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I usually don't visit high end dealers anymore, mainly because of the snobbish attitude of the sales people. But this one takes the cake. Spearit Sound in Boston, MA. First time I went there I was looking to see if they carried the Marantz SA11 S1 SACD player. I was told by this nerdy salesperson they don't carry "low end" components. I asked him if he has ever listened to one before making a judgement. Well, you probably know the answer. So I thought this guy was just an A-hole, and the rest of the sales people weren't like him. The second time around I went there to to hear the Dali Megalines, but they needed repair so weren't available for audition. This other sales guy tells me to have a listen to the all dynamic Dali MS5. I told him I prefer the sound of planar speakers (I've already heard the MS5 from another dealer several years ago). To which this idiot replied planars are obsolete. Actually, anything that they didn't carry was "obsolete". Do these guys actually think they will make a sale with this kind of attitude to customers? I gave them a second chance and they failed miserably. I just turned around and left without saying a word to this guy. He seemed surprised that I was leaving. BTW, I was the only customer in the place. Figures.
Follow Ups:
I've had pretty good experience with the Spearit Sound store in Northampton but can't speak for their Boston store. Ditto for Natural Sound in Framingham. Having said this, my own preference is to buy on-line if at all possible, since I don't like interacting with salespeople in brick-and-mortar stores period. Manufacturers who directly sell to the public (usually via the Internet) have often provided me with the most satisfying customer relationship experiences. Perhaps they have more to lose if they don't???
I called Spearit a couple of years ago in reference to an Audiogon listing (which I ultimately did not purchase); I cannot recall the name of the gentleman I spoke with, but he was polite, thanked me for my interest, fully (and patiently) answered my questions, and seemed generally enthusiastic about his job (our conversation turned tangential and we ended up talking about general hifi stuff for 10-15 minutes). I really think you just had an unfortunate string of nothing more than bad luck.That being said, I must single out Youngblood Systems (Oklahoma City) as a fine example of what a dealer should be. Mr. Youngblood operates his store out of his home and carries (and appropriately demonstrates) numerous high-end brands (ARC, Rogue, Metronome, DCS, Bel Canto, Amphion, Vandersteen, Totem, Classe, ASL, and others, as well as a good selection of "mid fi" brands), always discounts off MSRP (gives a break both in the asking price as well as additional discount for cash/check payment), and is at all times friendly and helpful (and at no time does he employ "hard sell" techniques). Additionally, he hosts regular informal Saturday afternoon listening sessions, and anyone who has given him their email address (regardless of whether or not they have made any purchases) will receive an invitation. These meetings are great fun; we simply bring some interesting recordings and spend the afternoon playing around with the gear (for example, during a recent session we compared the DCS p8, ARC CD7, and ARC CD3 - I preferred the CD7), drinking coffee, and talking hifi. I have made new friends, been exposed to new music, and have had the opportunity to play with equipment priced way beyond my means without pressure to buy; what could be better?
whose store was on a main street and he had *acres* of shelf space stacked with Mullard and Telefunken tubes + much other exotica
When I enquired about a pair of ECC83 Mullards, he said "Nah, don't have any" crossed his arms, spun on his heel and walked off into the depths of the store. I'd driven some considerable distance; after he'd already confirmed by 'phone, the price, and the fact he had these in stock
I vaulted the counter; grabbed a pair of Mullard ECC-83's that were prominently displayed and yelled out "Hey, looks you have these after all!" at which point the old boy reappeared in a huff and reluctantly took my money
I swore I would never visit his store again; ( and didn't ) but years later I discovered I'd bought a book he'd written
I gave the book away to a friend with some tube amps; the Mullards lasted for yearsGrins
.
I have been going to Spearit Sound since 1998, after Alan Goodwin had left but when it was still called Goodwins Audio. I have bought speakers, a CD player, preamps, power amps and surround sound processors there, plus cables and accessories. I like it.I have also shopped at Goodwin's High End. I just bought a VPI Scout with Benz Ace cartridge there, and was very happy with the service and, in particular, Jim Fuller's instalation. I like it too.
I also have bought stuff from Mikhael Shabani at the Audio Studio in Brookline, including his Prelude speakers - also a good guy and a neat place.
Spearit Sound can be a bit edgy at times. Some of the sales personnel aren't all that great. A few of them are aloof, though not all of them by any sense, a few aren't too knowledgeable, but most are, and they are all spacey enough that they won't always return phone calls, but overall it's an honest place, with a good selection of mid-end to high-end stuff sold at a 10% to 20% discount, with decent specials and a fair amount of used stuff too. Ralph is fair. Leland and Steve are super good guys. (I'm disabled and they have ALWAYS delivered and installed the stuff I bought at no extra charge).
If you want to say you had a bad experience, then that's fine. It's helpful to know, but to brand that store as the most snobby in Boston on a public forum based on a couple of bad visits isn't cool.
I'm glad that a number of other folks have posted likewise below.
I'm glad they treat you well, perhaps because you are a repeat customer. The post is my opinion only. May be they thought I didn't look like a rich audiophile worth their time - I was in jeans and t-shirt. I don't believe in the premise you have to buy from the dealer before they treat you with respect. I blew off my first experience there as an anomally and didn't think badly of the dealer, but second time around I couldn't pass it up. The guy went on and on about how planars were obsolete, including the Quads because they were being built in China. I reminded him the new Quads have the best build quality of all the previous Quads. In a condescending tone he said, "Well, that's an interesting opinion." Then he started on how Martin-Logans were the worst designed speaker all time and were being sold at Best Buy. I told him I've never seen MLs in Best Buy, and the guy got annoyed with me because I challenged him. Mind you I'm not a bigt fan of ML except for the CLS, but worst designed speaker? Did he think I was some i-pod loving teenager who just walked off the street? I think they carried the ML in the past. I decided that I had enough BS to last a life time and left.
nt
They treated me well the first time I was there, when I bought some very basic Rotel equipment.I am neither rich, nor do I look rich. And, while I have bought a fair amount of stuff from them over the years, most of it is relatively modest.
Frankly, it sounds to me like you went in there looking for a fight and found one. Congratulations.
Sorry if I sounded like that. Honestly, all I wanted to do was listen to the Megalines, as I am in the market for a speaker in this price range. The prior bad experience did not even occur to me until after this event. I had no reason to pick a fight with them. Why would I make waves with the only dealer in my area who has the speaker I was interested in? I don't know what happened to trigger such a response from this sales guy. Again this was my experience. It's clear others have had positive experiences there.
I miss Zip!
Am I the only one who thinks this Don T. is a total tool? See his posts below. He thinks those of us who has had bad experience with snobby dealers are cheap, surfing through the internet only looking for the cheapest deal without regard for system synergy and quality service. The guy just doesn't get it, and you can't logically argue him. It's like talking to a door knob.
Now you're being dishonest!
We've all had experience with snobby dealers both b&m and internet sales - audio and otherwise.The only reason one would single out all b&m dealers like you did is to justify saving money by buying mail order.
Or, resorting to the kind of paranoia you've display, maybe you yourself is invested in internet sales. Huh?
Give me rhythm or give me death!
Didn't I say Goodwins in Waltham is an excellent dealer as are several dealers in Southern Cal? I have bought more than half of my components through b/m dealers. Your continued insistence that I have problems with ALL b/m dealers demonstrates your stupidy in not understanding my posts. There are components that are made in other countryies or by a single or few persons that can not be acquired through a b/m dealer, and thus require mail order. Why can't you get this simple concept? You basically insult most on this forum by stating those who order by mail are cheap, as there are more hi end sales through the internet than through all b/m dealers combined. Unfortunately and fortunately in some cases, b/m dealers are a dying breed. You can go ahead and buy all the Stereophile rated components at full retail price if you want. We can care less. But being snobby and stupid is no way to go through life.
Didn't I say Goodwins in Waltham is an excellent dealer as are several dealers in Southern Cal?
But you rarely visit them because of snobbishness! At least you said so originally.I have bought more than half of my components through b/m dealers.
But not anymore! So you said!Your continued insistence that I have problems with ALL b/m dealers demonstrates your stupidy in not understanding my posts.
So what you said is clearly not what you meant. Now that you've cleared up what was most obviously the point (intentional or not) of your originally selected words.There are components that are made in other countryies or by a single or few persons that can not be acquired through a b/m dealer, and thus require mail order. Why can't you get this simple concept?
Oh I quess I didn't realize most of the component you've purchased have been made in other countries that are not available at the b/m? Maybe if you had listed an equipment profile this would have been more clear. You've failed to make this point previously nor have you mentioned the names of such gear that you are currently mostly buying.You basically insult most on this forum by stating those who order by mail are cheap, as there are more hi end sales through the internet than through all b/m dealers combined.
Yes I believe they are. Not all of them but most of them. If my beliefs insult most audiophiles why do I care? And even beyond that why would you care?Unfortunately and fortunately in some cases, b/m dealers are a dying breed.
I think it's clearly unfortunate.You can go ahead and buy all the Stereophile rated components at full retail price if you want.
LOL! I doubt I've got any recommended components in my system - if I do let me know. On the other hand I'm betting that far more recommended components are sold used and through discount outlets than through authorized dealers. I'm sure many/most Stereophile readers are confident enough in their purchases not to worry about what it sounds like - being on the recommendated components list makes it good enough for them.You can go on buying your Stereophile recommended components at deep discount through internet sources. Which is clearly what YOU'VE been advocating not me.
We can care less. But being snobby and stupid is no way to go through life.
Sure you can care less but you don't. I think that comment displays more than just a vaque ingnorance of your own brand of dishonesty. That's why you are continuing to make a fool out of yourself by name calling and trying to weasel out of your original remarks.
Give me rhythm or give me death!
