Who is the WORST Audio Shop?

Back to JS Audio in Bethesda, MD... I've had wonderful experience with them.  Over some years, bought three sets of Wilson speakers, a High End sub, a top Ayre DAC.  They came to the house and packed up my WP7 speakers taken in trade to deliver and set up the Sasha's. I've since moved to Sarasota so they drop shipped my latest Wilsons and came down to pack up the traded speakers and set up the new.  All at fair, read discounted, prices.  Joe is a unique personality which could be considered abrupt if you don't know him.  He's a good dealer, knows his business and takes cake of his customers.  I note in reading this blog that folks seem to have the most issues in very affluent areas, where potential customers have and spend for larger purchases.  If you are in the business of selling big ticket stuff it's difficult to deal with the curious who could never afford to buy those items.  There are ways to be polite to everyone and maybe give them a peek at the aspirational products... you never can tell who has or will come into some cash.

I’ve had similar unpleasant experiences with audio dealers who did their best to figure out what I was willing or able to spend. They assumed I was looking for a Best Buy store to buy a low budget stereo system.  Unless they know you they seem to do their best to chase you out of the store.

I dropped in on a dealer in OC, Ca to discuss a new system. He was really put out by my failure to schedule an appointment with him. He eventually allowed me to listen to a system he had ready to go but made sure I knew he was doing me a big favor.

Another dealer – a famous OC audio shop -  flatly refused to let me listen to his Magico S3 speakers because he was too busy to turn the system on. This was at a LA/OC Audio Society sponsored open house – usually the perfect time and place for auditioning new gear.

I now have a great dealer who understands audio equipment and customer service. It’s like finding a good doctor – you have to kiss some frogs.