Could I be a Retail Wretch?

@oddifyll - The genesis of this post was my question, which was in regard to a local retailer I shop at. They discount lower priced items ($500 or less) but don’t discount the more expensive name brands…

“If there’s no competitive pricing or added value, why should I feel obligated?”

Many responses assumed that I hadn’t made an attempt to negotiate, which, of course I had. The fact that I knew the item I was interested in was available at a lower price and this particular retailer was not willing to sell below Manufacture’s SUGGESTED Retail Price, I had no feeling of obligation to make the purchase.

My sarcastic (and I apologize if it offended you) suggestion for dealer support, was intended as an ironic parody for those who want me to believe, it’s every audiophile’s obligation to sustain their local dealer at all costs.

This shouldn’t be interpreted as “a slap in the face to any good dealer out there…” but a kick in the pants, to the ones who don’t quickly adapt to the buying channels of webrooming and showrooming and develop a strategy to compete in this environment.

As to my iPhone, I get a pretty enticing discounted offer from my carrier every 2 years.

You’re not offending me, it’s just shitty to do that to dealers. None of whom want customers like you wasting their time and resources.

@oddiofly - I’m not being factious. Please be explicit and explain to me how you perceive my interaction with a retail salesperson has wasted their time and resources.

It may be a difference between urban and rural shopping. I live in Manhattan and East Hampton, Long Island. There are 2 shops close to me on Long Island and 4 within walking distance in Manhattan. Your dealer may display prices in their high end audio rooms, but that’s not the norm and none of these 6 locations do. I have never seen a crowd at any of the 6 shops and more often than not, there’s no more that a half dozen shoppers in any listening room.

So, if the only way to find a price is to engage a salesperson - please tell me what resources I’m depleting and how I’m wasting that salesperson’s time?

@oddiofyl 

+1

OPs question has been asked and answered, but he doesn't like the answer

"There are 2 shops close to me on Long Island and 4 within walking distance in Manhattan."

How far is "walking distance"?

Shopping and selling in Manhattan has slightly different reality than shipping from a warehouse in Kansas. Some of the expenses are higher and business model may be aimed more towards people who shop in a different way than you do. In the end, you may be happy you outsmarted the dealer and he may not care about it that much. Win-win situation.

A month or so ago, a dealer with showrooms full of nice/expensive products (along with less esoteric, for sure) responded to a seriously-interested youngish prospective buyer with "If I could get a dollar for every person who came in, got interested, and then said he would be back...". He did not seem dismayed, he simply stated the fact in some way. He actually offered significantly lower price on a $5000 amplifier.