Hey Donkey. Where specifically in my post did I said ALL dealers were snobby? Please point out the word ALL in my original post. I never said Goodwins was snobbish. They are not - it is probably one of the best dealer in the US. Again you have to resort to your delusions to support your feeble case.I have already listed most of the speakers I have owned or own. You haven't. What have you got to hide? Please tell us what you own.
It is not necessary to rewrite line for line what I have said and respond underneath. Unlike you, we have reasonable attention span and memory.
You were the idiot who fell prey to dealer manipulation as you confessed earlier. Do you still bend over and tell your dealer, "Thank you very much, may I have another!"
We are so impressed you can AFFORD to pay extra for your equipment, so you can sit all by your lonesome and revel in the fact the you have money to throw around. I'm sure your very happy to have your stereo equipment as your only friends. Certainly looks like you have no fan on this forum.
Hey Donkey. Where specifically in my post did I said ALL dealers were snobby? Please point out the word ALL in my original post. I never said Goodwins was snobbish. They are not - it is probably one of the best dealer in the US. Again you have to resort to your delusions to support your feeble case.LOL! You said you rarely visit hifi shops. And you said this was because of snobbishness.
Well how good can Goodwins be if you rarely visit them?
Heck you say you've only been in a high fi shop 3 times in the last 2 years and at least one of those was your latest bad experience.
So the truth of matter is you simply rarely visit hifi shops and it's really not because of snobbishness.
I have already listed most of the speakers I have owned or own. You haven't. What have you got to hide? Please tell us what you own.
It's in my profile but I own Epos M3, Spendor SP100s and Living Voice Auditorium Avatars.
Didn't realize your speakers or the products you listed were special out of the country orders like you claim. It all seems like fairly common stuff available through US distributors and resellers.
It is not necessary to rewrite line for line what I have said and respond underneath. Unlike you, we have reasonable attention span and memory.
LOL! Sure thing! Any reasonable person would have checked my equipment profile without having to be told.
Secondly none of the gear you listed below seems like special order, can't find in dealer showroom kind of stuff like you claim down below. Matter of fact that's stuff you claim to have bought from dealers.
How about listing this hard to find import stuff made by small companies outside of the US not available at US dealers that you claim to own?
You were the idiot who fell prey to dealer manipulation as you confessed earlier. Do you still bend over and tell your dealer, "Thank you very much, may I have another!"
I suppose that's a difference between you and me. I realize mistakes I have made and share them with others so they can avoid the same things. You on the other hand apparently never have realized you have made a mistake - and I guess in your mind you haven't.
We are so impressed you can AFFORD to pay extra for your equipment, so you can sit all by your lonesome and revel in the fact the you have money to throw around.
You miss the point entirely. I don't believe attempting to buy more than I can afford is worth the effort. My gear is quite modest by high end standards, and if someone want to call it midfi have at it, and I have some pride in the fact that I make more than a 1/2 assed effort to buy the right stuff.
I'm sure your very happy to have your stereo equipment as your only friends. Certainly looks like you have no fan on this forum.
I'm not looking for fans or really even friends when it comes to my audiophile hobby. Apparently that's something important to you and IMO it's kind of funny yet at the same time very sad.
Really guy it's like you've gotten a confidence boost from the fact that some people agree with your dumb and lame as postings. Wow I can tell it makes you feel good.
Give me rhythm or give me death!
Donkey still can't answer my basic question. Where does it say ALL in my original post?Sorry you have no friends to speak of.
You said rarely do you go into audio shops because of snobbishness.The fact you admit one dealership you rarely visit isn't a snob has nothing to do with the point I'm trying to make.
My point is about you rarely going into hifi shops and how IMO that's a resource audiophiles should take advantage of as much as possible.
I never said, or never meant to say, you said ALL dealers were snobs - if I did please point it out - my apologies in advance. However you did say you rarely go into audioshops because of snobbishness.
Heck if you've got access to a good hifi shop that doesn't effect your snob sensibilities why do you rarely go into it?
Please don't call me out to answer a question - you've avoided answering mine - and I'm about ready to gather them all up and put them in a post to show how disingenuous your name-calling non-responsive attacks have actually been.
Give me rhythm or give me death!
Making up your own words again, Donkey? Please tell me where in my OP post did I use the word RARELY. Really, how do you go through life confabulating and forgetting.Please go ahead and post how disingenuous I have been. I would love to be amused to see the lengths you would go and the time you would take out of your life to do so. Please I beg you Donkey.
Nothing disingenuous about my position.You rarely go into hifi shops because of snobbishness.
That's what you've told us in this thread.
You're only been into hifi 2 or 3 times in the last 2 years and you admitted you usually don't go anymore.
Are you now denying you've said any such things!!!!!!!!!
Give me rhythm or give me death!
Thank you for pointing out that I never said RARELY. I don't consider having visited dealers 3 times in 2 years rare at all. It's all relative. Compared to you who hangs out at local dealers like a junky, I guess that's rare. But people with lives and friends who don't need a dealer to define their existence, it's not rare at all. Compared to your regular Joe who's been to a hi end dealer once in his life, 3 times in 2 years is overkill. It's sad you spend so much of your life at dealers. I have other avenues to listen to new equipment as I have already stated. Like I said, go to a ball game. There are other things in life that are as much or more enjoyable than audio.
ROTFLOL! I could make an arguement how an audiophile could be successful without visiting local dealers.
You clearly have shown you can not do it.Well I already apologized but I'm ALMOST sorry I did! All dealers and salespeople can be snobs - be it internet, b&m, audio, appliance, auto, etc.
The point I'm making and still stand by is that you've single out B&M audio dealers being worse.
And I submit that most audiophiles would do this because justifies their desire to be CHEAPER and to buy audio mail order than through B&M outlets.
I also said MOST and I've given you numerous oppurtunities to describe how a caring audiophile could avoid local dealers and still get listening experiences required to make informed and educated purchase.
You've fail miserably to put yourself ahead of the masses.
That being said you've failed to tell us how you get your hands on / ears on listening experiences AND you failed to tell us about this small company manufactured equipment not sold by US dealers that you have to buy mail order!
Oh yea you claim you have audiophile friends. Sure thing - I've got audiophile friends too. But you know what their systems are so different than mine I find the components they own only minimally interesting.
I'm sure all of your friends have systems similar to yours and they let you take their gear home so you can find synergistic matches with your system. Unless you're in some kind of dealer or manufactured club you just aren't going to find many if any audiophiles close by with similar systems.
Truth of the matter is I know a few guys around the country who I discuss my system with and I trust their opinion to a degree. And though I've met at least a couple of audiophiles with gear like mine locally I didn't care for them personally.
But I'm sure you're such a man about town the you know a bunch of people in your town with the kind of rare small manufacturer equipment that has to be mail ordered because their are no dealers. You're so full of it you reek!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
You've proven yourself an attention seeking loser AND an outright liar. I'm sure your friends won't even notice.
Give me rhythm or give me death!
Blah, blah, blah....
Give me rhythm or give me death!
nt
I've said you said rarely all along.
Give me rhythm or give me death!
"We've all had experience with snobby dealers both b&m and internet sales - audio and otherwise.The only reason one would single out ALL b&m dealers like you did is to justify saving money by buying mail order."
Don't you remember Donkey?
ROTFLOL! I could make an arguement how an audiophile could be successful without visiting local dealers.You clearly have shown you can not do it.
Well I already apologized but I'm ALMOST sorry I did! All dealers and salespeople can be snobs - be it internet, b&m, audio, appliance, auto, etc.
The point I'm making and still stand by is that you've single out B&M audio dealers being worse.
And I submit that most audiophiles would do this because justifies their desire to be CHEAPER and to buy audio mail order than through B&M outlets.
I also said MOST and I've given you numerous oppurtunities to describe how a caring audiophile could avoid local dealers and still get listening experiences required to make informed and educated purchase.
You've fail miserably to put yourself ahead of the masses.
That being said you've failed to tell us how you get your hands on / ears on listening experiences AND you failed to tell us about this small company manufactured equipment not sold by US dealers that you have to buy mail order!
Oh yea you claim you have audiophile friends. Sure thing - I've got audiophile friends too. But you know what their systems are so different than mine I rarely find the components they own only minimally interesting.
I'm sure all of your friends have systems similar to yours and they let you take their gear home so you can find synergistic matches with your system. Unless you're in some kind of dealer or manufactured club you just aren't going to find many if any audiophiles close by with similar systems that you can get along with.
Truth of the matter is I know a few guys around the country who I discuss my system with and I trust their opinion to a degree. And though I've met at least a couple of audiophiles with gear like mine locally I didn't care for them personally.
But I'm sure you're such a man about town the you know a bunch of people in your town with the kind of rare small manufacturer equipment that has to be mail ordered because their are no dealers. You're so full of it you reek!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
You've proven yourself an attention seeking loser. I'm sure your friends won't even notice.
Give me rhythm or give me death!
Go back and read your posts again, Donkey. You stated multiple times that I said ALL the dealers were snobs. Do I have to make this really simple for you and put them in quotes again? Memory failing you again?
Give me rhythm or give me death!
"We've all had experience with snobby dealers both b&m and internet sales - audio and otherwise.The only reason one would single out ALL b&m dealers like you did is to justify saving money by buying mail order."
Don't you remember, little Donkey?
ROTFLOL! I could make an arguement how an audiophile could be successful without visiting local dealers.You clearly have shown you can not do it.
Well I already apologized but I'm ALMOST sorry I did! All dealers and salespeople can be snobs - be it internet, b&m, audio, appliance, auto, etc.
The point I'm making and still stand by is that you've single out B&M audio dealers being worse.
And I submit that most audiophiles would do this because justifies their desire to be CHEAPER and to buy audio mail order than through B&M outlets.
I also said MOST and I've given you numerous oppurtunities to describe how a caring audiophile could avoid local dealers and still get listening experiences required to make informed and educated purchase.
You've fail miserably to put yourself ahead of the masses.
