Naim Dealer Satisfaction (UK)

ok I've lodged my vote for Superdeal in Croydon. Raj has my business because he's the only dealer in London who could be bothered talking to me the first time I walked in the door - every other dealer was absolutely f*cking awful. "you want to listen to something??? Well we can't be bothered right now because we're too busy scratching ourselves. We might be able to slot you in some time next month."
All I can say is that if I hadn't already had a Naim system before coming to London I sure as hell wouldn't have one now with dealer attitudes like this.
So if Naim are listening... find some more friendly dealers like Raj and ditch the other wankers because they're losing you business.

My vote is for "Adventures in Hi-Fi", located in Wigan. Rob and Steve are enthusiastic and dedicated to Naim, which is what I want in my dealer. Curiously they are not my local Naim dealer; I live in Edinburgh but Rob was quite prepared to come to Jockland to install my system, (some of it purchased elsewhere)including NBL's, which are set up beautifully. I thoroughly recommend them. (the Dealer and the Speakers!)

My vote is for Audio-Republic in Headingley, Leeds. Exceptional.

"Seek first to understand, then to be understood"

Must agree with the comment about Raj at Superdeal in Croydon.

When I first wandered into see him I thought I had made an bad error as the first part of the shop was (then) filled with wall to wall with big flat screen TV's . . . Naim in a box shifters!

You just can't judge a book by it's cover for in the back room were the knowledgable Raj and lots of olive boxes, exactly what I needed after a hot and taxing tram ride through the outskirts of Croydon.

Raj will get my repeat custom when it comes to servicing the deck and when money allows Croydon will be the first stop for auditioning new gear.

Roy T

PS Raj even had music available by Nanci Griffith & Emma Kirkby for an impromptu 112/150 demo - now that is real service.

[This message was edited by Roy T on SUNDAY 04 May 2003 at 09:59.]

I can wholeheatedly praise Julian at Audio-t in Brighton. Julian came all the way up from Brighton to Leicester last week to install my new sistem. Julian took all the time it needed to install my sistem and it was expertly done.

My new sistem looks wonderful and I cannot thank Julian enough.

Regards

NB

Yeah..I agree. Julian, John & Paul at Audio-T are the best.

I've placed my vote for Infidelity in Kingston.
If I was Naim HQ I'd be very concerned about the 18% of dealers who are seen as providing a mediocre or awful service level. Given the price of the kit and the loyalty of the user base I'd also be very disappointed that less than half are seen as giving an exceptional level of service. I would want to see a target for this set at 70% minimum. However YMMV.

David

I've placed my vote for infidelity in hampton wick also.

Stuart

Well good dealers for me are Lintone Audio in Gateshead, these guys provide an excellent service and have nice demo rooms - none of the bullshit just good advice, then they let you listen and decide.

Grahams (London) - never bought or demo'd anything from them, but the service i got just walking in cold to buy an SBL gasket kit and some other bits was excellent.

Those that suck are Rayliegh Hifi (Rayleigh), and the worst f**king robbing b**ta*ds are Musical Images (Covent Garden) - the epitome of shit service. Both give me your money and piss off dealers

Sorry if I seem vexed, but two years ago I planned a demo at Musical Images, travelled all the way into London, and discovered they had not set-up anything.

Anyway I persevered and 30 mins later they cobbled together a cds2/xps/82/supercap/250/sbls, the former were all stacked on each other, the guy closed the door and pissed off. Everything I had planned by telephone with them days before was not done and NO advice was given.

Suffice to say it sounded crap, I winged and discovered the SBLs weren’t spiked, the poor guy said they don’t spike speakers as they may get hurt (boo hoo).

The demo room was piss poor, I took a deep breath and asked if I could have a home demo, now given I was stood there with cheque book and wanted to buy the following cds2/xps/82/supercap/250s/sbls, I was told I would have to pay £200 for delivery and also another £20 for an SBL gasket kit. I politely told the guy to f**k off and left.

I understand these wan*kers, regard the old naim as small fish, they tend the sell high, high price American crap (krell, mark levinson, etc…) so my sale was small fish ???

naheed. . .

My vote has gone to Mike Manning Audio in Taunton, I've found them to be helpful and knowledgeable and certainly no high pressure sales tactics.

Sound Organisation London Bridge, have they relocated? Where to??

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Whilst it may appear that I am a killjoy, I would appeal to people to be somewhat circumspect in their observations of dealers, as an injudicious word here or there could have a disproporionate affect on someones livelyhood for no better reason than there was a misunderstanding or an un
avoidable cock up.

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Paul, it is up to the dealers to create a good first impression - it is after all, as you say, their livelihood that is at stake. If they can't be arsed then that is their problem, not ours as THE CUSTOMER. If there is a misunderstanding or an unavoidable cock up then it is entirely up to them to explain the issue and make apologies to the customer so that they don't go away pissed off. If not, then they don't really deserve our business.

Lets try to remain polite!,,

I know its difficult and sometimes emotion runs high. Also I can't moderate input..... but Paul can.

