Not a Top Ten Thread this time. But lets hear it for the Audio Dealers that are truly deserving and go that extra mile for your dollar. These people never get enough credit for all their hard work.
To be honest Ebay or Audiogon is my high end audio superstore. I do my equipment research on audiokarma, 6 moons, audiogon, as well as audition friend's systems. Yes I take a risk when purchasing gear from a Ebay. However, I would rather gamble $200-$1k on pre-owned gear once loved by my fellow 'Goners or Ebay than the alternative: "The High End Shop." I have been buying gear on both Ebay and Audiogon since 2001 and have had no issues (knock on wood). Most sellers on Ebay or Audiogon are honest audiophiles like the rest of us. I am tempted however to talk with Gene Rubin.
Most of us (me included) do not have the disposable income to pay the exorbatant prices high-end audio fetch these days especially from boutique-like dealers in my area (Santa Barbara) that have little or no knowledge about the gear they sell.
Splittie, your opinion would most likely change if you meet a great dealer like the ones I and others mentioned. We all enjoy a deal and many can only participate in this hobby with the help of used websites but when you can and if you can if feel we all have a responsibility to do business with actual audio stores, after all this and other arena's for used gear wouldnt exist without them.
Funny thing when I read the forum "best retailer" I thought I don't know the best but I know the worst. Funny thing is as I read down tons of other people think the same thing that Audio Perfection in Minn is the worst. The most aragant men, and everything the other guys all said. I remember In 1992 I was shocked when they said my kef 104 where decent, but since everything I have or used is the worst and theirs the best.
Do yourself a favor. Don't go to Audio horrible Perfection and check out a great place with great nice guys called HIFI sound in downtown Mpls.
Music Direct - great folks and service Tim at Bradford's in Eugene, OR - one of the finest audio retailers anywhwere Bob November of McKenzie River Music - guitars and amps but still the finest guitar shop on the planet!
I agree about Audio Perfection not giving a red cent discount on anything. I was looking at spending tens of thousands on transparent cable and asked what kind of discount they could give for all of that and their answer was.....get this, "we feel all of our stuff is of great value already to not need a discount added on"! I could not believe that!
Thousands upon thousands for cable thats so incredibly marked high that the minute you get it home you would be lucky to get more then 50% of what you paid for it, and they say its a good value already.
The one guy mentioned stereoland instead of audio perfection and I agree. Stereoland has some decent stuff though not near what audio perfection has, but the guys at stereoland like HiFi sound in downtown Mpls are all great and down to earth.
DynamicAudio in Shinjuku and Harajuku (Tokyo, Japan). Very friendly, reasonably knowledgeable, great used stuff (I got most of my stuff there), not a very hard sell.
You are right "chadnliz" however my experience pre-2001 with audio dealers has been frustrating. I do feel guilty when purchasing online instead of paying homage to my local audio dealer. I just do not see the point of visiting my audio locally anymore or even in the LA metro area however I may checkout Gene Rubin audio in Ventura re: turntable.
Splitte do not feel guilty it is your money. Do you really think that a greedy dealer feels the same way when he is trining to push the sell????? I have exp. with at least ten dealers and from that ten maybe two are OK. Do the math. there is 80% chance that you will get screwed. So when you find a dealer you can trust try to build relationship and whatever you do, do not screw him by buying something for $50 less from another dealer who is just tring to highjack a custumer by the first sweat sell. It is not worth it trust me. Besides they all know each other so it will come back and hurt you sooner or letter. Cheers Mariusz
Not many mentions for SoCal here. DSS in Carlsbad are very helpful and happy to let you demo whatever they have whenever you want, Stereo Design in San Diego (though they won't 'haggle' much) with a very nice store and no pressure, and Weinhardt Design in LA. Although he sells a very high level MBL inventory, Mr. Weinhardt entertained me with an otherwise modest budget and provided excellent after sales service. All in all I think most dealers have realized the days of "I know more than you do" sales and name-brand elitism can't win over the values here on the internet. I always try to give them my business over the 'demo at the dealer and then buy off the internet' if they are decent sales people, and they usually come through with the traditional long-term sales and customer appreciation.
I would have to say it is Kevin Mcguire at The Sound Station in Bartlesville Oklahoma. He is has a wealth of knowlege, and willing to share it, honest, and stands behind what he sells.
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