That being said you've failed to tell us how you get your hands on / ears on listening experiences AND you failed to tell us about this small company manufactured equipment not sold by US dealers that you have to buy mail order!
Oh yea you claim you have audiophile friends. Sure thing - I've got audiophile friends too. But you know what their systems are so different than mine I find the components they own only minimally interesting.
I'm sure all of your friends have systems similar to yours and they let you take their gear home so you can find synergistic matches with your system. Unless you're in some kind of dealer or manufactured club you just aren't going to find many if any audiophiles close by with similar systems.
Truth of the matter is I know a few guys around the country who I discuss my system with and I trust their opinion to a degree. And though I've met at least a couple of audiophiles with gear like mine locally I didn't care for them personally.
But I'm sure you're such a man about town the you know a bunch of people in your town with the kind of rare small manufacturer equipment that has to be mail ordered because their are no dealers. You're so full of it you reek!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
You've proven yourself an attention seeking loser AND an outright liar. I'm sure your friends won't even notice.
Give me rhythm or give me death!
Please, please, please, please go ahead!!!! I'm gonna go listen to my music while you pound on your keyboard waisting your life away.
In case you are confused Donkey, the above is my response to your "threat" to post how disingenuous I have been.
ROTFLOL! I could make an arguement how an audiophile could be successful without visiting local dealers.
You clearly have shown you can not do it.Well I already apologized but I'm ALMOST sorry I did! All dealers and salespeople can be snobs - be it internet, b&m, audio, appliance, auto, etc.
The point I'm making and still stand by is that you've single out B&M audio dealers being worse.
And I submit that most audiophiles would do this because justifies their desire to be CHEAPER and to buy audio mail order than through B&M outlets.
I also said MOST and I've given you numerous oppurtunities to describe how a caring audiophile could avoid local dealers and still get listening experiences required to make informed and educated purchase.
You've fail miserably to put yourself ahead of the masses.
That being said you've failed to tell us how you get your hands on / ears on listening experiences AND you failed to tell us about this small company manufactured equipment not sold by US dealers that you have to buy mail order!
Oh yea you claim you have audiophile friends. Sure thing - I've got audiophile friends too. But you know what their systems are so different than mine I find the components they own only minimally interesting.
I'm sure all of your friends have systems similar to yours and they let you take their gear home so you can find synergistic matches with your system. Unless you're in some kind of dealer or manufactured club you just aren't going to find many if any audiophiles close by with similar systems.
Truth of the matter is I know a few guys around the country who I discuss my system with and I trust their opinion to a degree. And though I've met at least a couple of audiophiles with gear like mine locally I didn't care for them personally.
But I'm sure you're such a man about town the you know a bunch of people in your town with the kind of rare small manufacturer equipment that has to be mail ordered because their are no dealers. You're so full of it you reek!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
You've proven yourself an attention seeking loser AND an outright liar. I'm sure your friends won't even notice.
Give me rhythm or give me death!
nt
Give me rhythm or give me death!
Keep it simple dummy, if you want to make a point. You're gonna git lost in your own dribble.
Give me rhythm or give me death!
see my post above.
ROTFLOL! I could make an arguement how an audiophile could be successful without visiting local dealers.
You clearly have shown you can not do it.Well I already apologized but I'm ALMOST sorry I did! All dealers and salespeople can be snobs - be it internet, b&m, audio, appliance, auto, etc.
The point I'm making and still stand by is that you've single out B&M audio dealers being worse.
And I submit that most audiophiles would do this because justifies their desire to be CHEAPER and to buy audio mail order than through B&M outlets.
I also said MOST and I've given you numerous oppurtunities to describe how a caring audiophile could avoid local dealers and still get listening experiences required to make informed and educated purchase.
You've fail miserably to put yourself ahead of the masses.
That being said you've failed to tell us how you get your hands on / ears on listening experiences AND you failed to tell us about this small company manufactured equipment not sold by US dealers that you have to buy mail order!
Oh yea you claim you have audiophile friends. Sure thing - I've got audiophile friends too. But you know what their systems are so different than mine I find the components they own only minimally interesting.
I'm sure all of your friends have systems similar to yours and they let you take their gear home so you can find synergistic matches with your system. Unless you're in some kind of dealer or manufactured club you just aren't going to find many if any audiophiles close by with similar systems.
Truth of the matter is I know a few guys around the country who I discuss my system with and I trust their opinion to a degree. And though I've met at least a couple of audiophiles with gear like mine locally I didn't care for them personally.
But I'm sure you're such a man about town the you know a bunch of people in your town with the kind of rare small manufacturer equipment that has to be mail ordered because their are no dealers. You're so full of it you reek!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
You've proven yourself an attention seeking loser AND an outright liar. I'm sure your friends won't even notice.
Give me rhythm or give me death!
I shared this a number of years ago. A place on either West or East Paces Ferry Rd in Atlanta. Visiting a friend who was not the best driver. His car was a multi-colored inexpensive Ford product. The salesmen saw us drive up and refused to wait on me. The next day I drove up in my new TR-6. They couldn't be more helpful. They moved equiptment around, hooking and un-hooking, for about two hours. I thanked them an left. Never returned. Oh did I mention: I switched my no name jeans to ones that had a name on my butt.
with Spearit Sound was totally different, both in Boston and Northampton. They always treat me with great respect, are never pushy, and have little attitude. They carry all kinds of equipment from upper-mid to high-end, plus personal audio (ipods and radios). There's a fellow in the Boston store named Leland who's particularly pleasant and informative. I got to listen to anything I wanted, and they seemed genuinely intent on helping me narrow down my choices. Frankly, all the remaining stores that sell genuine high-end in the Boston area are friendly.
Now I've been to other stores over the years, usually downtown in the largest major cities (e.g. SbS in NY, Paul Heath in Chicago) where I got that better-than-you attitude, usually from the least-experienced salesclerks. And of course I try not to behave like a rude, know-it-all ass, and I don't press for internet discounts from a bricks-and-mortar store. But I would not hesitate to purchase equipment from Spearit Sound. Maybe you just had a couple of bad days...
That's where I heard the HQD speaker system.
Driven with 6 monster ML amps.GTF
.David
Possibly. I let the first incident go thinking it was this one guy. But when I experienced the same attitude from a different salesman from the same store, I just was not interested in giving them my business. Glad you had a better experience.
Click the link below. Good stuff.Cheers,
Bobbo :-)
Best regards,
Ya know,Why on earth would you be snobby to Customers? I always thought the goal was to introduce people to the wonders of HIGH-END audio, not beat em' down. I HIGHLY recommend 2 class-act dealers that I have been doing business with for years. They simply let the gear do the talking and are VERY kind and great to work with.
SOUNDSCAPE in Santa Rosa, CA MARC SILVER
HOLLYWOOD SOUND in Hollywood, FL LARRY WEINSTEINOne of Larry's thoughts at Hollywood Sound is that Reproduced music should communicate the emotion and content of the original performance. I truly care what my customers buy. Therefore I am willing to spend the time needed so you, the customer, are sonically satisfied. AND HE DOES TOO!!!
Now that’s service!!!
Greetings MGH;Excellent question/comments in regards to dealers biasing theyre own gear as well as the many inmates comments on snobbery, it surely exists out theyre, based on your overwelming feedback.
What a shame, Dealers should be honest and forthright with REAL ENTHUSIASM for the hobby, and the gear that define it. More in todays market than ever before! In my experiance I havent faced the snobbery aspect as yet, knock on wood. But the bashing of competitors products is something Ive experianced firsthand and nothing can send up "red flags" faster than this self-serving attitude. So distasteful and painfully obvious.
This took place somewhere { prefer to refrain from naming } I purchased some equipment from in the past and as a result has more than likely lost any future buisness from me or friendly referrals as well, just based on this single selfish act. However they still offer great selection and service with very knowledgeable salesman yet even though this was an isolated event the overall feeling I came away with for this brick and mortar was one of no integrity and a general lack of confidence. Up untill then I had shopped theyre with confidence and purchased often.
The piece of equipment they took a shot at I KNOW is one of high pedigree, and held in high regards by many and I felt they were trying to twist my perception. Kudos to them!!!!
On a side note, I read further down in this thread and noted you had the Mirage M1 at one time, can I trouble you to share your impressions of these fine speakers of yesteryear, both good or bad. I love my Mirage OM6s.
BEST...
Regards,
/// Tim W. ///
Hi Tim,I really loved the M1s because it had the staging/imaging of the best planars with dynamics of cone drivers. It really sounded great with tube gear, provided it can deliver the juice. Only couple of issues - the treble was not as refined as a ribbon or good electrostat, the mid bass could be a bit bloomy without careful amp selection, not quite the level of transparency of an Apogee or electrostat but similar to Maggie. It had tremendous low bass extension.
Regards.
Thank you for your thoughtful response MGH;That description pretty much defines what Ive often heard about those classic speakers. At times I would prefer a passive lower end in my bass section thereby utilising the full power of my Plinius monos, tightening things up a bit on the bottom, but these are minor omitions.
Dont know where Mirage is headed in the future but I know Kevin Voecks current designer of Revel line had a hand in the M series development as did Ian Paisley. Probably their best effort!
Best...
Regards,
/// Tim W. ///
The opposite of snobbery is found at Spearit Sound's Northhampton, MA location.I have been in there several times, I have stopped there several times passing through on business without an appointment and never been treated with anything but the utmost courtesy, attention and respect.
They have even moved speakers around so I could audition components with components similar to what I have at home. I have only bought one item (a Cambridge phono preamp
Sorry you had such a bad experience in Boston.
No experience in Boston.
Me, too. Very helpful and courteous both times I dealt with them.
Thanks for posting your positive experience. There are good dealers out there, but they are harder to find.
These guys just intimidated the living shit out of you and belittled anything you owned that they didn't sell. They were the biggest bunch of elitist a**holes around at the time. BUT, they did have some great gear and great sound in the store also. There were not alot places where you could actually hear stacked Quads and cylindrical subwoofers from Acoustic Electronics in those days. They had the Oracle table and other unobtainium too.
