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Was I Expecting Too Much

Hi everyone.  I'm looking for a heading check with a situation I encountered yesterday.  

Background:

I'm planning to upgrade my turntable later this year - Q3 is my target.  After my research, I've narrowed down to AMG and Brinkmann.  I was able to audition an AMG Viella yesterday, and was looking to audition a Bardo or Taurus for comparison.  I know my thought of trying to fit in a Brinkmann demo was last-minute, and some dealers are particular when it comes to appointments and allowing them time to setup their demo.  

The Situation:

So I called the local Brinkmann dealer and inquired to see if a bardo or taurus happened to be setup.  The salesman I spoke with said they had both, and he was going to check if a demo was possible.  After a few minutes, I get a phone call back from the owner who seemed rather dismissive of my request.  I explained that I'm currently doing my research and looking to hear some demos to help down-select, and that my purchase would be a few months from now.  He asked for my budget which I found strange as I already stated what I was interested in demoing.  Then the conversation turned to what gear I already own, which I understand sort-of.  Then the owner basically said it doesn't make sense for me to demo anything now and to call back when I'm ready to purchase.  

How am I going to know what I want to purchase without demoing the options?

Was I expecting too much by asking to hear equipment that I'm interested in?  My opinion is a sale isn't guaranteed and an audio dealer, just like any other dealer, needs to invest some reasonable amount of time to capture a sale.  You don't capture all the sales, but I didn't think I was being unreasonable in my request and certainly was not trying to waste anyone's time.  I was pretty transparent with where I'm at and I guess he was reciprocating my transparency by telling me to go away.  I felt "less-than" by this experience.  As if I wasn't worth investing any time into.

Thoughts?

 

cbl117
waytoomuchstuff's avatar
waytoomuchstuff
1,023 posts
 

The first MINUTE of the interview process between potential customer and dealer is the most important.  It is during this period were it will be determined IF there is a valid reason for either party to continue pursuing their obnjectives.

Key words from a customer such as "I'm shopping for a ...." is a bad place to begin a conversation.  The term "shopping for" can have many connotations including: "I'm going to buy where I'm going to get the best deal".  Dealers have seen this movie before, so some quick math (I'm going to offer my time and resources and my prospect of closing this sale are on the order of 20%) and may prefer to withdraw.  "Ready to buy" puts his prospect at 60%+.  Simple math.  Business 101.

mdalton's avatar
mdalton
327 posts
 

@waytoomuchstuff 

Huh?  Since when is it not ok for a consumer to say “I’m shopping for”?  Since when are dealers immune from having to compete in a market economy where price and service are key components of a consumer’s buying decision?  You seem to be suggesting that the consumer should, in effect, tell the dealer that he/she is going to buy from the dealer no matter what.  And that, to me is upside down, and, respectfully, crazy.

waytoomuchstuff's avatar
waytoomuchstuff
1,023 posts
 

@mdalton

My point is that during the "interview process" there are certain key words that throw up a red flag and indicate that the potential customer is a "shopper" and not a good prospect. How this is framed and communicated matters. The dealer may be cautious and protective of time and assets, perhaps (based on past experiences). But, not crazy.

bubba12's avatar
bubba12
431 posts
 

I hate to say it but most of them want you to come in and listen to one song and walk out with $100k in product. All paid at retail price. I have never had my ultimate experience which would be being turned loose with the equipment that I want to listen to with no one standing next to me. It doesn't happen in my experience.

mdalton's avatar
mdalton
327 posts
 

@waytoomuchstuff 
 

Again, I am going to have to respectfully disagree.  There is no “interview process” in this transaction.  This not akin to a job interview where the employee and employer - in the best of circumstances - have something closer to equal power in the relationship.  Instead, this is a case where the consumer has money that the dealer wants.  Yes, the dealer has something the consumer wants, but the dealer is not unique in that regard.  A much better analogy would be when I hire a contractor to do work on my house.  I suppose there are some contractors who walk away if they discover that I’m talking to other contractors - “shopping for” other contractors? - but that usually means they are way overpriced and/or not to be trusted (and maybe just a little bit crazy, lol!).

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