McIntosh Amplifier clinics

Posted by Bill Way (A) on July 21, 2021 at 13:34:16

In Reply to: RE: I agree, but...... posted by Mike B. on July 21, 2021 at 13:05:03:

The clinics were brilliant. I worked for a dealer in the early 70's. On clinic day people would line up around the block, and we would test at least 50 pieces of gear, and sometimes close to 100.

As the dealer kept a copy of each test, we had binders full of them, showing how gear actually performed in the field. Those binders convinced many customers that Mac gear was indeed worth the price, so we sold lots of Mac gear to first-time buyers. The difference between the Mac gear and (almost) everything else was dramatic.

But they did something else. They prompted Mac owners to crawl around their stereo setup, unplug the Mac gear and lug it in. Once they were in the store with their gear in hand, it was easy to sell them on the newest and latest Mac gear. Without that, they would come in, look at the new gear and maybe start to think of trading it in... but the hassle of actually bringing in that heavy gear stopped many sales. Once in the store for the clinic, the hassle was in the past, so working a trade-in sale was easy.

The clinics also enabled McIntosh to see how their gear actually held up in customers' homes. That's the kind of information few manufacturers have.

Now and then someone would come in with a Mac amp with, say, a blown output transformer or some other part we didn't have. The test guys would call the factory for the part, which would be put on a plane in Binghamton, and we'd pick it up at the airport that evening or Sunday, install the part, and return the amp to the owner working just like new.

Clinic days were big sales days for us, both for first-time Mac buyers, and for Mac owners who would trade up.

WW
"Put on your high heeled sneakers. Baby, we''re goin'' out tonight.

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Follow Ups Full Thread

Topic - Dept of Silliness - Bill Way 01:26:20 07/21/21 (38)

I just want the neon sign to hang at the entrance - jedrider 18:36:07 07/22/21 (0)

They have clock too. $$$$ Pretty stupid. - oldmkvi 08:22:14 07/22/21 (1)

RE: They have clock too. $$$$ Pretty stupid. - mlsstl 11:31:49 07/22/21 (0)

Brand Loyalty - Daveslater 21:39:01 07/21/21 (0)

RE: Dept of Silliness - Todd Krieger 15:15:46 07/21/21 (0)

Isn't that why people buy McIntosh ? - AbeCollins 14:04:48 07/21/21 (18)

RE: Isn't that why people buy McIntosh ? - dgaapc7 11:44:30 07/22/21 (0)

If they had plainer cosmetics, I might buy them - Dave_K 16:22:32 07/21/21 (7)

I've got lots of Black Boxes in my system, they all look about the same. - oldmkvi 08:25:51 07/22/21 (0)

They look beautiful in my home. - oldmkvi 08:20:35 07/22/21 (1)

RE: They look beautiful in my home. - dgaapc7 11:55:46 07/22/21 (0)

Back when I worked for a Mc dealer ... - reelsmith. 07:09:31 07/22/21 (3)

"one with the glass plates and one without" - 1973shovel 09:25:20 07/22/21 (2)

That was a generation earlier and ... - reelsmith. 17:31:21 07/22/21 (1)

"not exactly a plain black box" - 1973shovel 05:31:34 07/23/21 (0)

Or... - E-Stat 15:35:09 07/21/21 (7)

RE: Or... - kentaja 07:30:18 07/22/21 (3)

RE: Or... - kentaja 07:36:07 07/22/21 (2)

I've seen that pic before - E-Stat 09:03:28 07/22/21 (1)

RE: I've seen that pic before - kentaja 14:37:12 07/22/21 (0)

I'd say that's a manly looking display... - musetap 18:14:13 07/21/21 (2)

Manly? - E-Stat 06:25:15 07/22/21 (1)

'Xactly where I was going with that... - musetap 17:32:19 07/22/21 (0)

Not necessarily. - srdavis2000 15:05:36 07/21/21 (0)

I agree, but...... - Mike B. 11:24:57 07/21/21 (3)

RE: I agree, but...... - Bill Way 11:50:51 07/21/21 (2)

RE: I agree, but...... - Mike B. 13:05:03 07/21/21 (1)

McIntosh Amplifier clinics - Bill Way 13:34:16 07/21/21 (0)

The price is reasonable for Mac... the problem is the surcharge for the... - musetap 10:45:58 07/21/21 (0)

RE: Dept of Silliness - Bill the K 08:33:37 07/21/21 (0)

What's missing - E-Stat 08:25:25 07/21/21 (0)

But it Looks so much better with the $2,000 'Upgraded' Power Cable ! .........nt - Cut-Throat 08:21:12 07/21/21 (0)

That's a turn on. Nt - geoffkait 08:10:18 07/21/21 (0)

RE: Dept of Silliness - lokie 06:53:48 07/21/21 (1)

+1 - Goober58 11:49:36 07/21/21 (0)

RE: Silly or rediculous? - tketcham 05:14:54 07/21/21 (0)

RE: Dept of Silliness - Byrd69 05:12:39 07/21/21 (1)

RE: Dept of Silliness - PAR 09:23:44 07/21/21 (0)

Follow Ups

McIntosh Amplifier clinics - Bill Way 13:34:16 07/21/21 (0)

McIntosh Amplifier clinics

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