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Ever feel like a "low dollar" customer that your dealer doesn't think worth their time?

I'm a careful researcher for audio gear and I also understand the value of brick and mortar stores. I am not OCD and I am not an irascible haggler. Indeed, I have told my local stores that if they carry something I like, I will buy from them and not try to find it cheaper on the net. I have purchased major pieces of gear from them.

Nevertheless, one local shop is erratic in how it treats me. Emails can take a long time to get acknowledged, and often exchanges take several back-and-forths to get clear questions answered. This shop sells gear at my price point and up to 10x more (think Wilson speakers, $7k power cords). I often feel I'm more like a fly buzzing around their heads than a valued customer trying to establish a customer-dealer relationship. I am trying to be loyal, but it makes me want to shop online. I could be reading the situation wrong, but this is definitely a pattern.

Has anyone else had the sense that they were too much of a "low dollar" customer to be worth the dealer's time?
128x128hilde45
asvjerry's avatar
asvjerry
4,394 posts
 
minorl, I'll pass on the invite...but admire your approach...
It's beyond reproach that you need to apply it daily at all, especially in CA.
(CA native, grew up next to Compton....'nuff said....)
Hopefully, The Lesson will stick better this time around, but hoping some will finally be 'woke' is still a dream unrealized...but I'm still one happy to be surprised...

Have a better world and day tomorrow...;)

Cheers, J.
asctim
447 posts
 
 I WAS often a low dollar customer that was not worth the dealer's time. But for the most part I was treated well just because of my enthusiasm for hifi. One shop would encourage me to bring my CDs and listen at length to megabuck systems in the afternoons when their potentially paying clients weren't around. And when they were around, I was politely asked to yield the good seat, but never told to leave. 
atagulkula
14 posts
 
Mike at Audio Classics has been great to me.  Bought a MC 275 and a MC 123 for excellent prices.   
After I had inquired about the 8k 123 and decided to hold off.   He called a week later. Customer had bought it and returned 3 days later upping to new 160.   He offered to at nearly 2k off.   15 seconds later I owned it.   He almost certainly could have sold it more locally but called me.  
Class act upon Birmhamton
stmix
4 posts
 
This isn’t true at every store. When I worked in the business everyone mattered. Yes it is not as fun to sell HT or multi room audio but the high school kid or college kid getting their 1st pair of Atoms and a Yamaha receiver was just as fun for me as the guy who just spent 60k. And I know it was the people that bought the lower priced gear that allowed us to stock the better stuff. If the dealer has the passion and wants to make everyone feel welcomed the pieces on the floor will cater to every budget. 
tomic601's avatar
tomic601
12,869 posts
 
Hilde- I travel the world, wine, shotguns, cars, audio, guitars.. boats... it is all the same. spend your $ only at places of mutual respect. Never judge a book by its cover, but also don’t put up w abusive a holes. You have been pointed to two very excellent dealers about as far apart as you can get in the conus: Johnny R in NJ and Bob and Victor at Advanced ( by the way the owner is Definitive now... funny how it’s the people, or in this case perhaps Definitive in Seattle suffer no egotistical fools ? )... check them both out !!! Many other great dealers out there 2

and to the dude rebuilding the MC275 and the Delphi - good on ya, those are legendary building block esoteric components that can mix it up way way above the weight class !!!!

finally, of course Andy at Vintage tube is awesome 
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