic which I found really enjoyable. Many of you have already seen it but for those (like me) who discovered it much later here's the link: 

https://darko.audio/2022/09/audiophiles-are-snobs-with-money-to-burn/

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webking185's avatar
webking185
189 posts
 

Snobby. Thats funny. Its like a car purchase ranked in tiers. Not many people will spend 5k on a system, let alone 100k.  In the end it plays music and no more.  Hi-fi enthusiast dont listen to music, they listen to the equipment and I have been guity of this many times.  Once the honeymoon phase is over on the.equipment, back to music.  I keep a few vintage eq to change up sound.  But for me, its all about music. If I had unlimted funds, maybe I'll spend alot on it. But right now, I enjoy what I have and its still a pretty penny for sure.  I'm listening with Luxman 590AXII with Silverline Sonata II

Tier 1

Ferrari, Lambo. Bentley

Tier 2

Mercedes, BMW

Tier 3

Chevy,  Ford

poke33
70 posts
 

Cresendo in Wheatridge Co is excellent... knowledgeable, easy to work with

poke33
70 posts
 

Upon reflection in addition to Cresendo...I have had excellent experience with Music Direct and Upscale.....

During my search I did have an amusing experience with a manufacture (US based) ... During my conversation with their TECH EXPERT... after I explained what I was looking for his next comment was "The minimum I WOULD ALLOW, was such and such components"

I just started laughing, thanked him and disconnected...  

bubba12's avatar
bubba12
429 posts
 

I wouldn’t say the stores are rude but it just always feels as if coming to listen to something for more than a few minutes is annoying to them. Not to mention the salesman standing there the whole time. Please turn me loose wit the IPad and let me listen. None of them do that. Might as well buy online or used.

overthemoon
402 posts
 

I have been fortunate when it comes to stereo shops.  And I do believe in having valuable relationships.  Over the last 3 years, I've been more active in upgrading than I expected and I think part of the reason is the rapport with the local store.

The openness has resulted in me acquiring demos or being informed of potential trade-ins from other clients when it fits into my goals. 

I'm sure they have clients they don't like to see... and when it comes to 'value' I enjoy listening to music more than ever. 

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