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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
larsman's avatar
larsman
3,160 posts
 

@ericrhodes1 - Indeed; The guys there are nice enough and you can usually get them to deliver and set up speakers and set up cartridges - they've been there forever and have a huge inventory of excellent gear, but they know me - I've been buying stuff there for decades - and it would be nice to be greeted with a smile and a 'Hey, how ya been doing?' or something, but that doesn't seem to happen and I'm usually left alone unless I start a conversation. I don't like to feel like I'm a bother.

On the other hand, when I stop into Music Lovers, I am greeted warmly even though I've not bought anything from them; they just don't have nearly as much gear there and concentrate on just a few brands like Wilson and Sonus Faber; a much more welcoming atmosphere.   

kennyc
2,966 posts
 

@larsman ….when I stop into Music Lovers, I am greeted warmly

Music Lovers in SF is always welcoming, but Music Lovers in Berkeley I had a bad experience with a hard sell salesman (see my earlier post) after which I stopped trusting any dealer for a long time. I sent them an email noting point by point my bad experience, to their management credit they acknowledged my griefs and offered to do better.

larsman's avatar
larsman
3,160 posts
 

@kennyc - Ah, that is interesting, I've not been to their Berkeley store, just the SF one...

kennyc
2,966 posts
 

At another store I answered their question telling them I buy used, then they were noticeably disappointed. Initially I was disappointed in them not understanding as the only way I can afford desired gear is to buy second hand, but in retrospect they wanted to make a sale so decided I was not a good candidate.

Now I’m wondering unlike going to an audio show, am I using the audio store to demo then buy used elsewhere? On one hand it doesn’t seem right, but on the other hand I often can only afford used.

pointtrucking
39 posts
 

I would definitely out them. There's no respect there. No respect should be given out of the goodness to the audio community list. Their name you don't have to say what city just give their name. I would like to say that I have had nothing but great experience on the West Coast. I live in southern Oregon. And I travel south and north for audio gear last time I was in Portland my nephew just needed a inexpensive, maybe $200 phono stage. And the guy asked me about my equipment. I heard what I had and immediately took me into. Listen to the bryston model T. Speakers, even though he knew we were only there for a two hundred dollar phonostage

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