2. misc-audio
  3. 1232900854

Local dealer cuts store in half says audio is dead

My local dealer that has been in business since 1979 has given half his store up for a marial arts studio. He told me that 2 channel audio is dead and people just come in to audition gear and buy off the Internet. He says custom installation is the only thing keeping the doors open and that has slowed down alot lately. Through the years I always tried to give this dealer business but things never worked out. The owner was very arrogant and everything had to go his way. I tried to buy my first system there 15 years ago and he would not budge on price. So I took my business somewhere else and they were happy to have my money. A couple of years ago I was looking at some new speakers so I went up the street knowing that they carried the brand. I asked the owner if I could audition them at my house for a day. He said absolutely not. He told me to bring all my equipment to the store and listen there. It's alot easier for me to take the speakers home than to take my TT, 100lb amp and tube pre-amp to the store. BTW-He had a demo pair on the floor so he could of given those to me for the night. I even told him I would give him my CC# to keep on file. Still he said no.

Well it doesn't surprise me that this dealer is giving up on audio. He never tried to offer the service that is necessary to be a 2 channel dealer. I told him that there are still a few 2 channel stores that are still surviving in these economic times. He told me he didn't believe that and that I knew nothing about the business. With that I left never to return. I hope next time I drive by he will be out of business period. He doesn't deserve to survive with his bad attitude.
taters
Post removed 
Post removed 
lrsky
1,118 posts
 
tvad,

Quibble:
Dealers are all or mostly introverts...
Proof, or supporting information, none.

Dealers, because they are introverts, are intractable...
Proof, none, and no supporting thoughts.

Both of these statements one supposedly supporting the other, are without any foundation. Making one proclaimation, without any supporting information, then declaring that this makes them the other, rings of silliness.

Are a great deal of dealers who are introverts, POSSIBLY. Does being an introvert, necessarily make anyone intractable? Where'd that come from?

The dealer in question, if this post was correct, didn't do anyone any favors in not being willing to proplerly demo his wares.
Also, I disagree with bar81, stating something to the effect, that "I don't know any dealer who allows in home demos of loudspeakers."
That is not accurate, and moreover, I made a living doing exactly that, for more than a dozen years. Not only could customers demo in home...I delivered the speakers!

Finally, Tvad, by your measure of introverts, you'd make the blanket statement, if I read this correctly the A'goners on this site are overwhelmingly introverts. That is one of the most misunderstood personality traits.
In the MB Personality Sorter, they claim that a woman was trying to 'fix up' her daughter with a potential gentleman caller. She stated, "She's an introvert, BUT a really nice girl," as if introversion implied some larger darker thing.
In general terms it only means that introverts, "Internalize, rather than externalize thoughts." Vague and arguable, to some who haven't read it in context, but accurate within context.
Intractable? Don't think so, at least not by necessity.
Post removed 
robertd
76 posts
 
My impression is that the time of great boutique high end audio dealers in most cities has passed. The boutique type model has disappeared in may parts of the country. Stores close, focus frequently moved to home theater, service levels (home auditioning, hours, lines offered) dimininished. I always supported one store, because of their service - this included a great staff of experts, a welcoming approach, and a fantastic audition policy. I paid a premium to buy there, although I could have bargained. They eventually went HT, sold to a midfi chain, dropped some of their premier brands as well as vinyl.

I didn't buy another high end component for five years after they changed. The reason is that the boutique model, with expertise, great lines, and great audition policies, is what I need to buy high end.

The dealers and the manufacturers have a symbiotic relationship, or they did till HT came along.

Now, if I'm looking to upgrade an amp or speakers, chances are I'll be flying to one of the few great boutique dealers, unless the small local place happens to have exactly what I want. Which would be great, but may not happen.
More to discover