Describe the ideal high end audio dealership


Please describe, in detail ,your personal opinion as to what the ideal high end audio dealership would be. Sales/demo policies, store atmosphere/layout, trade ins/ trade ups, ect. What products interest you the most?

Are you more drawn to brand new designs? The Presence of large statement pieces on display? The reassuring presence of well established and familiar lines? What about newer lines that appear promising?

What characteristics would your ideal hi end audio dealership possess? What bothers you most?

Do you prefer the traditional brick and mortar storefront or a more personal approach offered by the home based dealership/appointment structured store?

Describe what you feel, in your personal opinion, are the greatest positive attributes of your favorite dealerships.

This thread is intended for the hobbyist consumers, not dealers or manufacturers.
chris74
1. I prefer a brick and motar audio hi-end dealer to big audio chains, even though they may have limited inventory on display. 2. Attitude : (A )I would never tolerate the snobby attitude of the owner/salesman who would implicitly or explicitly put down other brandnames carried by their competition. (B ) I would prefer fact finding question type to know my need(s) than sale pitch. (C) I would not tolerate to be closed on the deal with high pressure tactics. (D) I would not need to be voluntarily disclosed the price of the products unless being asked. When I am ready to make a deal then it is a proper time for me to ask for the pricing disclose 3. Most audiophile guy knows what they are looking for in term of sound preference and quality of the products so save me the mumbo/jumbo specification disclose, I am into the sound quality not the data literature print-out. 4. I prefer to be alone in the demo room with the door closed since I always bring my own CDs and if the products do not sound any better than my current system, then why spinning my own wheels and wasting my time and the owner/salesman time. I do not like to be interrupt while I critically have my audition. 5. Service after the sale is crucial. Do I have to call the manufactures for servicing or would the owner/salesman will happily take care of my issues? Just to name a few of the factors that would make or break a deal and again, it is my own experience and my requirement before I spend my hard earning disposable income.
A sincere effort to understand your system and what you seek to improve.Best case scenario-a home visit to hear your system and make comments and suggestions within your monetary parameters.Full focus and attention to you as a client and your needs.How many times have you been in front of someone at any retail biz and were asked to wait while they took an "important" phone call.That is a big red flag to me.Speak in specifics not superlatives and let me think you know what you are talking about.Don't schmooze me with "i just want you to be happy" when you hear that you know you are in trouble! After sales issues-please treat me with the same respect i got at the time of purchase and return my calls.I am still waiting for one dealer to call me back about a problem for over a year.He lost my biz and my confidence in him as a retailer.Another retailer could just not get it together to give me an itemized receipt for insurance purposes,after asking 4 times i gave up.He made me,the customer feel like i was bothering him.He lost my biz and any respect.These dealers have driven me to the used and manufacturers direct market.Last thing-never whine about how little money you are making on any particular piece of equipment,this always seems to happen and i am not sure what can be gained by this?You know,i think i feel a little better now.
I like the brick and mortar store. I have been buying these black boxes for 50 years or so, and have often wondered why the store completes their sale and never gets back with suggestions of a new upgrade, component, or accessory that would improve the customer's system. I have always found that I get generic clearance bulletins, etc after the sale, but no continued personal interest in my evolving system. It would be so easy to keep the buyers system on file and when an appropriate upgrade is available for the store to let the customer know. It would improve sales and customer relationships
Wow it looks like have as close to an ideal dealer near me. He is in home by appointment only which is kind of nice. Whether I'm looking to spend $100 or $6000 he will spend all the time with me and not have to worry about someone walking in to 'Kick Tires' or spend $100,000. I get his full attention. He offers generous in home demos. He even loaned me some equipment when mine had to be sent in for repair (and the unit needing repair wasn't purchased from him). He knows I will not pay retail but still gives me a fair discount. Not always the discount I want to see but in all fairness he has to make something for his time and efforts. For that reason I do buy from him and have never bought elsewhere (unless it's something he does not carry). Every time I ordered something from him he delivers and installs it. Also he will never 'bad mouth' anything I have. Except for not being able to 'walk' in anytime what more could anyone want.

I have the best dealer and the best part he is local to me. Anyone in the Chicago area who wants to know who he is e-mail me and I will be more than happy to tell you. I want him to stay in business.
I have not shopped for new equipment for some time now, but back when (early 90s)I had 2 favorite stores.
Both were small, maybe 2 stores in the NJ NY area.
I could just show up with my cd's and listen to what ever I asked. Even the big stuff, to compare what I should be listening for.
I spent many hours listening to speaker amp combo's with no salesman or pressure to leave, and I ended up buying from both stores several times.
Unfortunatly both of these stores are no longer around.
I feel the big chains aren't quite what they pretend to be.
The staff seems to be all young kids that really have no idea just how good music can sound, or how good a television picture can be.
This seems to be the future of store sales as knowlegable
staff can get expensive, and it's all about the bottom line these days.
As far as online, sales will continually grow and make it much more difficult to compete in this market.
I will still seek out brick and mortar specialty store when it comes time for me to upgrade.