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Ever feel like a "low dollar" customer that your dealer doesn't think worth their time?

I'm a careful researcher for audio gear and I also understand the value of brick and mortar stores. I am not OCD and I am not an irascible haggler. Indeed, I have told my local stores that if they carry something I like, I will buy from them and not try to find it cheaper on the net. I have purchased major pieces of gear from them.

Nevertheless, one local shop is erratic in how it treats me. Emails can take a long time to get acknowledged, and often exchanges take several back-and-forths to get clear questions answered. This shop sells gear at my price point and up to 10x more (think Wilson speakers, $7k power cords). I often feel I'm more like a fly buzzing around their heads than a valued customer trying to establish a customer-dealer relationship. I am trying to be loyal, but it makes me want to shop online. I could be reading the situation wrong, but this is definitely a pattern.

Has anyone else had the sense that they were too much of a "low dollar" customer to be worth the dealer's time?
128x128hilde45
oldhvymec
5,101 posts
 
+ You and me both, I'm a Mac guy, and have been for 50 years. I'm sure my appearance, is a little deceiving. LOL But I've walked in ready to buy with 30,000.00 cash in my pocket, AND WALKED OUT... Got on a plane flew to Texas bought some gear, and shipped it back to California.

Went back to the dealer in 2 months with pictures of the new equipment
2 1.2k power amps, MX150, C2500, ect.. The whole thing.. He CRIED!!

He had my money but wouldn't even say hello on the showroom floor.

I got a Christmas card from the dealer in Texas for 15 years. He retired.

BTW, he paid for the plane ticket too.

Regards
erik_squires
16,301 posts
 
Many dealers have survived by catering only to multi-million dollar installations and buyers who are not enthusiasts.

Their store front is mostly a joke, or the brands they rep force them to carry / show products they don't care about.
stereo5's avatar
stereo5
6,442 posts
 
There was/is a particular store in Framingham, MA that treated me that way.  Thousands were spent in the store and always in cash, never asked for a discount and never got one.  Sometimes they went out of their way for me when I was buying something very expensive, but if I was spending a grand or less, the salespeople would walk right by me like I didn’t exist.   I don’t shop there any longer and now Audio Classics gets all my business. They treat everyone like gold weather you buy or not. 
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