When I buy from a dealer it is someone who has been in business for several decades, and has substantial stock of items for demo. Of course this is no guarantee that he will be there forever, but it is some indication that he is overall a good outfit. I do not pay dealer price when the dealer does not offer dealer services. Lots of good stuff is available direct from the Mfr and priced accordingly.
Mfr/Dealer Relationships
Is it just me, or does the whole world of exclusive dealer relationships suck for the customer?
Top gripes include trying to track down a dealer from a mfrs website and finding out they are some "operate out of their home HT consultant" where I can't audition anything.
Or I find out its the one dealer in the DC area I absolutely refuse to deal with.
Or I find out they don't deal the particular line anymore. Or don't carry all of the line.
Or, my most recent experience. I wanted to try out a $5.5K preamp. Figured if it was a bad match, I'll take a bit of a hit and resell it. But, I've got good reasons to think it will work. All I have to do is find someone to take my money, maybe give me a bit of a break because its a no-hassle deal. I spend two weeks calling my "local" dealer, s/he never answered the phone, and I *never* got a call back from numerous voicemails. Thankfully, I was able to find a dealer a state away willing to ask the mfr for "permission" to sell to me in view of the circumstances, but it was still very frustrating. Do mfrs care about how they are perceived as a result of those who represent them?
Top gripes include trying to track down a dealer from a mfrs website and finding out they are some "operate out of their home HT consultant" where I can't audition anything.
Or I find out its the one dealer in the DC area I absolutely refuse to deal with.
Or I find out they don't deal the particular line anymore. Or don't carry all of the line.
Or, my most recent experience. I wanted to try out a $5.5K preamp. Figured if it was a bad match, I'll take a bit of a hit and resell it. But, I've got good reasons to think it will work. All I have to do is find someone to take my money, maybe give me a bit of a break because its a no-hassle deal. I spend two weeks calling my "local" dealer, s/he never answered the phone, and I *never* got a call back from numerous voicemails. Thankfully, I was able to find a dealer a state away willing to ask the mfr for "permission" to sell to me in view of the circumstances, but it was still very frustrating. Do mfrs care about how they are perceived as a result of those who represent them?