I recently visited my local retail dealer of 10 years, Digital Ear of Tustin California. I was there to audition digital equipment. The storeowner questioned me as to where I purchased my current equipment (Thiel 2.3’s, Pass Labs x-150, x-2, Harm Tech Pro-Silway mkII, and Pro-9 all brands they carry). I explained to him that I have purchased all of my equipment from other authorized dealers and from Audiogon. In his rage, he said “because I did not purchase any items from him, that he was not going to let me audition any equipment, without purchasing it today.” I explained to him that I have always given them my first offer before purchasing elsewhere. Today, I was told by the sales manager, that “we don’t have a home auditioning program, and a 25% restocking fee would assessed, should I chose to return any equipment.” I have listen to equipment at the digital ear for over 10 years, and of course they let me hear the $50,000.00 system first. To my discouragement, high-end audio was only a goal. Now that I’m older and wiser, I’ve been banned for life. Digital Ear has no class or customer service. I am going to file a complaint with each and every manufacturer that they carry. Dealers often complain to manufactures that they can’t be competitive in retail environment. Manufactures need retail shops to sell their equipment. The Internet has brought the audio market to a competitive environment. Where is the balance? How would you have it? Has this ever happened to you? Any suggestions from the fine folks on Audiogon would be greatly appreciated. Banned for Life Al Bundy Ladies shoe salesman
I don't blame them for banning you. It seems all you have used them for is to audition components you never intended to buy from them, thus wasting their time. You used their services and then bought elsewhere to save a few bucks. Well now, my friend it is payback time. How can you complain that "Digital Ear" has no customer service when clearly, you are not a customer! Think about it ....
You are *older and wiser* ??, I don't think so. Gee, now you will have to go to another audio store. Wow, I bet they can hardly wait to have you spend the next ten years listening to their equipment, and not buy anything. If Digital Ear had any sense you would have discovered your new audio dealer about 9 years ago.
Sorry Albundy, no sympathy here either. What you have done with this dealer is pathetic. How would you feel if you were in their shoes. You may be older but I seriously question if you are wiser.
Same response here. People who think as you do, that the world owes you and you owe nothing in return, will be our undoing. When I give to a local dealer, I get advice, good future deals, and last but certainly not least, a friendship. This is not a one-way street!
I'll probably get "slammed" for saying this but here goes anyway! I think there are two sides to this story. As a small manufacturer we support dealers, as long as the dealer gives added value to the products he sells. I agree that dealers should not be used as a half-way house for someone to just go in and audition gear and then go and buy as cheap as possible elsewhere. If this happens the dealer is not doing their job (i.e. they should be asking certain questions early on that will enable the dealer to very quickly identify the serious audio enthusiast/purchaser and know that they have a good chance of an actual sale even if the client could buy elsewhere for cheaper - back to service and added value from the dealer). If Albundy has been going to this same dealer for 10 YEARS the dealer must have been happy for him to keep coming in and listening without buying, otherwise this would have ended 9 years or more ago? So what kept the dealer happy all this time until now? What kept Albundy from actually buying anything from this dealer? What changed the balance recently? It would be interesting to get the dealer viewpoint on this. My 2 cents worth, regards, Richard at www.vantageaudio.com
The question Al, it seems to me, is "have you bought equipment from them regularly in the past?" If you have only auditioned there (and brought home equipment regularly), and then gone for the lowest price elseswheres, then I would say neither of you has acted in a responsible manner. You for not being honest and the dealer for being rude. You should have known by now that this dealer was not providing equipment at the price you want to pay. The dealer also could have handled the manner more courteously, explaining the costs involved in running a high end shop. I buy mostly on net but would not feel comfortable going into a shop, spending lost of time auditioning, taking equipment home!!! and then looking around for the cheapest price. I buy lots of stuff on the net, but realize that I cannot then take a lot of a dealer's time and equipment without a realistic intention of buying from them. Sorry, I know its a dilemna, but not much sympathy here. However, the advantage of buying here is that if you don't like, all you're probably going to loose is the shipping costs and some time, if you keep your equipment up and buy at a good price.
I was starting to give-up hope on the human race with their lack of morals and values. I have a new sense of revived optimism in reading most of your responses. Anyone that would support what Albundy has done, please go to your parents and inform them that you did not raise you properly. Go to your parents and let them know that they did not teach you right from wrong. Digital Ear is also in my back yard, and it is of the highest quality. The fact that they have been in business for over 10 years demonstrates my point. There is good and bad with the Internet, unfortunately small businesses receive most of the bad.
Sounds like the guy finally wised up. I am sure they would credit the 25% re-stocking fee towards another purchase, but I suppose that wouldn't work for you since you have no intentions of buying anything from them. You are the reason it is difficult to get loaners from hi-fi stores that do not all ready know you. Thanks for nothing.
Sorry, I agree with the above masses. I wanted to audition a The PS300 and a power cord from a local dealer I've bought from for years. I saw the power cord in an Audiogon ad and called to see if the price he had (about 30% above the going rate on Audiogon) was a firm price. I explained that I wanted to try it and the PS300, but was not comfortable "using" him if I knew I'd buy elsewhere. As a small dealer he couldn't come down on his prices so I thanked him for his time and told him I just wasn't comfortable trying his stuff, even though he still offered. P.S. I still haven't heard the PS300, that's the down side of shopping for deals, no trial. I've saved maybe 40-50% on my total system so for me it's worth the isolation of not having a local dealer. I've got Audiogon, and alot of great people and a cheaper system, LIFE IS GOOD! J.D.