Boston, Seattle, Portland, OR, Denver, Salt lake, Eugene, OR, New York City. Never found any period. I must not be trying hard enough.
So what do you buy your equipment at full retail or close to it through a legitimate mail order source?Or do you buy your equipment used or grey market?
I gotta be honest with you that it's my opinion that most audiophiles don't like brick and mortar dealers because they know they can buy equipment for less elsewhere AND that is their first priority saving money and/or feeling like they are getting more for less.
Sure dealers are often arrogant and opinionated so what? I laugh at posts like yours because I know most of the support comes from people who really can't afford and fail to recognize the oppurtunities that can be had by shopping the brick and mortar stores.
Nothing wrong with being cheap - I do it whenever possible. However IMO doing hifi right does not allow cutting corners by avoiding what brick and mortar outlets can offer.
Give me rhythm or give me death!
Keep trusting the salesmen in your life and paying full retail. You figured it out and the rest of us are just trying to catch up.I bet the salesmen at the car dealer loose teeth fighting over who gets to "help" you whenever you drive up!
Buying brick and mortar does not necessarily equate to paying full price or paying more than to an internet-based dealer. In fact, the subject of the OP's rant, Spearit Sound, pretty much discounts all gear by 10% to 20%, even if you don't ask. Also, if you ask, they generally, though not always, will do a bit better than their first offer. So, there are a number of things you can get for less at Spearit than, say, "at" Acoustic Sounds or Music Direct or Elusive Disc, e.g.Of course that's not true at all Boston-based dealers, let alone all dealers nationwide.
There are a bunch of good dealers out there and I also support my local dealers and have bought my fair share from local dealers.Generally it comes down to whether they carry a product I like or not.
I am not anti dealer at all, I am actualy friends with a couple and they are great guys. I am mainly just picking on Don T.
My post was not about Spearit Sound's pricing. Most dealers are willing to discount, whether they are brick and morter or internet. It was about their attitude. Contrary to Donkey's sweeping generalizations based on his delusions, I buy based on what I hear and customer service, whether through b/m or internet dealer and not based on the cheapest price. I've been around long enough in hi end to realize the importance of a dealer, internet or b/m, who stands behind his product.
I was really responding to Groove here, as well as others who seem to me saying "go ahead and buy from brick and mortar dealers if you are willing to pay full price." I understand you are not claiming that.To me, a 10% to 20% discount is a wonderful thing that can just make the difference between getting a better piece, and it's frequently NOT offered by the better web-based dealers, or by Best Buy or Tweeter, or by Goodwing's High End, for that matter. That's OK in Goodwin's case, as their service and support makes up for it, but it is a consideration.
You are correct, actually all the dealers I have bought from generally offer a discount right off the bat. I did not mean to imply that dealers are bad or that they don't discount at all. I was 100% responding to Don T and his drivel.The vast majority of my experiences with dealers has been postive.
Regards,
I visit much more often to look than to buy.No I don't normally pay full retail.
But the truth of the matter is this somewhat bothers me. Normally I can get a discount and ask for it. Why shouldn't they get the money instead of me - I can afford to pay it and think their services are worth it.
Give me rhythm or give me death!
Don't ask for a discount and your dealers will love you even more! I mean, since you can afford it and all - I am sure they would appreciate your charity!I know we certainly appreciate your charitable donations around here!
I guess you wouldn't/couldn't understand the concept of showing consideration for a job well done. Everyone and I mean everyone thinks they've got a good audio system - everything in this hobby is set up to make you believe it when you make a buy.However most audiophiles can only have "average" quality audio systems.
But when you've got the confidence to know you've done better than average saving a few bucks is inconsequential - in fact rewarding those who help you get there is a reward unto itself.
This all ties back into my original point. Those who don't visit their local dealers preferring mail order, used, etc. do so to save dollars not build the best system.
This isn't rocket science but clearly you and many others just don't get it.
Give me rhythm or give me death!
"This all ties back into my original point. Those who don't visit their local dealers preferring mail order, used, etc. do so to save dollars not build the best system."This comment is fundamentally wrong, for example, dealers do not necessary have or have access to the best sounding systems. Secondly, excellent sound and thiftiness are not incompatible virtues.
Developing a rapport with dealers, by paying regular visits, is not the only way to build a good system, Personally I do not have the time for such nonsense, I have better things to do with my time.
Music making the painting, recording it the photograph
NT
This comment is fundamentally wrong,
I disagree. I believe fundementally it is correct - though I may be painting with too broad a brush. "Those" should be replaced with "Most of those". I've attempted to allow for this distinction all along but might have slipped here or there.dealers do not necessary have or have access to the best sounding systems.
I completely agree. However "necassary" is the key word. They may or may not have a good or the best component for the system. However if they do have a good choice you will have more or better experiences to know it (because of listening to more stuff).Even if one only supplements buying and selling through the internet with listening to in home dealer demos it still increases the chances of finding the right or possibly even best component.
Secondly, excellent sound and thiftiness are not incompatible virtues.
Again I agree. But I believe in most cases they are and again I believe there are exceptions. Most people buy mail order to save money not to get what they know (though they may believe) is the best component for their setup.
Developing a rapport with dealers, by paying regular visits, is not the only way to build a good system, Personally I do not have the time for such nonsense, I have better things to do with my time.
Taking advantage of all available tools and resources is the best way to do anything - not just buy audio equipment.
Give me rhythm or give me death!
Please enlighten us more with your dealer brain washed wisdom. Judging by your proud anouncement of hundreds of components that you have evaluated through dealer loans, I now know you are a total gear head with only peripheral interest in music."Taking advantage of all available tools and resources is the best way to do anything - not just buy audio equipment." Except for internet, the most widely used medium to disseminate information and purchase equipment. What a hypocritical putz.
Please enlighten us more with your dealer brain washed wisdom. Judging by your proud anouncement of hundreds of components that you have evaluated through dealer loans, I now know you are a total gear head with only peripheral interest in music.LOL! I don't even need to respond to this comment. You wanna talk about music and experiences - I got alot more to say than I do about audio equipment.
I'm in music venues or record and CD shops all the time. How often to visit these outlets - or can I assume you also get musical experiences from you internet detective work as well?
"Taking advantage of all available tools and resources is the best way to do anything - not just buy audio equipment." Except for internet, the most widely used medium to disseminate information and purchase equipment. What a hypocritical putz."Kind of amazing how you quote me, add a response and then call me names based on your response to my quote. The internet is my main source of information. Audio shops my main source of hands/ears on experiences - something you continually dismiss or fail to mention completely.
Give me rhythm or give me death!
Well, you have memory problems, so I thought I'd help you out by quoting your own words. Don't feel bad, you just need to start taking your Aricept again.Music? I have been playing the guitar, mostly classical since high school. I also play the piano and some sax. How about you?
You're in CD shops all the time? Looking for the latest Stereophile Test CD?
In response to claiming I'm a gearhead I said -"I'm in music venues or record and CD shops all the time. How often to visit these outlets - or can I assume you also get musical experiences from you internet detective work as well?"
Then you reply -
Music? I have been playing the guitar, mostly classical since high school. I also play the piano and some sax. How about you?
Duh I already said the above.
My father in law was a professional oboe instructor (college level and private) was in bands and taught in colleges in Oregon and in Arizona, my wife played piano and all of 3 my children forfilled their family requirement of playing a musical instrument through their junior year does nothing to substantiate my purpose with audio equipment though it may count as experience towards knowing what music sounds like - kind of like your guitar, piano or sax playing.
Nice attempt to dodge the question.
So I can assume you rarely frequent record shops and/or musical venues in the same way you rarely frequent audio shops or do you need a second chance at coming up with an appropriate answer>
Give me rhythm or give me death!
It's sad really. All the members of your family have discovered the joy of playing an instrument, while you are in your owm gear head world tinkering with hundreds of equipment wondering which wire will give a better treble response.Like proclaiming you go to record and CD shops ALL THE TIME is really going to impress anyone. Get a life dude. Go to a ball game instead.
But by golly you playing the guitar and some music instrument sure will. Huh?ROTFLOL!!!!!!
My interest is in listening to music. All kinds of it. What do you do listen to yourself play the guitar? Why bother with a hifi at all - just do it.
Again where do you source the music that you buy?
Give me rhythm or give me death!
Actually since I started playing music, I have gained more insight into the musical performance and learn to appreciate the music, not the audio, more. This is my experience, but by no means a requirement to enjoy music and may not be the experience of other musicians.What does where I source music matter at all? Are you now suggesting the only place to buy music is a b&m store? Sorry, but Virgin Megastore and Tower Records closed down in my city.
Oh and me listening to my family practice and teach at home or in concerts doesn't count as experience for me to gain more insight into the performance or appreciation for the music?What does where I source music matter at all? Are you now suggesting the only place to buy music is a b&m store? Sorry, but Virgin Megastore and Tower Records closed down in my city.
I'm asking you how do you know what music to own? I told you I find it at record and music stores - you know at the listening stations or just by browsing. This has nothing to do with going to live events or anything. I buy music from several different outlets around town - yes tower is closed hear too and I rarely (once or twice a year) visit Virgin. I also listen to FM and have Sirrius in the gym but rarely do I buy music I hear on it. I also hear about stuff on the internet - like here in AA or buy stuff of interest from eBay.
Rarely, less than once a year, I buy something from a catalog - say Music Direct or Acoustic Sounds. But I haven't done that for a few years.
How do you source your music?
I'm only asking you this because you claimed I was a gearhead and have no/little interest in music. You're totally wrong - so answer the question. I want to know how you fuel the supply of software you run through the system you own.
Sure lately I've spent more money on gear but far less time on it than time spent listening to music.