Vote for the worst and publish a post about the best.

My vote obviously goes to Grahams and they are in the "exceptional" category. Not everyone likes their limited range or love affair with B&W loudspeakers, but their kit is good and their service is second to none IMHO (no doubt there are one or two equal firsts!)

Cheers

Don

Basically Sound - Norwich

My credit card and I have been frequenting this fine dealership since it opened up in 1981.

It's currently run by Graham, with great enthusiasm and sensible advice.

Matt Bonn 0013 said

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Sound Organisation London Bridge, have they relocated? Where to??

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Try the Sound Organisation in York (http://www.soundorg.co.uk) - related to the sadly missed Sound Org at London Bridge.

The Sound Organisation in York is one of the best dealers out there.

Andrew

Andrew Randle
Linn Binn Sinner

Sorry Folks, I'm a bit late in viewing this forum to-night but I must say that as far as Julian and all at the now "Audio T" in Brighton are concerned they are the reason that I have in the passed dealt with SFX at Southhampton[NO LONGER TRADEING ] and the lads at Phonography [Ringwood].I have in the past dealt with Naim dealers from Scotland down to, now Brighton and by far the worst that I have ever encountered was
Julian and his crew ,at what was Jeffries Hi Fi in Brighton
so much so thatI contacted Naim and asked that "THE power Plant" in Brighton be given the Naim Dealer ship, but was told that although they had had other complaints about the Brighton branch of Jeffries the other branches at Eastbourn etc. were very good. You takes your pick, as they say , so unless things have changed
dramatically at Brighton I would respectivley suggestthat you should go elsewere for your Naim equipment

Dear Mat Bon 0013
The sound Org. from London Bridge was probably one of the best if not, the best of the suppliers around .When I first became interested in Hi Fi they delivered my equipment to me at Rugby a distance of aprox. 80 miles from London, set it up and would not leave untill they were satisfied with the sound [this was unfortunatly at about midnight on a saturday night] but for service they will always get my vote . unfortunatly they are also no longer tradeing, like the other brilliant Co.
Craig at SFX.Unfortunatly, only THE Sound Org.at York is still tradeing but if you are in their area they are still worth a visit.

Oldie - I've posted you a private topic

The Sound Otrganisation (York),aka SORG, get my vote.

I have been with them 10 years and I trust them.

They have held several music evenings which have been very good. They have helped me upgrade through the years and have done a few part exchanges along.

They recently helped my sister who was looking for a Hi-Fi of the order of £1,000-£1,500 and I sat in on the dem (and deliberatley said nothing or expressed an opinion). They listened and demonstarted without influencing..great to see as it is difficult fior me as I have been in the Naim furrow (or groove!) for 15+ years!.

By the way, she liked the NAIT and and CD5 with Linn Kan speakers - but a bit above her budget.

The only improvement I could say for the SORG would be to go more on-line to anounch new products and 2nd hand kit via e-mail...I must mention it to them.

Richard

Re. oldie on Audio-T

I cannot agree at all with these comments. I've had excellent service from Julian and co. in Brighton. They've allowed me to take as long as I want with demos, they've suffered my vacillations and requests to 'just hear those xxx speakers again' for the umpteenth time admirably, and I've always felt encouraged to make up my own mind about what I've heard. At the end of it all (for now!) I've got not only a system I like, but also a respect for the makes and kit I haven't bought, based on an awareness of their strengths that comes of their being given a fair hearing by Audio-T.

Dan

Grahams in Islington.

Honest advice based on understanding my expectations - [Paul of Grahams] "The most important thing is to get what you really want - even if it means saving up - otherwise after a few months you'll be crawling up the wall wanting something else instead of just enjoying what you've got"

I'm delighted with my system.

John.

Dear Dan,
As I said you pays your money and you takes your choice, me ,I've already made my choice and Its the lad's at Phonography who know how to treat their customers.

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All of our customers are test shoppers, we look at and analyse all returned registration cards to check all is as it should be.

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But what about the ones that don't buy and therefore don't return the cards? They are a potential source of key service quality information too, perhaps more important in some ways than the ones that do buy.

"Seek first to understand, then to be understood"

Paul

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we look at and analyse all returned registration cards to check all is as it should be.

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Not all buyers fill-in and return registration cards. Of those that do, some may 'pull their punches' to avoid being negative about some aspect of the dealer's performance. Others simply don't know what they should expect and only come to do so by visiting fora like this. When I bought my first bit of Naim kit (Nait3), I had no idea the dealer was expected to provide an installation service. He certainly made no mention of it!

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Also we have the forum and old fashioned telephones to constantly ensure that are standards are upheld.

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With the greatest respect, this forum is telling you there are some serious problems with some dealers and that others that are under-performing against the standards you set. It appears you may be reluctant to read the runes.

David

I second Jez Quigley's vote of Audio-Republic in Headingley Leeds. I also agree with the "folk buy from folk" comment earlier. I would buy from Andrew (the proprietor) wherever he happened to be.
Steve D