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Visited a Store and was shunned

I live in an area where brick & mortar stores are not easily assessable to demo equipment. While traveling for business, I decided to stop by an establishment on the U.S. West coast. My interest was in the Dynaudio Confidence 20 since I’m looking to upgrade from the Contour 20i. I’m not here to name names or throw anyone under the bus, just purely to voice my frustration and disbelief on how I was treated.

I was greeted with skepticism and a general lack of interest in discussing the product. There were two gentlemen working that day and neither had any interest in answering questions or providing a listening demo. As a matter of fact, when I asked to listen to the Confidence 20 speakers one of them immediately said “no way”. Both speakers were on stands sitting next to several amplifiers so it wouldn’t have taken much time to setup.

I was intent on making a purchase that day and having the speakers shipped to my residence, but decided to leave the store based on my experience.

It’s a shame that most of us have to relay on equipment reviews when establishments such as this lack interest in the customers that support the hobby.

vette5451
kennymacc
724 posts
 

Well, I don't know if this has already been mentioned, but in todays high tech world where you have online shopping and a global marketplace, so many brick and mortar, high-end audio store sales persons have gotten to the point where they immediately suspect/assume that customers will make them go through all the trouble (in their minds) of setting up an audition in the store, only to have the customer purchase the same product he/she auditioned at the dealers online, and at a much cheaper price than the dealer could offer it for.  Heck, I know of a shop in SF that charges a fee if a customer wants to audition anything in the store.  Attitude, is nothing new.  But the high tech global marketplace has given them a reason to have even more attitude.  That's the world we live in today.  Happy listening.

erik_squires
17,552 posts
 

I disagree that callimg ahead is common courtesy, but also, if that was the problem the conversation should have gone differently. 

"I'm sorry, were not set up for demos right now,can we schedule one for you?"

raysmtb1's avatar
raysmtb1
817 posts
 

This has been going on since the beginning of time

rick_n's avatar
rick_n
482 posts
 

They need to do better.  You are the customer, your potential business was a walk-in opportunity that cost them nothing.  Your original post was fair and balanced.  The tiny universe of us in the hobby need to both look out for each other and police ourselves. 

Why not share where you had your negative experience so maybe word gets back to the shop and they have the opportunity to sharpen their pencil?  Possibly turn something negative into a positive angel

northbeach
62 posts
 

Was in Seattle the past two days and stopped at I store I wasn't aware of in the past. Tune HiFi. Learned of them having a desire to hear PMC transmission line speakers. Their phone number didn't work, but they responded to an email, asked what I presently have and what I was using to drive them. A in small jamned packed with speakers, but they had the speakers set up with Naim as I have a Naim preamp. Good guys and I like what I heard, but it is the beginning of such a journey and they weren't at all pushy.

 

 

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