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Ever feel like a "low dollar" customer that your dealer doesn't think worth their time?

I'm a careful researcher for audio gear and I also understand the value of brick and mortar stores. I am not OCD and I am not an irascible haggler. Indeed, I have told my local stores that if they carry something I like, I will buy from them and not try to find it cheaper on the net. I have purchased major pieces of gear from them.

Nevertheless, one local shop is erratic in how it treats me. Emails can take a long time to get acknowledged, and often exchanges take several back-and-forths to get clear questions answered. This shop sells gear at my price point and up to 10x more (think Wilson speakers, $7k power cords). I often feel I'm more like a fly buzzing around their heads than a valued customer trying to establish a customer-dealer relationship. I am trying to be loyal, but it makes me want to shop online. I could be reading the situation wrong, but this is definitely a pattern.

Has anyone else had the sense that they were too much of a "low dollar" customer to be worth the dealer's time?
128x128hilde45

Showing 2 responses by millercarbon

millercarbon's avatar
millercarbon
12,531 posts
 
When I worked High end audio or audio at all, I always fully entertained those who had not the cash. Even the teen kids. No problem. 

They’ll be back, if you treat people right. One must always look good in their minds. They all eventually find themselves in the ’I know this guy, this great guy who knows some stuff’ mode, and they come to you.

This is the way it should be. Sadly, not often is.
millercarbon's avatar
millercarbon
12,531 posts
 
Definitive Audio in Seattle, and Bellevue, specializes in making you feel they are doing you a favor to take money from one so unworthy. No, wait, that's not fair. That's the way they were when it was just Microsoft. They make you feel unworthy even to call for an appointment time to give them your money. No, that's not quite right either. That's the way they were when Amazon came. They make you feel you should be groveling in thanks to live even one moment in a world so perfect as to include the existence of Definitive Audio. Yeah. That's it. Full on Goolag.  
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