off topic
david,
I’d love to support local dealers. I traveled to see one of 2 pairs of SE’s that I found for sale in the US. Went to see a demo pair and was prepared to come home with them. I thought I was going to the SF dealer, turned out was not the SF dealer, and were 2nd hand. The addition didn’t go well for me and I left disappointed and had written of the SE as a fit
Wanted to make the most of the trip so visited so other dealers. Turned out I did make it to the SF dealer and heard the SF bookshelf speakers only. Great sound but not the right fit. Story ends with me believing in the potential of the SF line although I had lost the belief in the ones I heard.
The other set were trade ins with an SF dealer that knew the product well. In the end an SF dealer got my business and I feel like although way far away, he’ll be my go to guy for all my future needs. The guy with the original pair had the chance to lose my business and that’s what happened.
The local SF dealer gets gold stars from me, yet they didn’t have what I wanted.They are 1st rate and if I wanted new models of Wilson or a few other lines, I’d be doing business there.They offer value to their clients.
I get the push pull of the struggle with local support vs long distance purchases. as consumers things are hard now and I think we have to balance the value a local dealer brings with everything.
On my trip I also wanted to audition a particular amp. Lucky for me I called the dealer before wasting another 4 hours of travel. Although they are the dealer in this part of the country, they had nothing of this brand. No inventory, no stock, no demo gear, nothing, they could order what I wanted. So as a consumer, where is the value and why should I take my business there?
Now that I have a connection with the dealer in a far away city. He knows my desires, has the knowledge of the lines, and I feel like I’m going to be taken care of.
Not local, but for me, I’m gonna get my guy on the phone and take my business there 1st.