Dealer Bias: Do They Really Add Value?

Short story. My friend recently spent about $150,000 on two stereo systems. After buying the first system from one high end dealer we were having lunch across the street from another high end dealer that my friend had never been to. Strangely enough, I casually knew one of the salemen in that store who just happened to walk into the luncheonette. He used to work in a discount low end dealer (CRAZY EDDIE) over 25 years ago, and I recognized him, and even remembered his name! (now if I could just remember where I left my keys) Saying hello, I introduced him to my friend. After lunch my friend and I walked across the street to have a look around. We were "greeted" with sleazy nonchalance, begrudgingly shown a set of speakers, left in the room without the salesman asking one question about what it was we were doing in the store, or what we were looking for. After being ignored for so long that we became uncomfortable, we left, without the salesman so much as asking if we needed any help or a thank you, or a goodbye. Needless to say, my friend spent his money (another $75,000) elsewhere. Had the saleman taken the slightest interest in my friend he might have made a great sale and a lasting customer, instead of a terrible impression. Yes, some dealers do add value, but I think it is becoming ever more rare, and their aliegences do seem to change rather quickly. I have heard one too many putdowns of brands that a salesman happily promoted weeks earlier. Like friends, choose your salesperson carefully.

sorry about any typos, it's getting late.

Great post, Bmpnyc! Sadly, far too common in high end.

who's John, Kelly? Does he ship for home demos,too? If you don't want to post his name here, how bout an email? We tend to run into the same kind of "stores" as Bmpnyc speaks of. Even, purposefully "mis-arranging" (is that a word?) the demo room to give the edge to their highest high end gear. You know the good stuff is in the perfect spots for the room, you want to demo the next step down, they *toss 'em* against a side wall 90 degrees off perfect room set up, roll the chairs over and leave you there. "what are we, chopped liver?"

Angela - I don't know if it holds up looking at overall demographics, but my impressions of the current bricks-and-mortar stores pretty much mirror yours. With a reasonable level of savvy in this market, paying 90% or more of retail for anything would appear to happen most often due to convenience, not wanting to have to spend the time to really shop. Now, before everyone re-iterates that they have a great dealer who provides so much more, etc., I'll just say that I know that, I believe that, and I think it's great. If that's the way you have built your system and enjoy going about it, it's a great way. It's a lot of fun to go to a high-end shop that has it's act together, that knows you, and that carries great stuff. But it's very clear to me that there are some very successful shops that there is no way I would pay a premium for their advice or services, and that the way they make the majority of their money is people walking in with more money than time and saying, "give me something good (and preferably impressive)". I'm also not being deragotory by saying they have more money than time - everyone reading these posts is clearly willing to invest a lot of time and energy into this hobby, but there's only so much time to go around and there are undoubtedly people who want something nice without all the reading, shopping, etc. I'm that way with cars - I drive a very nice car and appreciate what makes it nice but would never spend the time to get as educated about cars as I am about electronics. I probably paid more than I had to by at least a bit, but it didn't take long, I love driving it, and the time I saved more than offset any extra cost. In any case, the only high-end shop around where I live that is worth developing a relationship with charges 95% of full retail, I know I'm not going to pay that, so I steer clear. They're a Dynaudio dealer and a friend who bought his system there and went to one of their open houses said that they had about four interested buyers for a pair of the Evidence speakers ($85K/pr). Maybe they're all audiophiles who have just reached the point in their pursuit that, through all the guidance they've received from this shop, have decided that this is clearly the next step on their path, but that seems unlikely.