Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/18/84; site harvard.ARPA Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!mhuxr!mhuxn!ihnp4!qantel!dual!lll-crg!seismo!harvard!sasaki From: sasaki@harvard.ARPA (Marty Sasaki) Newsgroups: net.audio Subject: High end salons Message-ID: <385@harvard.ARPA> Date: Thu, 3-Oct-85 15:47:24 EDT Article-I.D.: harvard.385 Posted: Thu Oct 3 15:47:24 1985 Date-Received: Sun, 6-Oct-85 05:39:29 EDT References: <4364@alice.UUCP> <492@olivee.UUCP> Reply-To: sasaki@harvard.UUCP (Marty sasaki) Organization: Harvard Science Center Lines: 38 I'm sort of a semi-regular at a hi-fi store in Cambridge. They sell mid to high end systems. I asked one of the salesmen about how many top end systems they sell, and why people buy them. He responded that most of the folks that buy the high end systems are affluent and consider audio a hobby. Paraphrasing here: "Some people spend all of their money on sailboats, some on sports cars. My customers spend their money on stereo equipment." He went on to explain that he wouldn't think about spending $3000 on speakers, he would rather spend the money on his car. This store definitely appeals to the snob, but they will deal with me (I bought a tonearm, a platter mat, and some interconnects, hardly large sales). They are honest and patient. I can go and listen to their high end system and compare against their mid-level systems (as long as they aren't busy). I can ask questions, look through their old issues of audio magazines, and make a pest of myself (again, as long as they aren't busy). If you leave a deposit, you can take demo equipment home to play with in your system. They will let you try out cartridges for a while (they do like to install them and check things out, apparently cantilevers often get broken during installation) to see if you like them. There are three other stores in the area that treat their customers similarly. Maybe other areas have problems, but the Boston area seems to have lots of good places. Their prices aren't as good as other places, but I feel a lot more confident buying from these stores. So, my point is, there are good stores with good sales people. You shouldn't mistrust someone just because they make their living from selling you things. A consumer should be cautious, but their are people that will give you a fair deal. -- ---------------- Marty Sasaki net: sasaki@harvard.{arpa,uucp} Havard University Science Center phone: 617-495-1270 One Oxford Street Cambridge, MA 02138 Brought to you by Super Global Mega Corp .com