Walking Into A Brick & Mortar High End Audio Store

Taters, there are absolutely ways to lease audio gear. I have leased gear to corporations and movie production companies, and very occasionally to individuals. The problems are:
1- most dealers just don't know how to work with a leasing company, and
2- it's not economically feasible for a leasing company to write a "small" (under $50K) lease, and for less then 3-5 years, and
3- most buyers do not want and would not select a lease option

An installment purchase (different from a lease) is probably a better way to go. When I worked for a small audio chain in the late 70s it was very common for most retailers to offer contract credit purchases. These days, most buyers simply use a credit card for the same purpose.

One of the things I love about our wonderful hobby is a visit to a terrific audio shop for a few hours of just "hanging out." I've spent many a fun filled afternoon at such places as Sound By Singer, Lyric HiFi, Stereo Exchange, Altair Audio, Audio Connection, CSA Audio, Innovation Audio, Adirondack Audio-Video, and many other high end retailers over my thirty years as "a music loving audiophile." I have always been totally "up front and honest" with the sales staff ..... sometimes I was there to plan a purchase, and other times I was just there to enjoy music played on systems that I could only dream about actually owning. For me, this is an important part of our hobby and I don't recall ever misleading a salesperson or being treated rudely by one. And over the years, I have many times referred somebody to one of these fine shops and many major purchases have been made because of my recommendations.

If we are to allow our high end audio passions to develop and to allow the high end industry to continue to grow, we need to constantly try to bring new people under our wings and encourage them to listen to quality components and systems. The best way to do these, besides inviting "audio newcomers" into our homes, is to encourage them to visit high end stores to "hang out and listen." Perhaps more systems will be sold and more music loving audiophiles will be developed. For me, it all started in 1973 with a Panasonic all-in-one receiver/8-track player-recorder/turntable/speakers combination ....... After many, many hours in all those great stereo stores, I eventually worked my way up the equipment chain, having spent many thousands of dollars on a lot of different gear.

I am incredibly happy with my current system and I love listening to music. I owe it all to all those wonderful sales people at all the great stereo stores for the chance to "listen and hang out."

The reason to have a brick and mortar store is to draw customers into your store. Browsing is part of the experience of a conventional store. I'm sure we all experienced walking into a store not really intending to buy anything but wound up purchasing something. Works the other way too.

Personally, if I'm walking into a store and I'm just browsing, that's what I say- just browsing. If that makes me a time waster, shame on the merchant. Is it really any wonder b&m stores are dying and e-sales are where the action is?

It's only disdain for the consumer that demands every walk in customer lay down cash on every visit. I'm sorry, but generally, I owe a retailer, who is more than happy to earn a 40 point markup, nothing at all. In order to earn my hard earned cash, a retailer must distinguish himself and bring some value added. Viewing me as a time waster if I'm just looking does not equal any value added.

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Guitar Center may be on to something. My 17 year-old son goes to their Hollywood, CA store at least once or twice a month. When my son walks in, they give him a guitar pick and he goes and picks out an axe and plays it. He says sometimes he's there for an hour or two. He says lots of other teenage musicians are there doing the same thing. He says it's mostly adult customers are there playing the instruments. Over the years he's bought pedals, microphones, strings and lots of accessories ...but never a major purchase. He has his eye on a $3k-$4k Gretsch guitar, and he's been saving his money for it. He says he's gone and picked out a $5k axe, plug it into an amp and start playing. He says they have about 30 amps on the floor for customers to use to plug into and play. If you've ever known any guitarists, none of them ever own just one guitar, most of them own several. I believe Guitar Center is building a huge base of future loyal customers.
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