What Are Your Audio Morals?

Easy. It is a matter of principle and professional ethics (I'm a salesman) that keeps me from using dealers for auditions when my itentions are to buy used.

Fact of the matter is, there is a local dealer who has allowed me to demo several pieces in the past. These guys really do have a fair amount of time invested in me and I've bought one cheap cable from them. Though not to demo at this point, I stick my head in from time to time to see what's new. Sooner or later I'll get this monkey off my back by finding something in this shop that will repay their investment in me. It'd be a lot easier if they didn't carry uninteresting stuff like Martin Logan, Thiel and Classe. Maybe those Sonus Fabers in the corner... ;-)

My first two amps, first two sets of speakers and first cd player (about $5000 invested at one time) were purchased from dealers. That was for me a learning experience. I was not informed enough to do it any other way. Looking back, they were not exactly wise choices and the dealers certainly didn't have my interests at heart. They weren't thinking about a second sale to me. Nothing about system matching, and, I guess I learned my lessons the hard way. As I gained more knowledge, I continued to shop at dealers, but demoed as much as I could and bought only after I was sure. The dealers were not as happy with me. I would demo from different dealers because they carried different brands and I wanted to learn as much as possible. These choices were more informed, but I still ened up losing money.

I then started buying on the internet. I would like to believe that I was even more informed. I bought and sold many pieces over a couple of years and managed to break even. I even purchased from dealers on the internet. Much to my surprise, most of my current system (Rowland, Meadowlark, Cardas) was purcased new or as a demo from the same dealer.

So my point is? Find a way to know as much as possible before making purchases. Books, magazines, forums, friends, anyone who will share. If you don't have the time and energy to become informed, frustration is the probable outcome, not to mention the financial hit. We don't need to steal from dealers if we are willing to do the work ourselves. When I purchase from a dealer, I expect to pay more. I also expect more from them. I have no guilt demoing and not buying if the piece isn't right. When I purchase privately, I take my chances and pay less, usually without a demo. I do know the value of what I purchase and try to have a good idea about resale value, by looking at ads right here.

Sorry this is so long and I hope it makes some sense. It is two AM and I can't sleep.

I think if you are upfront with the dealer and let them know you need to find a certain piece of gear on the cheap many will help you out and give mini auditions with the understanding that you'll be buying something from them down the line or even that day, just not the major piece you're really interested in.

but to waste a dealers time knowing you have no intention of buying from him sucks. even if the guy is a jerk. it just makes you one too.

i also think dealers feed on your enthusiasm to learn. they'll go out of their way for someone who really wants to learn from them and listen to what they have to say. some wont let you leave the store w/o making you demo gear they know you cant afford if you hit it off with them. it's all about style and relationships. if they're not into that then they're the wrong people anyway.

My dealer is a close friend of mine. I find his often dizzying markups immoral and he my occasional shopping sprees outside of his territory as well. We can both live with that, because he's also a true audiophile, which is the basis of our friendship. We both know that we have conflicting interests...and in order to preserve our friendship, we are careful to give each of us his due, as well as all the necessary leeway. If he has something I want, I will pay his price, if he shows me something, which I can get cheaper from overseas, he understands. He'll keep me informed of new developments, I might show him new gizmos, like the Bybees for example. I'll get him new customers and an occasional LP he's after, but has no time to find and he'll repair gear, which I've imported on the "grey market " . So we have built up a good symbiosis through the years, a good synergy which serves us both.

I don't use audio advice from shops when I intend to purchase used or at a discount elsewhere. Using advice to me is the same as using a demo and buying elsewhere. A long time ago someone, maybe my father, told me that if I wanted service then pay for it, otherwise buy discount. That's probably why high end camera stores and bicycle shops dropped like flies in the eighties and nineties.

I would rather buy the unit used, take my time and feel free to keep or sell. And by the way... I've demo'd a ton of pieces and resold them. I prefer to listen to the advice given here in the threads and in print to anecdotal assertions of buy here now-gold at a discount!

Bill E.