[mammal]

Nice article, well done. Tom, since you are a shop owner, I always wanted to ask, why do companies offer 14 day return policy on UNOPENED items? Is this just for a case of an unwanted birthday present? Else I do not see a point, anything I buy I try to use for a couple of days, only then I realise I no longer want it (or want to upgrade to higher tier). Am I missing something? I know you offer home listen, I guess you have one or two demo devices you keep using for that home listen, as opening a new one would reduce its resale value.

 

[TomKorn]

Nice article, well done. Tom, since you are a shop owner, I always wanted to ask, why do companies offer 14 day return policy on UNOPENED items? Is this just for a case of an unwanted birthday present? Else I do not see a point, anything I buy I try to use for a couple of days, only then I realise I no longer want it (or want to upgrade to higher tier). Am I missing something? I know you offer home listen, I guess you have one or two demo devices you keep using for that home listen, as opening a new one would reduce its resale value.

Well. It's simple.

1. By Swiss law, there is no obligation/right to return. I still wanted to do it.
2. If you open an item and return it, I will loose money because I can't resell it at the same price. It's used then. Also, with IEMs it's a question of hygiene.
3. To mitigate this, I offer you to test any item for 1 week free of charge. So you should know if you really want it.
4. In case of buyers remorse, you can still return it.

To me this seemed a fair deal for both sides. What do you think?

 

[mammal]

To me this seemed a fair deal for both sides. What do you think?

I absolutely agree that you are offering a fair deal and very good customer experience. I just did not consider buyers remorse (before actually opening the box).

 

[NewEve]

What is your experience, guys?

My experience is that the amplification section makes more difference than the DACs per se.

I might be mistaken but when we talk about DAC implementation, this refers to both the amplification section as well as the tuning.

 

[mammal]

My experience is that the amplification section makes more difference than the DACs per se.

Very interesting, I do agree that I can hear more differences between AMPs than I do with DACs, but with AMPs I feel like those are usually sidegrades, just different sonic flavours, where as with DACs it feels more hierarchical, one being superior to another.

 

[NewEve]

Well. It's simple.

1. By Swiss law, there is no obligation/right to return. I still wanted to do it.
2. If you open an item and return it, I will loose money because I can't resell it at the same price. It's used then. Also, with IEMs it's a question of hygiene.
3. To mitigate this, I offer you to test any item for 1 week free of charge. So you should know if you really want it.
4. In case of buyers remorse, you can still return it.

To me this seemed a fair deal for both sides. What do you think?

More dedicated shops should do what you do but I can also understand that business owners want to make money and not be a social service
I think it’s also a question of why. Why are you in the business? Is it because you’re passionate about what you do or is it a business strictly speaking?
As a customer, I certainly appreciate what you offer yet can also understand a business-first approach.

 

[TomKorn]

My experience is that the amplification section makes more difference than the DACs per se.

I might be mistaken but when we talk about DAC implementation, this refers to both the amplification section as well as the tuning.

I totally agree!

 

[TomKorn]

More dedicated shops should do what you do but I can also understand that business owners want to make money and not be a social service
I think it’s also a question of why. Why are you in the business? Is it because you’re passionate about what you do or is it a business strictly speaking?
As a customer, I certainly appreciate what your offer yet can also understand a business-first approach.

I am a passionate audiophile per say. The shop is some kind of (expensive) experiment for me and a dream come true. If I can sustain it, only time will tell. Should I ever be in the position of having a solid and loyal customer base and money comes in steadily, I will further offer more goodies in terms of service to my customers. I will always try to go customer experience first!

 

[mammal]

I am a passionate audiophile per say. The shop is some kind of (expensive) experiment for me and a dream come true. If I can sustain it, only time will tell. Should I ever be in the position of having a solid and loyal customer base and money comes in steadily, I will further offer more goodies in terms of service to my customers. I will always try to go customer experience first!

Offer a subscription service, I am willing to pay up to 2000 CHF a month to keep getting cool stuff to play with, that I never have to own, just keep rotating TOTL stuff.

 

[TomKorn]

buyers remorse
I had that several times actually. So I was happy to revert my decision.

 

[TomKorn]

Offer a subscription service, I am willing to pay up to 2000 CHF a month to keep getting cool stuff to play with, that I never have to own, just keep rotating TOTL stuff.

Great idea. If everyone in this forum joins in, I got all the income I need.

 

[NewEve]

Offer a subscription service, I am willing to pay up to 2000 CHF a month to keep getting cool stuff to play with, that I never have to own, just keep rotating TOTL stuff.

2k a month for real or this is an (expensive) typo?

 

[NewEve]

Great idea. If everyone in this forum joins in, I got all the income I need.

And more...

 

[mammal]

2k a month for real or this is an (expensive) typo?

I have a mental condition that makes coping with FOMO very difficult for me. I spend around 2k a month on this hobby (because of said FOMO) and I just keep buying/selling, getting buyers remorse, more FOMO, buying again. So if there was a subscription I could pay to take that pain away, I would definitely do that.

 

[NewEve]

I have a mental condition that makes coping with FOMO very difficult for me. I spend around 2k a month on this hobby (because of said FOMO) and I just keep buying/selling, getting buyers remorse, more FOMO, buying again. So if there was a subscription I could pay to take that pain away, I would definitely do that.

Noice!