Tell us your worst audio dealer or mfr. experience.

It's not really a bad experience but a frustrating one. I called one of my dealers (name withheld because it is not so bad) to suggest a cartridge for my tonearm - that I bought from him a while back. Said on the phone, I will get back to you. 2 weeks pass and I call another retailer who carries my arm and table, talked good options and bought one on the phone.

Never heard back from the other, have bought several things from him over the years and there always seems to be a delay or snafu - no sense of urgency. When an audiophile is ready to buy it is time to sell him something!

I was also in CSA in about 2012, walked in one day during the week introduced myself and said I was speaker shopping. Could not get the guy to get off his chair and come around the front counter.

Went upstairs looked around by myself, asked about the speakers- can't remember the brand. Answered my questions, never got up so I left. It was not an owner. I later e-mailed the owner to inquire about a Shindo preamp and never got a reply - maybe he did not get it, certainly possible. But that was it for me. I have had too many good experiences to chase down unpleasant ones.

Years ago I was shopping speakers for my sister and her husband. I called Fidelis AV in NH on a pair of used speakers for info and schedule an audition. The salesman said speakers are boxed, he doesn't want to take them and set them up for an audition. Then said internet buyers don't need to audition before purchase so why do need to? If they don't sell in 3 or 4 weeks, then I'll take them out for you. I was SHOCKED!

Fidelis AV has moved several times in NH since so not sure if the salesman still works there.

Recently I decided to replace all my PCs and emailed 2 local BM (MA and NH) for Shunyata Sigma/Alpha to demo. They never replied and loss out on $15K+ of sales. No plans in trying to support local BM any longer.

Knghifi, it's the same way in Los Angeles with a lot of dealers. They always complain how bad business is but when you give them a chance to earn your business they don't want to go out of there way.

Avatar Acoustics shipped my AMR CD77.1 back to me by UPS and it was broken beyond reasonable repair. Even though the shipping was at my expense, Darren sent it uninsured. He was completely unwilling to take any responsibility and became petulant and offended that any compensation should be offered. When I offered to contact AMR to see what they were willing to do, he accused me of going behind his back (?!). AMR was reasonable, offering me a heavily discounted DP777SE when they were released. It took a over a year and it was still more money out of my pocket, but AMR was pretty stand up about it.

Darren left all communication to first his wife, then his assistant. To be fair, he had been very informative and helpful for years up until that point. When he had to step up as a reasonable seller, let alone dealer and national distributor, he was full of excuses and misplaced indigence. Really outrageous and disappointing behavior.

There it is...my worst experience by a long shot.