Visited a Store and was shunned

Have to resort to reading reviews of equipment? ROFL! Good luck with that. The audio mags are my last place to read a review of any audio gear. Have you seen Jay’s YT videos on audio magazine gear reviews? A must watch, but it was common knowledge before those videos landed. 

When I’m interested in upgrading or just buying new gear, I go to audio shows or fly to a dealer or manufacturer to listen to a specific audio product. I’ve even flown to Austria to go to a manufacturer that I liked at RMAF to see their manufacturing process and listen to their products. Take in some vacation while stopping by a manufacturer, good way to spend a week or 2. 

Most of the time I work with manufacturers/dealers that I have already dealt with to bring in their gear to evaluate in my own room/with my own gear, which is the only way to fully judge if something is going to work out

Did you call ahead of time to set up an appointment? If you had and told them what you were interested in and your intent, I'm sure they would have fawned all over you and perhaps had a hot pizza and some red wine to consume during a break in the listening. 

If you want a job, you don't walk into the interview without a copy of your resume...

@noromance I had the complete opposite experience there. I was in town on business and knew about Goodwins, so I decided to stop in. I had to get "buzzed in" because they kept the door locked.

At the time, I had KEF R series and was only using an older Denon AVR to run them, so I explained that to the guy (who I know has since passed away.) Without asking what my use, situation, or budget was he reached for a Hegel H360 an plopped it on the counter, asking for my credit card "so you can take it home and try it."

When I stopped him cold and asked how much it would cost, he put it back without even telling me how much and asked "Are we done here now?" I got the clear signal and left. I went back to Audio Video Therapy in Nashua NH where I'd bought the speakers and was treated like a valuable customer and got something.

I've never gone back to Goodwins and never will. Meanwhile, AVT had sold me mid-5 figures worth of stuff and treated me the very same as they have from Day 1.

When I moved here (DFW) in the late 80s, there were at least 6 B&M stores and all were eager to give anyone a demo and customer service was good. It was actually fun to shop audio gear back then. Today there’s only 1 left that I know of. Not fun shopping anymore.

When competition dies, customer service is buried along with it.

@jallan The Sonus Blue Gold was one of my favorite cartridges! I hadn't thought of it in years!