2. analog
  3. 159703-135055

Am I asking too much?

I’ve  been looking to finally buy the cartridge my turntable - a restored Garrard 401 with Reed 3P tonearm - deserves.  So I sent a note to a local Koetsu dealer - wanting to support them over your typical big names (e.g., Music Direct, Upscale Audio, etc.) particularly during covid.  Though I’ve never bought from this local place,  I’ve visited them before a couple times, and live less than 10 miles away.   When I asked the dealer if they provide turntable set-up — remember, this is for a $7000 cartridge — he told me that they refer people to a local company for that (which means of course at an additional charge).

wtf?  So the only service provided by the local dealer is to order the cartridge that I can get cheaper on-line and then refer me to someone else to provide actual service.  Anybody else have a reaction to this?
128x128mdalton
pratorious
127 posts
 
Also... Kevin Bacon played Chip not Neidermeyer
dekay's avatar
dekay
5,575 posts
 
Agree with the first response by noromance.

If no go, and if you can run fairly fast while wearing a mask, streak him - streak him good.

DeKay
jjss49's avatar
Ag insider logo xs@2x
jjss49
6,612 posts
 
i also agree with noromance

did you nicely ask the retailer why? curious to know the response

even seemingly unreasonable people can sometimes have their reasons, at least give them a chance to explain

in these times, maybe it lack of staff due to covid? who knows....
millercarbon's avatar
millercarbon
12,531 posts
 
Audiophiles. Can't tell the difference between disgust and anger. Have infinite patience while being ripped off. But quibble endlessly over minutia like how many degrees of separation there are between a character and Kevin Bacon. Maybe some audiophiles do deserve to be ripped off. They seem a little masochistic to me.
mdalton's avatar
mdalton OP
467 posts
 
@millercarbon -  lol, love the passion! I set up my current cartridge with a borrowed Dr. Feichert, but that was a$450 Hana EL - much lower stakes.  Happy to do it again, but do believe a local dealer would want to nurture a relationship.  

@noromance @dekay @roxy54 @lewm @jjss49  - yes, was going to respond but wanted to get a read from others first, based on their experience.  My going in thought was that if he came in $500 above but did set-up, I’d do that trade (not just for the setup but to support a business in my local community).  What took me aback was the note saying they refer setup to some other company.  Not “we’re doing this due to covid” or “we’ll do it for $200”.  But the way he did it, it puts me in the position, as the customer, of feeling like I’m asking for a favor.  Oh well...
More to discover