i cannot argue with the op’s titled assertion that poor customer service is one big reason why brick and mortar hifi stores struggle - no doubt this is true, many examples of this for sure
but as usual, there are many other sides to the story as to why this happens
- brick n mortar hifi retail is a darned tough business, these stores usually struggle mightily, even in pre covid times
- owners of these stores are often enthusiasts and not the best business people, sales people or managers -- these are small businesses, and leaving side the owner's issues it is hard to attract and keep talented employees
- many many 'customers' abuse these stores and the time/energy of the personnel there - visit, touch and feel, yack yack, then buy online
- many many customers, ones capable of buying pricey gear, are often jerks who mercilessly grind the store for a few hundred bucks of profit, like it is sin to cover their overhead and make a buck
- most importantly, as one wise poster stated below, once they have committed the time, capital, energy to have such a business, these retail shop owners just do the best they can, and do what they need to do to get by, stay afloat
that all this often leads to poor customer service, overlooking potentially attractive customers in jeans and tee shirt that come in the store... it is all part of the terrain and part of the chosen life... no one is perfect, actually far far from it... for better or worse, they only have the time, money, talent, skill (or lack thereof) that they have, and are just tryin’ to get by...
but as usual, there are many other sides to the story as to why this happens
- brick n mortar hifi retail is a darned tough business, these stores usually struggle mightily, even in pre covid times
- owners of these stores are often enthusiasts and not the best business people, sales people or managers -- these are small businesses, and leaving side the owner's issues it is hard to attract and keep talented employees
- many many 'customers' abuse these stores and the time/energy of the personnel there - visit, touch and feel, yack yack, then buy online
- many many customers, ones capable of buying pricey gear, are often jerks who mercilessly grind the store for a few hundred bucks of profit, like it is sin to cover their overhead and make a buck
- most importantly, as one wise poster stated below, once they have committed the time, capital, energy to have such a business, these retail shop owners just do the best they can, and do what they need to do to get by, stay afloat
that all this often leads to poor customer service, overlooking potentially attractive customers in jeans and tee shirt that come in the store... it is all part of the terrain and part of the chosen life... no one is perfect, actually far far from it... for better or worse, they only have the time, money, talent, skill (or lack thereof) that they have, and are just tryin’ to get by...