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Was I Expecting Too Much

Hi everyone.  I'm looking for a heading check with a situation I encountered yesterday.  

Background:

I'm planning to upgrade my turntable later this year - Q3 is my target.  After my research, I've narrowed down to AMG and Brinkmann.  I was able to audition an AMG Viella yesterday, and was looking to audition a Bardo or Taurus for comparison.  I know my thought of trying to fit in a Brinkmann demo was last-minute, and some dealers are particular when it comes to appointments and allowing them time to setup their demo.  

The Situation:

So I called the local Brinkmann dealer and inquired to see if a bardo or taurus happened to be setup.  The salesman I spoke with said they had both, and he was going to check if a demo was possible.  After a few minutes, I get a phone call back from the owner who seemed rather dismissive of my request.  I explained that I'm currently doing my research and looking to hear some demos to help down-select, and that my purchase would be a few months from now.  He asked for my budget which I found strange as I already stated what I was interested in demoing.  Then the conversation turned to what gear I already own, which I understand sort-of.  Then the owner basically said it doesn't make sense for me to demo anything now and to call back when I'm ready to purchase.  

How am I going to know what I want to purchase without demoing the options?

Was I expecting too much by asking to hear equipment that I'm interested in?  My opinion is a sale isn't guaranteed and an audio dealer, just like any other dealer, needs to invest some reasonable amount of time to capture a sale.  You don't capture all the sales, but I didn't think I was being unreasonable in my request and certainly was not trying to waste anyone's time.  I was pretty transparent with where I'm at and I guess he was reciprocating my transparency by telling me to go away.  I felt "less-than" by this experience.  As if I wasn't worth investing any time into.

Thoughts?

 

cbl117
lewm
13,018 posts
 

Obviously, your request was perfectly reasonable.  I am going to guess that your dealer's salon is located in an area of a large major city and in a neighborhood where his walk-in customers are apt to be affluent.  In most parts of the US, which do not fit that demographic, his attitude would eventually be fatal to his business, but in Beverly Hills or in the posh shopping heart of Manhattan, for examples, he could get away with it. If they really have both of the Brinkmann TTs in which you are interested set up and running, it really boggles the mind how they could be so snotty about doing a demo.  Why else have them set up at all? Anyway, why not just walk in, wave your checkbook, and pretend your are hot to trot?  By now they've probably forgotten your name. Unless they ask for a deposit up front, you would not be under any obligation to buy.

 

joenies's avatar
joenies
258 posts
 

WTF. It’s like their job to setup and demo the products that they carry. Maybe they don’t know how to setup a TT? What a shame.

Maybe just go to that store in person and see if they have 1 setup or ask for a demo. Have a few hundred dollar bills hanging out of your pocket? 

Joe Nies

charles1dad's avatar
charles1dad
10,250 posts
 

@cbl117 

I agree with the sentiment expressed by the above posts. Your request is very much within reason and expectations. In my opinion the store owner was quite arrogant and dismissive toward you. I’d certainly want to hear an audio component I’m considering purchasing. Unfortunately some people behave as jerks.

Charles

lewm
13,018 posts
 

By the way, if you are deciding between the two Brinkmann models only, then the odds of your hearing the probably subtle difference between them in a system with which you are not intimately familiar are small.  If between a Brinkmann and something else, then the "something else" evidently is not on demo in that store.  So maybe you needn't bother.

cbl117 OP
45 posts
 

Thanks for the replies.

@lewm I'm trying not to call out the dealer, but I don't want to shine a bad light on the wrong dealer.  You mentioned Salon in your post, so I think I know who you are referring to based on my location.  I am a big fan of that dealer.  In fact I've purchased two pairs of Wilsons from him.  A standup gentleman with the utmost respect to all his clients no matter how big or small.

The dealer I'm referring to is on the other side of LA....around Covina...

Regarding Brinkmann, I'm probably looking at a Bardo with 10.5 or 12.1 arm.  I think the Taurus is just outside of my budget, but I would like to hear both.  Maybe I need to save more for the Taurus if its that much better.  I accept that these comparisons are somewhat flawed as the systems will not be the same.  Creature comforts are another factor.  I want to try using the tables to see which one feels best in the hand, so to speak.

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