What's your experience with snooty HiFi salesmen?
I began my Hifi journey in 1976 at a shop in Birmingham MI called Audio Dimensions. He was a Magnapan and ARC dealer who was kind to a 15 year old kid who bought a set of MG 1s with paper route money. The ARC amps he carried were about $4K back then- a LOT of money in 1976. In the beginning I drove my MG 1s with an old Fisher Studio Standard integrated amp. Since those lovely innocent days I have encountered some real buttholes. They act like they are doing me a favor as they quiz me about what gear I have and if I'm listening to "approved" recordings. Needless to say I don't buy from those guys. Several wives and businesses later I'm back into the hobby with a much vengeance as a 61 year old can muster given only so many free hours in a day and only so much cash to apply due to my other vices: Classic cars and salt water fishing.
Have you ever encountered a really good or really bad dealer (or employee) that changed your buying actions?
Darko posted a video on this topic which I found really enjoyable. Many of you have already seen it but for those (like me) who discovered it much later here's the link:
https://darko.audio/2022/09/audiophiles-are-snobs-with-money-to-burn/
I had the opposite experience, most of the times they would refuse to connect speakers above my budget and I didn't push it. I understood it was a waste of their time (not that I couldn't have been upsold) |
It must be the places you guys frequent. Have you brushed your teeth lately? Just kidding... In my area there is only one Hi-End Store left. Paragon Audio and they have always treated me well. Years back when there were more stores, again, they were always kind and willing to demonstrate anything I wanted to hear. Sometimes I would call ahead so what I wanted to hear could be connected. Why would they not try to be helpful? Stating that, I am sure there are bad apples, they are in every profession, but they will be weeded out when they don’t eat. Perhaps, some of you guys are starting out with a bad attitude? ozzy |
@ozzy I have to agree with you about Paragon audio, they will let you listen to any system they have even if you say you are not buying anything today. |
Snobby. Thats funny. Its like a car purchase ranked in tiers. Not many people will spend 5k on a system, let alone 100k. In the end it plays music and no more. Hi-fi enthusiast dont listen to music, they listen to the equipment and I have been guity of this many times. Once the honeymoon phase is over on the.equipment, back to music. I keep a few vintage eq to change up sound. But for me, its all about music. If I had unlimted funds, maybe I'll spend alot on it. But right now, I enjoy what I have and its still a pretty penny for sure. I'm listening with Luxman 590AXII with Silverline Sonata II Tier 1 Ferrari, Lambo. Bentley Tier 2 Mercedes, BMW Tier 3 Chevy, Ford |
