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General Asylum General audio topics that don't fit into specific categories. |
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General Asylum General audio topics that don't fit into specific categories. |
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In Reply to: Re: The problem with Hi-Fi dealers (long--me too) posted by Sam on July 19, 2000 at 23:35:18:
I realize that my point doesn't come across very well in writing. The key issue in my experience with them is that I was insulted by their *attitude*. On the surface their actions could be considered reasonable. However the manner with which they treated me was obnoxious.To clarify:
1. At the better stores I've been do (SC Sound Gallery, The Audible Difference, Music Lover's Audio, Future Sound) price is never mentioned unless I ask. It would have been okay if he simply asked me what price range I was looking for. He also had to spit prices in my face (trying to intimidate me) and IMO that's rather crass. At the stores mentioned above the salespeople simply allowed me to listen to all ranges of their equipment--from their budget systems to their $50k+ systems.
2. I understand that video displays in home theater rooms are mandatory. However they had THREE displays running on all THREE sides of the room. How hard could it have been to turn off just the ONE in front of me, inbetween the speakers I was trying to audition?
3. He noticed my disappointment when the air conditioning ruined the mood. I sighed visibly. He apologized. It would have been nice if he made an effort to improve the situation (words only go so far).
4. Again, tone of voice was critical in that exchange. It's totally okay to me if someone can't answer a question of mine. I just hate it (REALLY HATE IT) when that person gets defensive about it. My read on that situation was he felt defensive because he was losing his "superior" position as the "high-end audio" salesman dealing with a young snot who should be grateful that the powerful salesman deigned to spend his time showing me his equipment.
5. He switched speakers, which was nice, but what I neglected to mention was he never offered me the remote or told me to feel free to adjust anything I wanted. Initially, I had to get up and turn down the volume myself and feel rather self-conscious about it. I also felt compelled to ask if we could change the CD. Again, at other stores this didn't happen--I'm put at ease by the salesperson who tell s me how to operate the remote, to make myself feel at home, etc.
6. You have voiced what I perceived to be the mentality of the salesperson PERFECTLY. It is this snobbish attitude "you are not seriously comparing the two sets of speakers, and are probably more interested in hanging out then buying anything" that holds the high end audio industry back. Must every single person who walks through the hallowed doors of the high end audio shop be of the mind to drop several thousand dollars on a purchase RIGHT THEN?
Every single high end audio purchase I have made has been done after conducting thorough research. I am willing to pay full retail at a audio dealer (cf. my Vandersteen 2CE Sig purchase), knowing FULL WELL that the audio dealer charges quite a substantial markup on every single item, only if I feel I have gotten my money's worth from said audio dealer. Thus I auditioned the Vandersteen speakers THREE times for periods of over an hour each, thanks to the cordial and patient attitudes (if rather laid-back) of the The Audible Difference salespeople.
I have spent over five thousand dollars already on audio equipment and I intend to be spending quite a bit more as my finances allow. I will NOT, however, be spending it on establishments that take the idea of being an "establishment" at face value, if you know what I mean.
Lastly, I was more than courteous and respectful to this salesperson at Audio Perfection. In fact, I think I was *too* courteous to him and did not command enough respect for myself. I'm sure if I dressed in a suit and parked my car conspicuously at their entrance I could have commanded HIS respect, but to be frank, I don't want respect from losers like him.
Andrew> Let me see if understand this. The salespeople are "f*cking bastards" because:
1. He asks you for your price range, and tells you they have speakers from $300 to $30,000? Seems
like a reasonable question to narrow things down a bit.2. There's a video display on in a home theater room.
3. He apologizes for the air conditioning noise which he doesn't do anything about. Did you ask him
to?4.You ask a few technical questions they can't answer, so they parrot some info from the sales
literature, which includes the word "anechoic".5. He switches speakers when you ask.
6. When you're asked if you want to switch back to the first speakers, they are annoyed when you
say it doesn't matter. "It doesn't matter" tells them you are not seriously comparing the two sets of
speakers, and are probably more interested in hanging out then buying anything.Courtesy and respect go both ways.
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- Re: THE PROBLEM WITH HI-FI DEALERS - AndrewH 07/20/0001:18:49 07/20/00 (0)
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