Since about 6 AZ time I've been listening to music and posting, save for when I went out to dinner with my wife.
Just answer the question - where do you buy your music and how do you know what to buy?
Give me rhythm or give me death!
Playing an intrument and listening to music are two different experiences. Try an instrument and you'll understand what I'm talking about.Used to be primarily Tower and Virgin before they closed. Now smaller independent stores and now more through the internet - usually you can download a sample before you buy. No, I don't listen for the quality of the recording, the performance is more important.
Are you satisfied?
So your daddy, wife, and spawn play some instruments. What does that have to do with you?
Already answered in the post to which you've placed your response.
Give me rhythm or give me death!
nt
Give me rhythm or give me death!
Don, are you a dealer? I have bought more equipment through legimate brick and mortar dealer than through any other means. But the best service I have ever gotten was through an independent legitimate mail order guy who builds his own equipment. I have over 22 years of experience in hi fi, and I know more than most of these dealer salemen on how to put together a synergistic system because I'm not limited by what the dealer only has to offer. I have also bought from gray market, but would not recommend it because it something goes wrong, your screwed. I rather spend a little more for good support than save a little money risking poor support. So before you go on judging me and others, get the facts first.
"Don, are you a dealer? "
No.I rather spend a little more for good support than save a little money risking poor support. So before you go on judging me and others, get the facts first.
Oh please you're the one claiming you rarely visit dealers because of their snobbish attitudes. Which mean either you rarely buy audio equipment OR you rarely buy audio from dealers you visit.
I took, and still take after another read, your post as an attack on current audio dealers in general.
I've been buying audio equipment for nearly 30 years and admit I'd be pissing in the wind if not for the time I spend in the brick and mortar shops. I gotta wonder if you are really as good as you say you are or are you pissing into the wind and just don't realize it?
Give me rhythm or give me death!
.......Yes it does........Does too........Yes it does.........No it doesn't, your's does! Does Too.
And again what's your point? Your system kicks my systems ASS? What the heck does that mean?
Give me rhythm or give me death!
Maggie 3.6, Apogee Stage, Apogee Centaur Majors, Mirage M1s, Thiels, Hyperion 938s, etc. Plus countless electronics. All my speakers were bought new at authorized brick and morter dealers. Half of my electronics were bought online. This past two years, I visited three dealers - not that much by audiophile standards. But I do my homework before I audition speakers. Dealers have their role because you can listen to a product before you buy. So again you make assumptions and make an fool out of yourself.I named one specific snobby dealer. Why you would think I am attacking all dealers doesn't make sense. There are few excellent dealers in my region, but they are all biased and will push their gears. They do not have your best interest in mind which is understandable. After all, it's business, which in itself is not necrssarily bad. I buy from a dealer because I like the product, not because I buy into a dealers vested opinion. Your misguided emotional responses indicate you have a codependency problem with dealers. I know a good therapist for people like you.
The numerous responses agreeing with my experience on this thread indicate I struck a common nerve. You are in a small minority. I have a difficult time believing you are not somehow invested in a dealer.
I think you lied or misrepresented yourself in your original post and now instead of agreeing with my points you want to attack me as you backtrack to cover the error of your ways. Don't deny what you originally said - I usually don't visit high end dealers anymore, mainly because of the snobbish attitude of the sales peopleI named one specific snobby dealer. Why you would think I am attacking all dealers doesn't make sense.
Don't deny what you originally said - see my quote directly above and your original post!The numerous responses agreeing with my experience on this thread indicate I struck a common nerve. You are in a small minority. I have a difficult time believing you are not somehow invested in a dealer.
LOL! Sure the heck I invested with all my local dealers you numbskull - how in the heck can I listen before I buy?
The only common nerve I see you've struck is one with others who put price above quality or synergy. You know those who get off on audio by sending off money after looking at pictures and reading a review - kind of like getting off looking at some chick in Playboy except with audio you've got to send your money off for your fantasy.
And BTW with my nearly 30 years of audio experience a third of my equipment has been bought used or from authorized dealers selling mail order so I'm completely aware that not all product is available locally and that one can gain experience buying used.
You wanna get a couple of high fives around here for your hate dealer posts go for it - it usually brings out a crowd. I personally get kind of tired of hearing it and my response now is the same as it's been all along. I think most of you guys are cheap dips that would rather pay a $1000 for a $2000 component than take the time to find the $1000 component that worked best in your system.
Give me rhythm or give me death!
Can someone get this idiot off this thread?
Just tell Don T his system sucks and yours is much much better. In addition make him aware that he could not peice together a decent system if you gave him a million dollars. But you will at least concede the state of art system that he would surely assemble would damn sure have nice big pretty meters. (That has to account for something right - hey, there are meters and it's expensive - what else do you need)If you just keep telling him is system sucks and nice big pretty meters suck - his head will explode! Mission accomplished!
Point well taken Groove. A man can be forgiven for being stupid or for being a snob, but not both like Don T. He would make great employee of some of these dealers we've been talking about. He believes he is above the rest of us because he buys at dealers and some how has falsely concluded in his deranged mind the rest of us don't. Must be difficult being Don T going through life without the faculty of reason.
Right on Pal! I think when to refer to "us" you mean all the audiophiles who live their audio lives vicariously through reading magazines and the internet.If you and your ilk aren't visiting dealers showrooms you're most likely not much more than wankers paying out through the mail for a fantasy.
But hey what the heck - you're saving some money right?
Give me rhythm or give me death!
Don T Dumb. You never fail to impress me with display of your heroic stupidy. Perhaps its time to take your Aricept again.
than an attempt to get sucklers based on silly name calling and generalizations.We've got lots like you around here.
Give me rhythm or give me death!
How many times have I answered your questions? Still you don't seem to understand simple English and perpetuate lies. Long as you post on this thread, I will find even more creative names. So run Forest run!
I don't care how hard you try.
Give me rhythm or give me death!
With different and unique systems and we belong to audio clubs where we hear a wide array of different systems and gear. As opposed narrowign our universe on the gear carried by the local dealer.Oh BTW - we stop by the dealer every once and while just to kick the tires and waste the salesmen's time just so we can buy it off the web later!
And I visit all the audiophile quality shops in my town on a regular basis.Your point is what?
Give me rhythm or give me death!
I will let you ponder that one on your own for a little while. Come back to me when you think you have it.
Really I am!
Give me rhythm or give me death!
But thanks anyway
I'm happy to have provided you with a venue from which you can announce it to the world!
Give me rhythm or give me death!
NT
nt
Give me rhythm or give me death!
Groove, that is just awesome. Hey Don T, which will win out? The irrestible force or the immovable rock?
Don T can be fun!
You nailed it my friend!
Groove, you are so tight about this guy. He's like a 2nd grader. I think his head will explode soon.
"Sure dealers are often arrogant and opinionated so what? I laugh at posts like yours because I know most of the support comes from people who really can't afford and fail to recognize the oppurtunities that can be had by shopping the brick and mortar stores."
B&M Dealers are simply just another outlet, it is up to the prospective buyer to choose their own set of priorities, as for support, there are enough posts around to amply demonstrate that the quality of this outlet is variable, so no surprises here."However IMO doing hifi right does not allow cutting corners by avoiding what brick and mortar outlets can offer. "
Doing hifi right requires the appropriate requisite information, every other thing comes a distant second. Most high-end dealerships are very inefficient and unreliable sources for obtaining that information and by extension doing hifi right.
Music making the painting, recording it the photograph
"Doing hifi right requires the appropriate requisite information, every other thing comes a distant second. Most high-end dealerships are very inefficient and unreliable sources for obtaining that information and by extension doing hifi right."Indeed! I admit to suckling under the wing of an audio dealer when I was a newbie. This guy gave me so much bad advice and misinformation and I took it all to heart. Once I realized my own vision I thought his must have been a crime.
However in hindsight the guy was just a highly opinionate audiophile trying to help me out though I eventually ended up with very a different viewpoint.
In my defense this was long before the internet was a viable resource.
Thanks for adding some important points.
Give me rhythm or give me death!
< This guy gave me so much bad advice and misinformation and I took it all to heart. Once I realized my own vision I thought his must have been a crime. >If you rec'd so much bad info from the brick and mortar shop, then why are you ripping the OP? And why do you "wonder if you are really as good as you say you are or are you pissing into the wind and just don't realize it"? Good at what, Don? Recoginizing BS when he reads or hears it?
If you rec'd so much bad info from the brick and mortar shop, then why are you ripping the OP?Because he's ripping the brick and mortars. Even he claims he rarely visits them. My problem when I was a newbie was to believe what I read in the magazines and then to find a dealer who was pushing the same concepts. This was much easier for newbie back in the days when TAS ruled and Stereophile was it's surrogate.
There was limited information available and it was harder to find dissimilar but equally compelling perspectives.
And why do you "wonder if you are really as good as you say you are or are you pissing into the wind and just don't realize it"?
I don't wonder how good I am - I realize the benefits I get from visiting and maintaining relationship with local dealers. Obviously the benefits of which the OP seems quite willing to blow off.
Good at what, Don? Recoginizing BS when he reads or hears it?
No good at assembling a quality hifi system without hearing what's currently being offered.Remember this is a guy who's comtemplating purchases without having heard the gear he's interested in telling us he rarely uses his local dealers and wanting us to believe his capable of understanding synergistic considerations without ears/hands on experiences. Well anyone can fictionalize and fantasize the sound of audio equipment based on what they've read.
OK great the guy doesn't go listen to stuff he wants to buy before he buys it anymore. Wow I'm impressed - what kind of advice is that to offer other audiophiles. It's just dumb.
Give me rhythm or give me death!
How dumb are you? I never, ever stated that I don't listen to equipment before I buy. In my 22 years in this hobby, I have only bought two electronic gears without auditioning, one turned out to be great, the other so so. These were based on recommendation from a close audiophile friend who I trusted. Others that I bought without dealer audition were based auditioning friends gear or having an internet seller offering free home trials. Read my response to you knuckle headed response above.
