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In Reply to: Hmmmm... Looks like there's two sides to this story. posted by Markw* on February 14, 2007 at 20:52:12:
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My first thre calls were guys asking about Cary and Musical Fidelity gear. New stuff. It was quite funny that all three were from Jersey.Two wanted technical help in understanding the product....understand while this is happening I have messages beingg let in front of me left and right. All they want is a few minutes of ex[ert advice. John Ruttan at Audio Connection is their dealer and I send 'em back their. But if I do that.....let's say 30 minutes 6 times a day which could happen as a minimum w/ people I can't do business with, that's three hours a day. Then to properly demo three sets of speakers for Robert as he requested...
I would be out of business. Any successful dealer will have to say "no" sometimes. Why do you think your local dealer is gone? Think about it. And be honest.It sucks....but people at Audiogon have turned it into a commodity with "Auctions stating at $1". The quality of buyers that go their is horrible and now private parties don't even want to deal with it. Now look at my used page. It has doubled in size recently.
While I am typing this a guy bought a used preamp somewhere and it doesn't work right. Intermittent hum. He doesn't call the seller. He doesn't call the manufacturer. He is on the phone w/ Jared sitting to my right......and is pissed we won't go through and trouble shoot everything with him. Are we wrong in qualifying and saying "no"?????
Kevin, I do have to agree with what you are saying. I too have found myself spending half a day auditioning products for a customer only to have them say "I'll think about it and get back to you", only to find out later they ended buying it from AudioGon.Dealers have overhead and yes, we have to make money. This is what makes it possible to have these products available for you to audition as well as become familiar with them ourselves to be better able to offer you, the consumer, knowledgable advise and information on them.
There are too many so called "dealers" out there that have nothing more than a website loaded with products they can "get for you". Product they have never even seen in person. Ask them a question about it (other than price) and they are as lost as you are. These types of "Internet" dealers do no good for the audio industry and only bring to the honest, dedicated dealers more grief. Why should we do their job for them. Might as well hand them the keys to our business.
I now have to to turn away a good number of people asking for my time to help them through a problem they are having with a piece they purchased used from A-Gon. Not because I don't want to help them but simply due to the fact that I do not have that kind of dispossable time. I learned the hard way that if you do it once, they WILL try to take advantage of you. This takes time away from loyal as well as potential, sencere new consumers that want professional information to help them make the right purchasing decision from our facility.
In all fairness, I will give some credit here. There are a few consumers out there that do respect the time of a dealer. I have had a few (very few) that I have helped on the phone and then found a check in my mailbox a week later with a note thanking me for taking the time to help.
Working with consumers in the indutry is a time consuming process and it's only fair to give some curtisy to dealers. Sure you can save some money buying used but like buying a used car, are you really sure what you're getting. Seeking out and purchasing from a reputable dealer may save you a lot of grief and potentially a lot of money in the long run.
Dulcet tones and a polite attitude explaining you are busy , can't support the product and would suggest a loacal agent will work wonders , the time is worth the good PR ..
Having exposure like this on the internet and a crass rude attitude is bad for business. If you are getting a huge amt of trivial calls a day to the detriment of you functioning , hire a receptionist/PA that can screen the calls , take messages and phone ppl you want to speak to as well as generally act as a buffer You can then do the real stuff , make money and have a less harrasing day (You sound extemely stressed and burnt out).
One of the first contacts a customer has with a business is the phone , make VERY sure that that first impression is good , a receptionist makes it look good , efficient , professional.
Rodney Gold
It's the business paradigm now. The Internet has changed everything and it's a consumers world. If you don't like it maybe you should consider getting out.
If you buy something from me, I will support it above and beyond the call of duty. Even if you blow out your amp while hooking things up incorrectly when preparing for a party on New Year's Eve. You'll be up and running in time for your party. But if you bought on Audiogon and that happens, why the hell should I go out of my way and treat you as if you were a past customer or client? It doesn't mean I won't help, you'll just have to wait until it fits my schedule.There are two sides to this paradigm shift, it isn't one sided and mean the dealer has got to be a kiss-ass no matter what the circumstances are.
He wasn't asking for free support for his Audiogon purchases.He was merely being chastised for making the purchases in the first place, which was none of the salseman's damn business, really.
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