Burned out hi fi salesman

Perkadin,

My impression from reading Aaudiogon is that it is the hobby, buying, selling, and tweeking, that is of most interest. Music is only the by-product. As Programmergeek suggests, it is blending of equipment that makes the magic, and I suspect that's right for him (or her). Is there a 5% difference among cables? I don't think so. But I agree there is more than a 5% difference between a Radio Shack mini speaker and a Wilson Sophia, and not just 5% worth of preference.

db

Yep, I agree on the 5% thing too once you get to a certain level of gear. When I ran a High End Store, I would sometimes go Months without owning a system as I was never home. I was always at the store and could listen to whatever I wanted.

It is easy to get burned out working retail.

KiD

Bottom line, retail is not what it used to be and the internet has just thrown most salesmen over the edge. Most people want to pick your brain, then go buy it used on this website or others. I had one guy call me after 2 years of no communications to pick my brain about good cheap DVD players for around $200 (when I didnt sell any). He had not and still has not bought anything from me. Any professional consultants out there in other industries? Try doing your job for free......would burn you out pretty quick.

This is a funny thread, audiophiles are completely at fault for this situation.

Want 20% off or MORE! and expect a business to keep quality people around with no margin? They can't, buy mail order so you can own it, even though "it" to you really is a review, bragging rights and a faceplate? Yes I'm talking about you!

How can someone own grand Piano's and say they believe in the 5% thing? When I sold Grand Piano's they were my whipping boys for selling the Audience 72's, 1/2 the price twice the performance (nobody disagreed when they heard it with their own ears). Don't get me started on the pathetic Amati Homages. The general consensus to this thread shows the incredible lack of personal expert advice available to the High End Audio consumer. If audiophiles would on a much wider basis learn to reward good service and not be selfish by trying to save money all the time at every turn, then maybe we would know that putting MIT cables on JMLabs is a really bad idea and we'd be happier.

But it has been my experience that audiophiles do not want to be happy. Really

"I have recently sold all my SS equipment for Tube equipment."

I'm sure this was well thought out process over the phone, the reason why they were enthusiastic is they don't have any other customers. Problem with hifi salesmen is Home Theater customers stop by and once given a convincing demonstration buy a system. A new concept for audiophiles I know who must correlate their new findings and consult their elders and tiki dolls for absolution and justification.

Audiophiles amuse me to no end with their complete inability to make a calculated decision and then engage in the flip side and make an impulse buy that lands them in purgatory for another year.

Nocaster what were you looking for at your local hifi shop?
ie. What was the purpose of your visit?

Hit a nerve CS? While I agree to some of what you said, my real disagreement comes with fault. Audiophiles are not the only ones who want it both ways. What's your take on audio salons who complain about internet sales stealing customers while maintaining a website of their own which promotes worldwide sales?