Am I asking too much?

ok, so it didn’t go well.  I’ve attached the email trail below, deleting all potential identifiers.  he basically said, “oh, we do setup, but only if you pay full msrp”, which means it would cost me $700.  And he certainly did not communicate this up front.  my view? going for the quick sale, didn’t have to do anything but point and click and make whatever his markup is.  pretty lame approach to doing business.  read from the bottom up for your prurient interest.


We do offer free setup, but only at retail.  I figured you were interested in a lower price.

-----Original Message-----
From: 
Sent: Tuesday, September 1, 2020 9:03 PM
To: 
Subject: Re: Cartridge

Thanks.   I appreciate your knocking off 10%(?) on price, but am a little surprised re set-up.  Seems like at this level that would be part of the package, as opposed to having me contract with someone else.  Not trying to be unreasonable, but I know I can get the cartridge a little cheaper.  My preference is to support my local dealers, but I expect more service in exchange.

Regards,

On Aug 30, 2020, at 10:17 PM, wrote:

Sorry. I did not put 2 and 2 together. How have you been?

Your price on the cartridge will be $6,295 + tax.

For in-home setup, we are referring those to Dr. Vinyl.  He is a true pro and very reasonable.

-----Original Message-----

From: 

Sent: Sunday, August 30, 2020 9:54 AM

To: 

Subject: Re: Cartridge

Thanks for your response. Yes, I am local, and have visited your shop a couple times.  Three questions: 1) what would be your price; 2) how long would you expect for delivery; and 3) would you offer in-home setup?  I set up my current cartridge with a borrowed Dr. Feichert, but it’s a $450 Hana EH, so the stakes are a little higher here.

Regards,

On Aug 30, 2020, at 7:21 AM, 

We really like the Urushi cartridges.  They maintain the signature Koestu warmth, but and better bass extension and dynamics.

We are happy to place an order for you. Are you local?

Sent: Saturday, August 29, 2020 4:19 PM

Subject: Cartridge 

Hi, I hope this note finds you well.  I’m in the market for a new cartridge, and have been thinking about a Koetsu, specifically the Urushi Tsugaru.  If I’m not mistaken, you carry the brand.  I’m curious if you have experience with the Tsugaru or any of the other Urushis.  My turntable is a restored Garrard 401, with a Reed 3P tonearm (cocobolo, with an effective mass of 18 g).  I would welcome your thoughts.

Regards,

Crusty good on ya. Please do let us know where you are at

Miller has a one retailer viewpoint of Seattle... next time check the monster ego and attitude at the door and check out Hawthorne, ( they are about 200’ just across the street from his enemy )  they do excellent TT setup. There are of course others....I can think of 3 or 4 in easy driving distance....

Maybe he has no idea how to do it, or is just a male sexual organ.

I did enjoy the last few month's journey of tinkering with a Garrard.
Not as great a yours but has a DAS plinth, some new parts - all installed by myself.
Dr Feickert alignment tool helped with a vintage cart alignment.
Used Schroeder and rebuild vintage Ortofon arm.
I had some issues with the Scroeder set-up so email Frank in Germany and got several email responses what to look at (as well as several AG pointers).
It is a 10+ year old arm but he still happy to provide advice as well as his distributor in France, despite the fat that I got the arm privately.
So, customer service is not too dead...as some others pointed out above.
Too bad you did not clarify all the details prior to purchase. We unfortunately cannot "assume good service" anymore.
A few good videos on Youtube and many helpful folks here on AG and AK can help you set it up correctly. If you get some set-up tools (test LP, Fozgometer and or software from several folks like DR. Feickert and others) for the same money you would spend with this dealer you are set up for the future.
Enjoy the music and the one way ticket we all have!

Perhaps this B&M dealer really doesn't have the expertise that he needs to set up a cartridge like a Koetsu! If that is the case, he would be wise to disclose that to you...OTOH, he did say he would do it at full price, which leads me to question his business acumen. 
Koetsu's enjoy an enormous mark-up in this country. If you look at some of the Japanese audio sites, you can see the same models for mere fractions of what we are expected to pay in the US. The middle man is wringing his hands in glee when these cartridges ( and a lot of other Japanese sourced models as well) get sold here through a US dealer. 
Yes, i am aware that they have to stand behind the product and so forth, BUT the additional costs of getting the cartridge from Japan to here, plus the dealer servicing cannot explain the mark-up! IMHO.