Sometimes MGH it's better to just let it go. Know what I mean?
Guess your right 1musiclover. It's hard to argue with illogical, emotional responses. Kinda like arguing with my bipolar ex girlfriend. Don't get bent out of shape Don. It's just a joke. Peace. :-)
If you rarely visit audio dealers how do you get to hear equipment before you buy?Above you claim you've only twice bought equipment unheard.
This doesn't make sense how do hear audio gear before you buy if you rarely visit a dealer. I visit dealers often but rarely buy - but it's those non-buying visits that help me decide what gear to audition.
I assumed you mostly bought equipment elsewhere used, internet, etc. since you rarely visited a dealer.
I guess what you say makes sense if you rarely buy equipment but if that's the case your original post is nothing but an attention seeker.
Just fill us in on how you're getting your listening experiences without visiting your dealers? Huh?
Give me rhythm or give me death!
You just can't argue with the village idiot. End of story.
Can't argue? You can't even present facts supporting your original attention seeking post.Granted there'll always be plently of people around to agree with your "hate dealers" position - but like I said in my original response most of them are audiophiles more interested in saving a buck than building a better hifi.
You rarely visit dealers anymore because of their snobbishness? Ok douche enough said - you said it and it makes my point exactly. If you aren't visiting dealers you are hearing far less equipment than possible and are limiting your experiences. I asked you how you hear gear you are buying without visiting dealers - you failed to answer and smoke screened with your response.
This is written words Pal - your farce only fooled the foolish.
Give me rhythm or give me death!
Don T. Dumb. You keep perseverating that I can't possibly audition all those equipment without going to a dealer. Do I have to explain this again? Do you want to twist my words again? How many times do I have to answer your illogical dribble? You think going to a dealer is the only way to listen to equipment. There are plenty of internet dealers/sellers who are willing to give free home audition before you buy. I have audiophile friends who lend me their equipment and vice versa. I go to highend shows - the acoustics there are not that much worse than most dealers. Do you really have any friends, except those dealer "friends" of yours? Don't you think you can make a much more valid assessment of a gear in the comfort of your own home where you know your electronics and room, rather than in a dealer who is hovering over you and trying to influence you? I thought you would have learned from your original experience of dealer salesman who basically screwed you over. My you are a slow learner. Calling the posters here cheap without any basis except from those created by your own paranoid imagination doesn't make you credible. We can go on and on. I got plenty more ammunition. Do you feel lucky punk?
I'm sure that I've had more than 100 components home in the last 5 years for evaluation from my local dealers alone.I've also had successful audiogon and internet seller transactions as well.
You want to try to proclaim internet sellers are less snobbish than local dealers? BS, more than likely they are the same guys!!!
You're so full it in this thread. It's so obvious mail order is usually a compromise - period. The main reason (not always) audiophiles do mail order is to save money and no they don't listen to what they pay for first - period.
Yea there's always exceptions - but most of the guys agreeing with you in this thread are not going to be exceptions. And whether you are or not isn't clear either.
Go suck on it some more - ok?
Give me rhythm or give me death!
NT, fooled ya Don!
Give me rhythm or give me death!
nt
Give me rhythm or give me death!
I care very much about you. We all do. We can't have our little Donkey not amusing us, can we?
Give me rhythm or give me death!
Damn, over 100 different componants from local dealers! Considering the largest dealers generally only carry 3-4 electronic lines, and 2 or 3 speaker lines pheonix must be the audio mecca of the world!So let's see..... over a 100 in 5 years - that averages about 20 a year. If we go a little deeper that's about 2 a month. Sounds to me like you are a gear head, not an audiophile?
I had 5 borrowed components at my home at one time and at another time I had 8 different interconnects.Yea I've rebuilt 1 and build another new system since 1999.
I listened to more than 20 CDPs over a 12 month period trying to find one that I liked.
One hundred might be high. Yea I've had more than 20 pairs of interconnects/cables over here and more than 20 CDPs. But I can only think of about 5 pairs of speakers, 10 amps/integrateds and a phono section. Just in the last 5 years.
But no matter what thats 60+ in home demos through local dealers.
No I'm not a gear head - a relatively small % of the time I listen is evaluation audio. And for sure I bought (ie. kept) less than 10% of what I in home demoed.
And in all honesty, as far as building great audio systems goes, I think my efforts are really only enough to guarantee me something that's good. If someone wants the "best" or close to the best they gotta put out alot more effort than me.
Do I think the average audiophile could build a great system without the help of local dealers - not unless he's fantastically lucky. A good system? Not unless he is real lucky. An average system? Sure with a bit of luck.
Give me rhythm or give me death!
NT
I still vote Gearhead
I call it auditioning equipment before I drop my hard earn dollars on it.Maybe I should have just blown the wad on something I couldn't hear but fantasized about owning after reading some review or owner comment?
What would that have made me? In my book that's a wanker.
Give me rhythm or give me death!
I still vote Gearhead
nt
Precious.
Give me rhythm or give me death!
You are a constant source of amusement for the rest of us. Kinda like watching a chicken run around with its head cut off. Please post more!
Transparent as all get up and go if you ask me - and you did btw!You don't get along with me and you don't get along with your local dealers.
Now I seem to be able to get along with my local dealers as well as everyone else except for people who can't get along with people, you know people like you who write crying whining posts about their difficulties in social situations.
You call me names you call b&m dealers names.
It's your problem not mine.
Give me rhythm or give me death!
They were complete snobs.
Unless you drove up in some sort of very expensive vehicle, and bought something based on their warped advice, they would barely speak to you.
My friend, who did buy equipment from them, had exactly the same opinion, and said that if they had not been the only local dealer of the equipment he wanted, he would have gone elsewhere.
Most everyone I knew had the exact same opinion, and we all cheered when they closed down.
(i.e. It meant more business for those dealers we liked who weren't snobs!)Now, I will point out that I have heard that they have reopened, so I don't know if they are still the stuck-up, noses in the air, flamming $#%#@%# A-holes, that they used to be, but I hope not!
My two cents worth.
...while visiting family. I dropped by to listen to speakers and told them that I wasn't interested in buying anything, just listening. I explained that I was from out of town and would eventually buy from a local dealer. Even so, they set me up in a room with a few CDs of my choosing and left me alone for a half hour!Very friendly and professional. Go figure.
You also should have told them you planned on robbing them after you figured out what kind of expensive gear they carried. ;-)
i like it when they ignore me. i can peruse stuff in peace.if i want to listen, I'll ask. most will oblige. never had anyone say no.
if they say something like "well, are you serious about purchasing" I'd respond with something like "is it too hard for you to hit the fucking play button? - then walk out"
as far as judging people by what cars they drive, that's a stupid concept. especially these days, when any schmuck with a credit card can l lease a BMW.
Robby
I was the only customer there. I was interested in a specific speaker in a line that they carried. When I asked, they said they had it, but said that was a model they didn't demonstrate and promptly turned their backs on me and went on typing on their computers.I drove by the other day and noticed that they have now inserted the word "New" in the name of the store. Hopefully they have a new attitude.
For real service, I will pay more. If a place is willing to put in the time to provide a good demonstration, answer all questions, hopefully allow home audition, and after-sale support, I am happy to pay full or nearly full price. The best stores I have been in have even suggested I take home equipment to try out when I have simpy asked whether they thought I would see much improvement from it. In a few cases, they have even suggested that I try something that they think is impressive to see what I think. When I wanted to audition Spendor SP 100 speakers, a dealer had new ones shipped directly to my house at no cost to me to see if I liked them. I did and had no misgivings paying full price.
Joe
I showed up there early one morning (late 80s?), and one of the salesmen let me listen to the IRS V's for an hour or so. I was a young kid off the street, poorly dressed, and the salesman knew I was just there to look. The guy was a total gentleman. We also talked about room setup for my maggies and he had some valid criticisms of things I was doing.In general, I have not seen a lot of snobbery. I am very clear not to waste a salesman's time... but as long as you go off peak hours I have never had one be rude at all. If I do go at peak, I often ask simply the best time to call to book an appointment.
Lyric used to walk you out after you had spent your money. They also made absurd claims about the products they didn't carry verses the ones that they did. Such as the LP12 being the best turntable made. One salesman once explained that there was "no friction" between the string of the micro seiki turntable and the platter. My friend asked how it turns the platter, if that was the case. The saleman told him to go study some more physics (he happened to be a physics major at a top school).I've had some bad experiences years ago at the Speaker Shop (formerly the Speaker Shoppe) in WNY. After the first review of the Sumiko Blue point I saw that they were a dealer and went in to buy one (for the $99 list price). I was told by a snobby little artsy dude that he wasn't sure if they had anything of "that genre." I had to laugh to myself at his inappropriate diction in an attempt to be fancy. Then I was told (by the owner?) that they sold it for $149, because the price had gone up. The price had NOT gone up and did not go up for at least 6 months after that, when it went to $129 or so. I mail ordered it for $99 and hated it.
Many years before that when I was in college they would not give me the time of day as a student. They had one Conrad Johnson piece in there and I mentioned that I used the CJ Premier II preamp. One of the guys there said something along the lines of "yea, well I used to have the Premier I power amp."
I bought my Classé amp from Lyric. That was quite a while ago. My salesman was the general manager or something like that if I remember correctly. He was pleasant and accommodating, never snobby or condescending at all and patiently allowed me to audition the amp with several different speakers. He and another salesman both carried the amp out to the street and waited while I hailed a cab. I really could not complain about the service.
