One big reason why brick and mortar high end audio dealers struggle.
i agree wholeheartedly with recent posts by @denverfred @mitch2 @drugolf @rocray for every mistreated real buyer walking in with wads of cash ready to buy, there must be 20-50-100 a-holes who mercilessly abuse the retailers' time, energy, facilities etc for their own benefit |
I only visit a HiFi store if I'm going to buy something or if they have a customer event with a manufacture. I know the stores basic inventory in the Seattle area. If I travel, thats a different story and may pop into a retailer noting that I'm traveling and just wanted to see what they have and not waste a lot of their time. |
...and now for something totally different.... We get the occasional phone call from (generally) a local who’ll ask: "What can you do for me for ( 500~1K$) ?" Sell you parts for a DIY installation, as long as it’s ’residential grade’.....and not too large. The bigger the *X*, the more it will cost or will need to be ’commercial grade’. That typically gets a few moments of silence...then, the usual ’thanks, ’bye.’ The committed may ask for a number on an item or 2. That may start a ’U p/u’ sale or the previous ending to the inquiry. We DO treat those that show up the same as any of our commercial clients; friendly, willing to give advice on their project-in-mind, and help load. Our commercial clients typically begin with an email that stems from a referral from a architect, designer, or a pleased previous client....the latter, usually what we call a ’high-end res client’. We, like the b&m shops we prefer to go to, are willing to ’hold your hand’ and give you the outcome You Want. Match (I call it ’spoof’, but I’ve got a sense of humour about that process) you homes’ architecture? We do that. *S* Quite nicely, if I allow a back pat on my own time & effort. Even with the ’com’(mercial) client, with ping-pong e/m’s, there exists the likelyhood of ’issues’ that require what I call ’fire control’; as in ’put it the F-out’ and move on... (Current project is 80ish mi. south, a major new install for a large city. GC promised that everything would be ready for us early Oct. when we began to set up late Sept. They’re still playing ’grab-butt’, since this is NOT the typical project in nature.) OK... Google "NC custom playgrounds". Scroll down below the map. Our name begins with where we’re located. We don’t have a huge margin either. Sometimes we get ’snagged’, if you will. But you will still get what you expect...and typically a detail or so that you didn’t. THAT....is our je ne sais quoi as to how we approach our work. Crafty art? *shrug* Your call. ;) It’s probably a ’good thing’ I don’t rep audio....for now.... ;) *s* Enjoy our website, J ....not b&m...steel&concrete....and of course...the 'Net. |
Another perspective. -You work six days a week in a retail Stereo store catering to audiophiles who admittedly are not usually well people. -When not assisting the public you field calls from strangers with "a quick question" -Setup 4 sets of demo speakers for a guy you've never seen before who asks about "demos, price matching policies & same day delivery.
Gotta walk in mile in the other guys shoes before you throw the 1st stone.
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