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Could I be a Retail Wretch?

I started a discussion here this morning to get some feedback on whether an external DAC would make an appreciable improvement over an internal processor’s DAC. During the discussion, I said that I typically visit a local audio dealer, to experience the equipment and then, comparison shop to find the best deal. The particular dealer I was referring to, emails me weekly, sends postcards monthly and catalogs quarterly. It’s always with an invitation to “see and hear the difference”. So I visit, and occasionally buy some small ticket items. But, when it comes to spending thousands on nationally available equipment, I don’t feel any obligation to limit my shopping to that one location.

When I shared my buying habits with the forum, I received responses that said using any brick and mortar stores to demo and then buying elsewhere “cuzz” it’s cheaper is just plain wrong…

I was surprised at that statement. I’m a value oriented person. I enjoy quality items. But I search for them at the best price - is that wrong? If there’s no competitive pricing or added value, why should I feel obligated?


gwbeers
wolf_garcia
4,650 posts
 
Not sure if they still do this, but Guitar Center had a computer station designated for shoppers to look up pricing on line (only new stuff) to compare it to their pricing of the same item, and if you found something for less, even if it was "sale priced," they would sell you the thing for that price. A great idea.
teo_audio
932 posts
 
Guitar Center is an American music retailer chain. It is the largest company of its kind with 269 locations in the United States.


They dominate the industry already. So they also dominate pricing.

Not sure what they bring to the discussion.

In the case of the guitar center, it is them stabbing everyone else. Because they can.

That's what the computer station was about, IMO.


inna
5,245 posts
 
About a year ago, mostly out of curiosity, I asked Gryphon distributor for a current price list thru email. Next day I got the complete price list and also another email from a local dealer inviting me to come listen to Gryphon. Now that's different, they invited me. So if you come to a dealer and say that you have no intention to buy anything at the moment and you are still invited to audition that's alright.
No, I still didn't go to listen to Gryphon because I was not going to buy anything but I could have.
d2girls's avatar
d2girls
641 posts
 
I would love to talk about my experience with dealers one day. It would appear I was the only one with class at planetofsound. Audio eden was way better. I’ll get into it another time. As for the guy above me... you should stop trolling.
elizabeth
6,726 posts
 
Experience with dealers.... This is many years ago, 1982? I wanted some Infinity RSIIa list price $3,200. The local ’Crazy Eddie type store each salesperson seemed to each be on different planets. Anyway after asking for a deal, and getting laughed at, I asked the owner of a local Sound Stage and he was Yeah, 35% off prepaid on an order, no problem. I bought the speakers. (Which BTW I did go down to Chicago and listen to at some other dealer about 100 miles away.. They sounded AMAZING) Anyway, later on I am back at the Crazy Eddie sort of store and mention the deal, and the guy sez’: I would have sold then to you for 40% off. (Yeah right, that includes the Brooklyn Bridge too?) I ’mentioned’ I had already asked him, and got a dozen reasons why it was totally impossible to discount blah blah.
So back in 1982 or 1983 I also went into a dealer KNOWING I was not gonna buy from them mainly because they were the only dealer within 150 miles who had a pair on display.. But I bought from a LOCAL dealer. Was that bad, moral police! tell me...???
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