I remember going into the upper east side Lyric about 19 years ago to buy a VPI 16.5 record cleaning machine. All the salesmen wore white shirts and ties. I was a little skeptical about how well the VPI would work back then, and I was buying up a lot of used vinyl at shops, garage sales, salvos, etc. and was trying to save my Troika cartridge. No way to audition it, so I just told him where I sourced my vinyl and asked if the VPI would do the job on that. He actually said, "Look chief, I ("royal" I with lots of stress) don't buy my records at garage sales." He also actually looked down his nose at me. Reluctantly, I did buy the VPI that day, but have always remembered that. Hate when people call you Chief!! In fairness, though, Mike the owner was a nice guy.
Tom
And it is actually quite a laugh that I never realized it the first 20 times around.There are essentially 5 main dealers in Vancouver and Victoria British Columbia that I have dealt with. The least snobby of the lot is Soundhounds in Victoria although even some of their staff won't shy away from telling you what they think. Although this kind of snobbery is what they believe not just to sell you something - which is hard to explain unless one goes there and talks to them.
The two big ones in Vancouver - well one is relatively small and carries just a couple of speaker brands and they basically have to hard sell what they carry downing everything. They were telling me how great their speakers were and when I mentioned mine the guy was saying I should have bought his brand (that rhymes with BMW. Of course Soundhounds also carries those speakers and the only shock is that the Vancouver dealer is not tone deaf to carry those things. But hey I guess I can out-snob even the biggest dealers. Chortle Chortle.
These kind of suit dealers are selling to the rich remember. What is the point of working some extremely high paying life sucking job if you can't one-up everyone else in your village. The human race has not progressed beyond the monkey mentality of who gets to sit highest in the tree and dominate.
Since the Vancouver dealer in my case is not selling superior sound they can at least sell superior (read more expensive) prices and "prestige" that if the biggest snob in town thinks it's the best then gee whiz it must, in fact, be the best.
Luckily for me My ego and snobbery can trump these Vancouver dealers since everything they sell is compared to what I think is best, mere glorified telephones. I mean heaven this Vancouver dealer is carrying the BMW rhyming company and that SS brand that wants marriages to remain in fidelity - or MF for short. I mean c'mon this is mere rubbish that those silly little magazines are on about. The mere masses of high end shoppers - they know nothing about true greatness. RGA knows all and through RGA you will get a truly good system.
Beat the bloody dealers at their own game -- umm but be careful - you may end up believing your own ears which is unfortunately the downfall of the whole enterprise.
in a local hi-fi shop. There were 2 salesmen (name tags) standing talking to each other as I entered the door. I began slowly walking around looking at the different gear. I wondered around checking out amps and speakers for about 20 minutes without anyone even saying a word to me. I walked out the door and those salesmen were still standing there talking and laughing. It was like I was invisible and vowed never to step foot in their door again. They went out of business about a year later.There is one other hifi store about 2 blocks down the street. I went in there and was instantly greeted with a smile, handshake and introduction. They have always seemed genuinely interested in finding out what they could do to help me make my system better within my budget. They are still in business and seem to be growing and their personal attention has not waivered.
...yet when you walk into just about any shop in France, you're ALWAYS greeted by store personnel. It's considered rude if you don't acknowledge.
...that I never go in.
Having lived there for 29 years, I visited all of them and frequented most of them. There were some very nice ones, but also a fair number of really arrogant a-holes who gave me the impression they were doing ME a favor by letting me shop at their store. Suffice it to say, I avoided those like the plague and never bought from them. Sound by Singer could be pretty bad in the day, but I shopped there because of the salesmen—most of whom I liked and who treated me with respect and dignity—not Andy S. During my last visit there last year, I was treated well by the sales guy I dealt with. I've heard the same from a couple of my friends who shop there. Things seem to have lightened up a bit.
This is hillarious but true. I know this guy for thirty years.
He became that way when he started earsnova in great neck after leaving Audio Exhange in Manhasset. When he got the Linn Dealership
he became even sicker and snobbier although i do have an old Linn
sondek! What gets me is he knows NOTHING about how an accurate loudspeaker should sound, (well just pushing Linn speakers tells you
that!). To think i have to see him to hear Harbeth is quite frustrating!. Ill go out of state if i have too. Also, if the Spendor importer sees this,, Audio Breakthroughs does not even show or demo the speakers, not to mention, one of the proprietors whom I also know for thirty yrs "hates spendors" quote unquote.
This is what we have to deal with in the Big Apple. By the way,the owner of Audio Breakthroughs still thinks JBLs are "Accurate Monitors".
I've never been there because of it.
Agreed; Joshua Cohen at EarsNova is quite bad. Nice gear, but the attitude and pushiness ruin it for me.
No, not from "WarGames" (1983), from Earsnova! I first met up with him when he was working as a salesman for a Hi-Fi store on Long Island. It was the late 1970s and I was ready to plunk down some cash for a Bryston amp and CJ tube preamp.I just had one question about the not-so-good noise specification for the CJ preamp and he blew up at me! I walked out. A few years later he opened his own store, Earsnova, in Great Neck. There he stood out as a snob in area full of them! Strangely, my boss at the time got along with him and purchased some equipment from him. Eventually, even I ended up buying a USED Bedini 25/25 from him.
A number of years later he moved Earsnova to Manhattan, but from what I heard, he never changed.
Gerry
Northern Boulevard, Manhasset.
That was the first place I met that man.
If he wasn't the ruddest, snobbest, SOB I've ever met in a audio shop.GTF
I believe you are correct, Audio By Zimet. The store where I first met up with Joshua was on the south side of Northern Blvd. Years later, I seem to remember them on the north side, so maybe they just moved across and down the street a bit. Either way, your recollection of Josh is right on!Gerry
I was given his personnel phone no.
When I called it was answered by his answering machine.
It had the strangest and most funny message I have ever heard.
Too bad I didn't write it down or at least kept his phone no.GTF
Did Zimet move the building on Northern boulvard that was on a curve in the road where NB meets Community Dr.?GTF
BTW-II
Is Audio Breakthroughs still around?
I went in looking for speakers, willing to drop upto $50k (which I told them). The guy treated me like some idiot who did not know what he was talking about (I have been in this hobby for over 30 years and have had the privelege to have listened to some of the best stuff on the planet). When I asked questions about some of the things I was hearing from the speakers (a pair of nice sounding, but not perfect, Piegas), he scoffed or made insulting grunts. At one point I had determined that if the guy said one more thing I would just walk out. As I didn't say anything further, he didnt. They have nice equiptment and know how to set it up and play it, but they are truly unbearable. My friend had the same thing happen to him.
I was audtioning a pair of Harbeth Compact 7ES at his current NYC store. I had a couple concerns about what I heard and asked him about them. He said no speaker does what I've heard many other speakers do and that I was wrong. A few days later I bought the Gallo Ref 3 from Park Ave Audio who turned out to be very nice. I couldn't believe how rude and mean the guy was.
I second that Sound by Singer has some really good sales folks. When we lived in the city, we'd pop into the store when we were in the neighborhood (usually on abusy Saturday morning). The sales folks would always come by and ask if they could be of help. They let us audition expensive equipment (Clearaudio table/Cardas Ruby/ARC electronics/Avalon speakers) and stayed out of the way. Must explain why the store is still in business after all these years.
While on a visit to Boston this past Fall I went to the store and did not find the people there to be snobbish in any way. I just saw a store that looks more like an old line store with a bunch of equipment stuffed into spaces that could not be considered in any way shape or form as sound rooms. They do have sound rooms but, again, nothing that compares to a decent high-end dealer. A mishmash of equipment assembled in a haphazard way is the best I can describe my impression. I looked at their demo Thiel speakers and was not impressed at the poor condition the cabinets were in, showing, yet again, that sloppy old school wall of speakers attitude. The CS 6s and 7.2s will probably end up in their other liquidation outlet. I wonder how their condition will be described?Snobbish: no way. Sloppy: most certainly.
Hi Middleground, looks like you took the middleground on this one. I went there twice and twice I got the same snobbish remarks on how what I like was "obsolete" or "low fi", eventhough I doubt these guys ever owned any of the components I was interested in. Do these guys actually think they're the last word in high end? They have a $40k+ speaker stuffed into a tiny room with bunch of other speakers run by hyped up Krell electronics. They have no idea about room acoustics. None of there setup sounded at all desirable to me. If you want to visit a real high end dealer, go to Goodwins highend in Waltham, MA.
You say:"They have a $40k+ speaker stuffed into a tiny room with bunch of other speakers run by hyped up Krell electronics. They have no idea about room acoustics. None of there setup sounded at all desirable to me."
But (1) the room with the super "high end" stuff behind the counter area isn't small at all - no smaller than some of the rooms at Goodwin's High End - and does have room treatments, (2) you might not like Krell (neither do I), but some people do and Spearit also has the top end CJ and Classe gear in that room and (3) I thought you walked out after they mistreated you? How much time did you spend there listening?
Wasn't "Q" was it?-Tom
s
I have been going there for years, and own a number of things I bought from Ralph and his sales personnel. Some of them are not very knowledgeable, and one or two can be a bit grating, but Ralph is fair and honest and most of the salesmen are too in my experience.I like Goodwins High End too. It is certainly a slicker, more sophisticated place, but they don't discount and have a limited selection.
I also like the litle crazy Audio Studio in Brookline.
Don't ask me about Audio Lab in Cambridge or the friggin' place out in Framingham on Rt 9. They are not handicap accessible and I'm disabled.
The sales guy at Audiolab is just weird, but nice in a strange way. The guy seems disconnected when you talk to him. I don't know how else to describe him. Like most dealers, the rooms are too small with too many speakers/electronics stuffed into one room.
a
Yeah, they're a bit sloppy, granted. Still, it's a decent place.
I never had the kind of experience you described with Ralph Spear and his staff...just the opposite....let me listen to what I wanted, no pressure nor forced opinions.....they have plenty of equipment that's not super high end...I have bought from them in the past.
