What Are Your Audio Morals?


Assuming:

A. We all want to audition equipment before we buy it;

B. We all want the most for our money;

C. We all can find the same equipment cheaper on the Internet than from high end dealers;

D. We all know that you can't audition equipment on the Internet.

Therefore, the question is: How can you morally audition equipment at dealers when you know you won't be buying there?

After all, the dealer is giving you his time, his advice, the exclusive use of his listening room (all at the expense of customers who may actually biuy from him), a pro-rated percentage of wear and tear on his equipment, and a pro-rated share of his rent, electricity, salaries, advertising, taxes, maintenance, etc.

What do YOU do when you want to audition equipment? Do you:

1. Use your local dealer and buy from him?

2. Use your local dealer and buy elsewhere?

3. Don't use your local dealer, but buy elsewhere as long as you can return it?

4. Take a chance and just buy based on reviews, thinking maybe you can sell it if you hate it?

5. Other?

BTW, I am not a dealer. I'm just aware that if we all use dealers as free audition services knowing we'll buy elsewhere, local dealers will soon be extinct.

Maybe that's OK. Perhaps, with the advent of the Internet, local dealers serve no purpose anymore. That may be a future topic of discussion.
plasmatronic
Jhunter, those are the guys. I've found them to be the most helpful and upfront reseller in the area. My initial joke aside (note the smilie, morons), they carry a good variety of excellent products, don't mind answering questions and keep reasonable hours. They even have a smidge of used equipment for sale. The owner, whose name escapes me, is especially pleasant. BAA does have a BIG focus on custom installations of HT systems which according to the owner is really their bread and butter. Hey, whatever keeps the doors open, right? Highly recommended store.

On the subject of the negative voting, I checked yesterday before allowing myself to get good and agitated. From a high of over 70+ in both categories I'm now down about -10 in each. My goal now is to irritate Arnie's Kids to the point that Agon kicks me off their site. At this rate it shouldn't take much more than a week. It'll certainly free up a lot more time for listening! Hang on Tireguy, I'm coming! (There's a joke in that line somewhere...)
Fpeel- From what I can gather, - votes alone don't get you booted (not sure anyone other than flagrant abusers have actually gotten booted). I think it just puts you on the radar screen and Big Bro (aka Arnie) keeps an eye on you. Hard to believe that anyone would get booted for honest opinions, civilly expressed, or even an ocassional outburt (warranted imo).
I truly believe in supporting my local businesses ( local auto parts, car dealers, book stores ) because I do like to browse. It makes for a relaxing afternoon. But I have already discontinued my business to one of the local stores in my new area because of there comments about customers every time that a person would leave without buying anything. I finally realized that I received the same treatment. My last visit was when I was looking at buying a rather expensive speaker and they were not willing to move the speakers to a room with privacy and similar equipment. But the biggest deal is the very inflated prices of these shops and they refuse to discount. There is only one shop, 40 miles from me that I will still travel to and purchase from because I still desire the service. But I will never buy from the 10 other dealers, that are mostly a closer drive, because I would never treat anyone the way that they treat people. Sometimes I do forget that these people do need to make a living and this is not my lively hood but my passion. So I try to cut some slack. But the brick and mortar businesses are destined for death unless they realize the "Angel of Death" is at their door and start offering either some very useful services above and beyond, including good attitudes or start offering some competitive deals. I can afford to pay $500 more dollars for an amplifier that I can't live without but not $3000. So they have better wise up. If I treated my customers like most highend dealers do, I would not have a highend budget. I did the same with my car purchase this year. I recommend both my car dealer and my audio store. And that is what keeps these businesses going. Not products. You can get those on the internet for major reduces prices. I the manufactures do not change their practices, then there will not be anymore highend in a few years. Only what companies like Harmon international will keep over. Maybe thatÂ’s not a bad idea. Then all of my old equipment will really increase in value.
To press my myoptic view even further, here is a reply email from a cable manufacture when I was seeking a trade-in or a discount. Now, I already know that my request were self ingratiating. But the response against my grain.

regarding the issue of discounts, I'm sure you've noticed that any legitimate and conscientious audio manufacturer does not discount their product when they sell direct(quantity purchases are probably the only exception). Some manufacturers may find this an easy way to a quick buck,
we see it as a quick and easy way to upset other customers and dealers alike, because somehow, they always find out that someone else got it for less, for no good reason. This generally pisses people off while at the same time lowering the value(perceived or actual)of a product. Many of these discounted items end up on Audiogon or Ebay for pennies on the dollar, and low resale value is something that no company wants to be associated with.

This company has every right to do business any way they like and I will not interfere. But I will certainly do business elsewhere where I can get a deal on the first cable I buy, and then get hooked, and sell all of my cables to get the new ones. Of course, I will sell the used cables with the title, "The best cables that are on the planet!"
Dale