Disagree, Liz. This clown has visited his "local dealer of ten years" yet has not purchased a single piece of equipment from them. His "dealer of ten years"? What is that. Is this the audio equivalent of the public library? Sorry, but this guy is out of bounds. Ten years of auditioning and never making a purchase? No way. I value relationships with dealers in my area and have purchased both new and used gear from them. At times I've paid a few more bucks than I could have elsewhere. To me, that's the price of a relationship that has value. Like many things in life, it's a two way street. On some days you give, on others you take. By the way, Digital Ear is not going off the deep end or going out of business -- very viable operation. I enjoy and respect your posts but I wholeheartedly disagree here. If I were the dealer I'd get the nail gin and two by fours.
Disagree, Liz. This clown has visited his "local dealer of ten years" yet has not purchased a single piece of equipment from them. His "dealer of ten years"? What is that. Is this the audio equivalent of the public library? Sorry, but this guy is out of bounds. Ten years of auditioning and never making a purchase? No way. I value relationships with dealers in my area and have purchased both new and used gear from them. At times I've paid a few more bucks than I could have elsewhere. To me, that's the price of a relationship that has value. Like many things in life, it's a two way street. On some days you give, on others you take. By the way, Digital Ear is not going off the deep end or going out of business -- very viable operation. I enjoy and respect your posts but I wholeheartedly disagree here. I wouldn't blame the dealer if he ran for the nail gun and two by fours on this one.
Second post better reflects my opinion. In retrospect, I would not -- could not -- use a nail gun and two by fours on this character. On the other hand, I would not -- could not -- blame the dealer for doing so. Who am I to judge ;-)
I am suspicious that this post is a set up. Albundy? Anyway, I think we all need to consider that local brick and mortar businesses pay taxes and employ people within their community. This counts for something! Those of you who don't have your own business may overlook this, but I urge you to consider it. If they are close in price and you enjoy their service, they should get the sale whenever possible. Wait a minute, I'm slippin' on this damn soapbox.
I know it is not becoming to go against other's in the audio industry but Digital Ear trully tested my patience. Their attitude was very uppish. I have been to tonnes of hifi audio shops including the really really fancy ones in manhattan and no where else in my life have I felt so insulted. I went along with a friend of mine who was starting to gain interest in audio. It was a sunday afternoon and we were dressed casually. i wanted to hear the 1.6QR maggies as my friend wanted to set up his first system and I thought the 1.6's was a good place to start. I was appauled by the response from the store-owners...not only did they refuse to let us hear the 1.6's thinking we couldn't afford it ...they were extremeley rude. My friend thinks this has something to do with our race as we are not caucasian white...but it was trully insulting...we were literally thrown out of the shop. I understand my audio gear is very moderate and my entire system cost less than 20k (less than an ML No: 33) but so was what they had displayed in their showroom...inexpensive parasound and adcom gear that even goodguys carry these days....and they literally threw us out of the shop.....I wanted to give that boy a piece of my mind by telling him how much microsoft paid me...but i thought it would be as cheap as what they did If you are a store owner...from personal experience...dont treat anyone bad...especially if they dont "look" like they can afford it....things may not be what they seem...and people have different passions..not all may want to be decked up in Armani 24-7
Subdoofus, I couldn't agree with you more. I am an engineer and I never wear a suit or even "business casual" (ok maybe a couple times a year) but never on a weekend shopping for audio gear. There are two high-end stores in my area, one I refuse to do business with because they ignore me when I walk into their store. I have to help myself to the equipment and when I do, they seem bothered that I'm touching their precious electronics. They become pushy asking me how much I expect to spend on a system today. I already own a "system" so usually I'm looking to upgrade a piece. Their college drop out sales people all wear white shirt and tie and most of them aren't even pressed and neat. I probably make several times their income in a year but I don't wear it. I wear blue jeans, sandles, and t-shirts. Because of the way I'm treated at that store, I *do* use them sometimes for auditioning gear then I leave and *buy* used on the internet or from an internet dealer. Lately I just avoid them and steer my friends to another dealer.
By contrast, there's another dealer in the Denver area who's been in the business a long time and he basically runs his store out of his house. It's an older house but large and well kept with a huge basement for the home theater gear. He carries some high-end brands and some value brands and he encourages me to play with anything I like, offers to loan equipment to me for a week at a time or longer, and gives me a 20% discount off the top w/o even asking. Anything I audition from this store, I buy. Just this past summer I bought my tube amp, a tube preamp, and FM tuner from his store. In this case it wouldn't be right for me to save a couple bucks buying off the internet. I value his service and fair price. But if there's a piece he doesn't carry and the other store does, I'll *use* the other store and buy from an internet dealer.
unfortunately for some of us in sub metropolitan areas(the boon docks) there are no small local dealers of high end equipment, i believe due to the emphasis on home theater and loss of interest by people under 50 in jazz or classical, as well as price shoppers and the internet. i envy those who can audition equipment at home on loan from local dealers before purchase. window shoppers, or price shoppers leave me cold! in my experience dealers who saw you as a regular, not necessarily exclusive,customer were willing to discount the price of their products. when you bought from them they knew you and were helpful in getting your equipment serviced, including boxing and shipping off to the mfg at times. in a perfect world these business' would suceed, however with the internet and price shopping they have not received the support needed to survive. i have no sympathy with anyone who conducts themselves as this gentleman did. he should be transported to audio hell, i.e. ny city where his attitude would be consistent with the attitudes of the audio salon owners there.
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