Not saying it didn't happen, but it's anecdotal and not consistent with my experiences over the years . . . FOR THE MOST PART. Which is to say, the have some dopes working there occassionally, but Ralph is a good, honest guy, as are many of his sales personnel (e.g., Leland and Steve, among others).
for Conrad Johnson. I phoned him years ago to ask if there was a CJ dealer in Scotland and got the slow, precise, reply (in his thick European accent), "No, nobody there is competent enough." I pictured him stroking a white cat as he spoke, looking into his shark-tank and contemplating the corpse of last man who asked such a stupid question. "Oh, uh, right.", I said and hung up. What a tosser.I`ve mentioned his attitude to a number of dealers and they all give the same opinion - arrogant and lacks people skills...yet stays in business. There`s no justice is there?
Regards,
Guy.
I had the complete opposite experience to what you had when I used to go to Spearit Sound when I lived in Boston a few years ago. They were very cool about me being interested in used gear, and let me listen to different configurations on many occasions. I found their salesmen to be very open and willing to chat about all things hi fi.As far as the snobbiest, there is a dealer here in NYC on the upper east side that won't let you in the shop unless you pay him a fee up front. I walked by a year or more ago and saw a McCormack passive preamp that has been discontinued for years and years, and asked how much they wanted for that used preamp. They told me it is new, and that if I wanted to know the price, I had to give them something like $50. How's that for snobby!
-Aaron.
I liked them when the Boston store still had used gear in the showroom. The older salespeople have always been nice. However, the last time I was in there looking for a new integrated a salesperson I hadn't seen before told me an absolute falsehood about there being no difference between the NAD C350 and C352CT. He clearly didn't want me to buy another NAD (not that I was going to..)I ordered my Cambridge 640av2 from Audio Advisor instead. I also did that because I'm pissed about them not having used gear in the showroom anymore. They used to have good deals there!
Spearit bought or merged with the old Northampton Audio (Sound and Music before that). Those guys in Northampton have a good selection of used and demo gear. They have treated me right when I've wanted to ask questions or buy various pieces of used gear.I'd say travel out to Western MA and take a look at what they offer or check their website.
-Tom
Aaron, you have found the ultimate in snobbish dealer. I bow humbly to your experience. Care to name the dealer? I would like to visit this dealer just for the once in a life time experience! We should make a list.
I lived on 81st between 2nd and 3rd and passed it frequently. Never went in but always found the sign funny that explained the $50 appointment charge to look at the dusty equipment in the window. I can't remember the name but I believe they carried Mac.
Shame on you. You have to be dressed like a proper Bostonian to be treated like one. Go to the Andover Shop or J Press in Cambridge and purchase a proper costume.
I was working in London for two months last year. I was near the theater district one evening and stumble upon a high-end store. It was closed, so I went back that Saturday morning. The store was empty, so I walked in and was greeted by the owner. I told him that I was from the U.S. (I'm sure he can tell by my accent) in town for business. And that I was hoping to take a took in the store to see if there's something interesting. He then walked me downstairs where there were several listening rooms. He walked me into the room full of entry level stuff and started asking me about my system. He then went on and on about that the only thing I could probably buy there are speakers and that it would cost about the same to buy them in the U.S. blah, blah, blah for about 20 minutes. I started to look around and he noticed that I was not interested to listen to him anymore and told me straight that there was probably nothing in his store that I would be interested, and asked me to leave. I politely asked again whetner it would be OK for me to take a quick browse of the rest of his store. And he told me that he was busy with other appointments and asked me to leave the store.At least the snobbish ones here in the US just ignored you, but you can still walk around the store and browse all you want. I had never been asked to leave a store before. And the store was not even that "high-end". At least I did not see anything in the same league as my own system.
FrankC
When I bought my Tannoys over there (can't remember the dealer offhand) they packed them up again over the standard box for safe shipping AND replied to a later airmail letter by standard post regarding placement in my new listening room. How many dealers in North America would do that for an overseas customer?
I never met a bigger bunch of A-holes in my life. On the other hand John Dudley, I can't remember the shop name, was a great guy, spent hours with me and a friend for very little profit.
...I was treated well and allowed to listen at leisure, even though I was a poor college student. Bought an MIT-1 cartridge from them. Couldn't afford the Goldmund table to go with it.
nice guys. always let me play with the mcintosh stuff when i was in high school.i bought a grado black form them when i was in HS. then, bought a "blown" pair of apogee centaur minors for $250. ribbons were fine, but the vifa 6.5" woofer's surround separated from the cones. my friend fixed them and i underpowered them with a pair of mcintosh MC60s for 6 years! ;-)
see ya,
Robby
Back in the day (comfortable/easy transaction). Had wonderfull experiences at Jonas Miller. They had a relaxed attitude, and obvious effort made to please, every time (bought a turntable).Shelley's currently in Woddland Hills? Yes, they do give retail audio dealers a bad name (Very). Pretty much the end of my retail/bricks and mortar shopping. That was nine years ago [the whole being ignored thing ..... wha da froog is up with that? One word (o.k. two): F'ing Clowns].
Shelly's is now in the valley. They're OK, overall, but I have been ignored by the sales staff there one time.
God, you guys bring back memories! C. Hansen in Beverly Hills was my first exposure into the hi end. Maggies with ARC and Linn Sondek table just blew me away. Yes, the sales guy was a little stuffy, but I was a senior in high school in the mid 80's and just walked in wondering what this place was about. He let me listen to the Maggies and Duntechs eventhough it was pretty clear I couldn't afford the gear. Ambrosia is a good dealer but their setups never really appealed to me. Paris Audio with their Acoustats with the French amp I forget the name of was great sounding.
nt
Made in either Australia or New Zealand, I can't recall which.
NT
that was David weinhart's place. he's now an MBL dealer.one of the nicest guys around. when i was in college, he traded me a Sumo Andromeda II for Macintosh lessons. which was sort of a gimme because he kept falling asleep during the lessons ;-)
still one of the coolest cats around. i played with lots of stuff there. bought some tubes. he let me borrow his vintage Harman kardon citation IV tube preamp.
my friend pierre was building tube amps in college (instead of studying). david would let us try pierre's creations on his systems.
he had it all. levinson, meridian, forsell, dunlavey, goldmund, avante garde, eggleston and so much other stuff i simply can't remember.
see ya,
Robby
I really try to NOT post negative experiences regarding dealers, but this time I am going against my better judgement. I had dealt David before.....I found him so rude.....I had previously purchased gear from him although the experience at his shop up in the hills was horrible, the price at the time was right. I then went back up there on another occasion with a friend. We had set an appointment with him and between us we were spending quite a sum (close to six figures). Well we make the one way 3 hour drive and arrived and after only being there talking with him 20 minutes, a guy walks through the door and wanted to drop a bit more cash on product than we did and he immediately advised us that our meeting was over and that he was going to spend his time with this other customer! NEVER AGAIN! Over the years with the amount of money I have spent in this hobby on ultra high end gear, it is his loss........Bal
That guy blew up at me for calling his store a half hour before it opened, and I was trying to buy something. Never been treated that poorly by anyone in retail in my life. Yeah, great guy.
i had fond memories riding my bike there as a kid and listening to their Apogee Diva/Aragon set up. never heard anything like that before!nice guys.
see ya,
Robby
good equipment and shi%&y little salesmen.
Funny, me defending dealers (not that there's anything wrong with that). But well, I had very positive experiences with him. I lived maybe half a mile from their first location. And sucked up a fair amount of time listening to dem funky Sonabs (never bought). And Eli was emphatic about showing me that turntable that had next to no platter/record support [a few orbs/dots .... funny that, cos I thought it and him were nuts (guess what I'm listening to now!)].The later W.L.A. location, yes the salesmen/service/knowledge wasn't the same (the caricatural attitude was indeed laughable). But I still did manage to buy a tonearm there as well.
David at Ambrosia? Positive experiences there too (bought 300B and 6sn7 tubes, and Grado headphones). But I always thought the location was a bust.
Are there bad dealers? Obviously. And ..... somehow they still manage to stay in biz. But I'd venture there are more good ones. And the great ones? Gentlemen and Gentlewomen, scholars. Assets to the community in which they live.
I've never heard better music reproduction than at the long departed Northridge Audio. The skill and expertise with which the large main sound room, and equipment were set-up. Was a memory that will never fade (the room size prolly didn't hurt). Pure magic.
.
Back in the go go 80's going to either the first or second Beverly Hills' locations was a rite of passage. The set-ups/equipment always sounded good to my ear. Not a lot of pretense, but yes you could feel the mild tension of being visually qualified (can I afford the equipment under eval, am I ready to buy). Which actually was already largely settled at the old/first location when your (and your car), were seen approaching/arriving. I did throw down some coin at the later/second location once, for a used Fiddlesticks 64. And found Mr. Hansen a regular Joe like the rest of us. Who just happened to be saddled with doing biz in a rather strange world (Beverly Hills).
I don't know, but I've been to a few over the years. Probably the most notable one I recall was Paul Heath in Chicago back in the 70s when they were one of the places to go for high end. I didn't live in the area but went there one Saturday afternoon in the summertime to check out what they had. There were several customers in the store, some of us waiting to be helped, when a salesman dressed in a WHITE SUIT briefly walked through, loudly proclaiming, "Anybody here who is waiting to A/B preamps today might as well forget it." Well, excuuuuse me! He made a lasting impression :-)Someone recently sent me a link to this video clip , which is a hilarious spoof of rude treatment of a customer at an audio shop, portrayed by Mr. Bean (Rowan Atkinson). It gives all of us a way to laugh at ourselves.
Best regards,
It's all about the music...
nt
catagorize all "high end" dealers as snobs. I have had some very good experience with some "high end " dealers in my area. The one I use now is very helpful, no attitude and has a great line of equipment.
unfortunately, those kind of dealers are rare, but there is one in my area, Goodwins Highend.
Audio advice in Raleigh NC! Whew! I finally got a chance to get back at them without being the aggressor! Pure A##holes!
