No offense but these anecdotal, individual encounters don't say much about a business, in my opinion. Every retail outlet has its pluses and minuses, including Goodwin's. The guy you mentioned is probably the new person at the counter - I've spoken to him a number of times and i'm sure he'll work out his style. I've bought a few things at Goodwin's and have no complaints at all. But they serve a particular market (High End, as in their name), so if you're looking for warm and fuzzy, or good value for the mid-range consumer, Goodwin's ain't the place. You could try Q Audio in Central Square. They've always been a great resource in my opinion, and Dariusz won't sniff at a Sumiko Pearl.