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Whats the deal with audio dealers? - Page 2

post #16 of 164
12/4/08 at 4:42pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Yikes View Post
Demoing at a store and then buying on line is stealing.

So if you call three car insurance companies to compare their coverages and rates and then buy from Geico online... that is STEALING? I thought it was SHOPPING!
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post #17 of 164
12/4/08 at 5:04pm
It's not the same at ALL. If you call 3 audio dealers and ask their price, that is fine of course. If you go to a dealer and make him spend time to audition something that you KNOW you will not be buying from him, that is unethical IMO.
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post #18 of 164
12/4/08 at 5:10pm
If you call three insurance companies to get their prices, you KNOW that you will not be buying from two of them. The only difference is that you don't know which one yet.
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post #19 of 164
12/4/08 at 5:15pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Orcin View Post
If you call three insurance companies to get their prices, you KNOW that you will not be buying from two of them. The only difference is that you don't know which one yet.
But calling occupies little time, and all of the companies are in the game.

To make use of what a bricks and mortar store has to offer, as a way of making up for what the online store cannot offer you, but then taking advantage of the fact that the online store offers it cheaper because they do not make the investment in things like demo facilities and equipment - how in the world do you not see why doing so isn't fair?
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post #20 of 164
12/4/08 at 5:27pm
Hypothetical situation:

I want to buy Sennheiser HD650's based on Head-Fi comments, but I have never heard them. I go to Skylab Hi-Fi to listen to them with the intent to buy them from Amazon. I listen to them, but I don't like them. I buy nothing.

Was that fair?
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post #21 of 164
12/4/08 at 5:38pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Orcin View Post
Hypothetical situation:

I want to buy Sennheiser HD650's based on Head-Fi comments, but I have never heard them. I go to Skylab Hi-Fi to listen to them with the intent to buy them from Amazon. I listen to them, but I don't like them. I buy nothing.

Was that fair?
NO. Because of this:

Quote:
I go to Skylab Hi-Fi to listen to them with the intent to buy them from Amazon.
The fact that you did not end up buying them doesn't really help - you still went to a dealer and used his resources, for which he must pay, with no intention of buying from him.

Think about it this way - if you were honest, and TOLD the dealer you wanted to listen to the headphones but would not buy them from him, would he allow it? Would you even be able to say it without feeling bad? And why would you feel bad? BECAUSE IT ISN'T RIGHT.
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post #22 of 164
12/4/08 at 5:59pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Skylab View Post
Think about it this way - if you were honest, and TOLD the dealer you wanted to listen to the headphones but would not buy them from him, would he allow it?

Well, I have been the dealer, and I have said yes to this exact situation. Why? Because I knew that the person asking the question was a potential customer. He might not buy this item from me, but if I kept him in my store long enough he might buy something else. Or he might come back for a different item some other time. Or he might go back to his dorm and tell all of his friends "Orcin at Skylab Hi-Fi is a really cool guy! I like that place!". What if I took your approach? He would go back and tell his friends "Skylab Hi-Fi is a bunch of jerks - they wouldn't even let me listen to some headphones!"

Brick and mortar stores have a HUGE advantage over Internet stores. They can use a cost/benefit approach to selling, tailored to the individual customer. They can overcome your objections. They can CLOSE the sale. But ONLY if they have foot traffic. That's what they get from the demo. You think they are getting nothing, but you are wrong.
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post #23 of 164
12/4/08 at 6:04pm
OK, that is an interesting point. I suppose if one were actually HONEST about their intentions, it would be far less troubling.
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post #24 of 164
12/4/08 at 6:17pm
You're a fun guy to debate. Too bad my football team isn't as good as yours, or we could have a go at that one also.
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post #25 of 164
12/4/08 at 6:21pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Orcin View Post
You're a fun guy to debate. Too bad my football team isn't as good as yours, or we could have a go at that one also.
And you as well

Now, did you mean Bears-Texans, or Wildcats - Cougars?
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post #26 of 164
12/4/08 at 6:24pm
Both, plus Wildcats-Aggies.
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post #27 of 164
12/4/08 at 11:35pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Yikes View Post
Demoing at a store and then buying on line is stealing. You have stolen the dealer’s time and resources. You have also accelerated the time when you won’t have a local dealer to abuse.

But I am biased. I was a dealer for years, and now import and distribute.
Where have I heard this rhetoric before? Perhaps from RIAA?
Indeed, your attitude demonstrates perfectly why the demise of the remaining audio dealers is only a matter of time - and they won't be missed.
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post #28 of 164
12/5/08 at 12:10am
Quote:
Originally Posted by dvse View Post
Where have I heard this rhetoric before? Perhaps from RIAA?
Indeed, your attitude demonstrates perfectly why the demise of the remaining audio dealers is only a matter of time - and they won't be missed.
My attitude demonstrates why the demise of the remaining audio dealers is only a matter of time ??? WTF, my attitude has nothing to do with it. I'm very pro dealer. The marketplace and the fact that most of you are Bozo price whores dooms most dealers. And the fact that you claim that they won't be missed proves that you are still wet behind the ears, or that you're not bright enough to realize what their demise will mean to the entire audio industry.

Most of us who are old enough to remember hanging out at the local Stereo Shop in the 70's and 80's will absolutely lament their passing.

I salute you.

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post #29 of 164
12/5/08 at 12:54am
I cannot see a quality dealer going out of business for the same reasons that carmax still remains well in business.

Unless this Hi-fi dealer planted himself in the middle of a very unwelcoming area, the two stores should be based on the same principle.

A small background on Carmax. Their prices are basically KBB value for a dealer to be selling you a used car. You are not allowed to negotiate a price. This means the price you get will probably be higher than had you found this car on the infinity lot and tried to haggle it. In return, you have a MUCH larger supply of used cars from which to select, each one has a quality guarantee, and searching for the car is much easier. I know since I bought my car there.

The same can be said of an audio dealer. Yeah, you can get products online for discounts, but as it has been said before, you don't really have any idea what it is you're going to receive. You have the ability to audition multiple products within seconds of each other for real time analysis.

THE BOTTOM LINE: You pay a premium at the dealership for the peace of mind that comes with knowing YOU DIDN'T BUY THE WRONG DAMN PRODUCT.

I for one gladly pay that premium every time and don't look back
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post #30 of 164
12/5/08 at 1:00am
Wow. Have some of you ever been to a good dealer?
I have spent time in many cities while traveling checking out
some fine set-ups. With a good tube amp, turntable, and
a couple of nice speakers, it's heaven. I do buy most of my
stuff from dealers, although it's mostly been used gear. I
spend about half my time with speakers, and half with cans.
On some web sites I frequent, they post dealer visit impressions.
You'll know a good one in minutes. The bad ones, too.
I guess I'm old-school. I prefer to hand my money over to people
I can see. Headphones are a bit different. I have bought stuff
from people here and off EBAY. But a good dealer will make you
fall in love with the gear. I guess a lot of you just chat online with girls,
too. You might want to get out of the house more and meet
face to face!
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