What makes a great dealer

I happen to have the best dealer in the observable universe. Yes, you've guessed, it's Signals in Ipswich (OK, Bucklesham to be precise). They're wonderful, not only delivering my second child, decoking the engine in my 1973 MGBGT, cooking a sumptious feast for fifty people to celebrate my knighthood, but also supplying a courtesy helicopter to fly me to the Outer Hebrides for breakfast. Highly recommended!

(Disclaimer - Signals' kind donation of Statement pre and six power amps in no way influenced this sincere recommendation)

Huge recommendation from me for Acoustica in Chester, where Geoff and Pete have, over the years, provided excellent service, in terms of solid advice as to the next upgrade step, and just as importantly, an ability to think "outside of the box", when it comes to discounts / trade ins to make the upgrade decision an easy one to make.

Top blokes! 

Best best ever service  I got from Das Andere HiFi Studio in Germany (Thomas Krüger). Prompt service with competitive pricing – excellent. 

Sadly no dealer near me, so when I want something I pick on the basis of who has what I might be interested in, if possible near to family or friends, otherwise planned to fit a manageable trip. Also, over the years I've been such an infrequent purchaser that I'd scarcely be considered a customer of great significance, theough there is one dealer whom I have used more than once because I did at one time live nearby. Quite unusually I've had contact with 4 dealers in the past year (including said previous contact), and they have all been remarkably helpful, and I would happliy return to any.

So let me greet and thank Peter and Wayne in Rearsby!

Gianluigi Mazzorana posted:

So let me greet and thank Peter and Wayne in Rearsby!

I'd second that. Over the last couple of years I've made several trips to Cymbiosis to have various upgrades installed on my LP12. It's a round trip of 225 miles, but if you want arguably the most experienced LP12 dealer with great service and support, then it's worth driving the distance. Did I mention the great service and support? When I had a technical issue with my LP12 recently, Peter even made the journey to resolve the issue in my home. Highly recommended.

As I buy second hand I don't have a specific dealer. I have used many and found them all good people. Cymbiosis gets my TT work, they won't retire on my purchases but are always helpful. Will try to visit this year. Tom Tom, Audio T Brighton, Infidelity and Signals also deserve a mention too.

My goto people are 

Cymbiosis (for linn, dynavector, naim, bits and pieces, setup)
Tomtom (for bits and pieces, 2nd hand naim)
The Audiobarn (ATC)

dave marshall posted:

Huge recommendation from me for Acoustica in Chester, where Geoff and Pete have, over the years, provided excellent service, in terms of solid advice as to the next upgrade step, and just as importantly, an ability to think "outside of the box", when it comes to discounts / trade ins to make the upgrade decision an easy one to make.

Top blokes! 

 

+1. Absolutely agree.

dave marshall posted:

Huge recommendation from me for Acoustica in Chester, where Geoff and Pete have, over the years, provided excellent service, in terms of solid advice as to the next upgrade step, and just as importantly, an ability to think "outside of the box", when it comes to discounts / trade ins to make the upgrade decision an easy one to make.

Top blokes! 

 

Agreed Dave, I also use Accoustica for my Naim kit and they are indeed excellent.  If anything Geoff and Pete make it too easy to upgrade and buy kit, or so my wife says.

dayjay posted:

dave marshall posted:

Huge recommendation from me for Acoustica in Chester, where Geoff and Pete have, over the years, provided excellent service, in terms of solid advice as to the next upgrade step, and just as importantly, an ability to think "outside of the box", when it comes to discounts / trade ins to make the upgrade decision an easy one to make.

Top blokes! 

 

Agreed Dave, I also use Accoustica for my Naim kit and they are indeed excellent.  If anything Geoff and Pete make it too easy to upgrade and buy kit, or so my wife says.

Can't disagree with that, some of the creative thinking applied to upgrades / trade ins, means that, generally, it has equated to "make him an offer he can't refuse".

It's all good. 

My vote is for ProMusica in Chicago.  Ken and John have been Naim dealers for 30+ years and they are first and foremost interested in making customers satisfied with how the music sounds.  Everything is in service to that, whether it is a sub $1000 system or Naim 500 series or Statements.  Great guys--every dealer should be this good.

And, best of all, they have great ears.  If they tell me that a new piece of gear is a big improvement, it is!

oh i forgot promusica in chicago too - visited there some years ago, and they were great

Well if our good moderator is going to allow this debate about dealers, I'm going to have to put in a big plug for Infidelity. Nothing ever too much trouble, very knowledge, and all the team seem enthusiasts just like the rest of us.  

MDS posted:

Well if our good moderator is going to allow this debate about dealers, I'm going to have to put in a big plug for Infidelity. Nothing ever too much trouble, very knowledge, and all the team seem enthusiasts just like the rest of us.  

Ok, so much for marital relations...

My best Hifi dealer experience has been with Criterion Audio in Cambridge. Very professional conduct and very knowledgeable, and especially James goes the extra mile for a top-notch costumer experience. He takes a lot of time (before and after a purchase) to help, even when a customer is probably not the most profitable one. We only bought a modest, ex-demo XS2... James followed up to learn how I am getting along with my new amp, and was always available to answer questions from a Hifi newbie... When we had an issue with the amp's transformer, he also sorted this problem out. No hesitation whatsoever to recommend Criterion Audio! 

dayjay posted:

dave marshall posted:

Huge recommendation from me for Acoustica in Chester, where Geoff and Pete have, over the years, provided excellent service, in terms of solid advice as to the next upgrade step, and just as importantly, an ability to think "outside of the box", when it comes to discounts / trade ins to make the upgrade decision an easy one to make.

Top blokes! 

 

Agreed Dave, I also use Accoustica for my Naim kit and they are indeed excellent.  If anything Geoff and Pete make it too easy to upgrade and buy kit, or so my wife says.

And mine!

Timo posted:

My best Hifi dealer experience has been with Criterion Audio in Cambridge. Very professional conduct and very knowledgeable, and especially James goes the extra mile for a top-notch costumer experience. He takes a lot of time (before and after a purchase) to help, even when a customer is probably not the most profitable one. We only bought a modest, ex-demo XS2... James followed up to learn how I am getting along with my new amp, and was always available to answer questions from a Hifi newbie... When we had an issue with the amp's transformer, he also sorted this problem out. No hesitation whatsoever to recommend Criterion Audio! 

 

 

 

 

I'll second that. Excellent dealer & excellent service

jon honeyball posted:

oh i forgot promusica in chicago too - visited there some years ago, and they were great

I was present there too on that night, unbelieving how people could listen to music at such high volumes. It was the first time that my Ginastera piano music MA disc sounded strained and harsh while being played through the 552/500.

If it's a dealer praise thread I'll add Audience Bath. Superb. Always willing to go above and beyond and good just to pop into for a chat.

The only two Naim dealers I've had dealings with since the 1980s who I wouldn't go back to do not exist any more, which probably says it all.

Harry posted:

If it's a dealer praise thread

It doesn’t have to be, let’s remove the rose tinted glasses.

Car dealers always have a reputation of being a bit dodgy, no reason to believe there aren’t quite a few dodgy hifi dealers out there.

 I’d say a great dealer is one that doesn’t steal gear from you.

fatcat posted:

Harry posted:

If it's a dealer praise thread

It doesn’t have to be, let’s remove the rose tinted glasses.

Car dealers always have a reputation of being a bit dodgy, no reason to believe there aren’t quite a few dodgy hifi dealers out there.

 I’d say a great dealer is one that doesn’t steal gear from you.

 

 

Are you saying you know of car dealers who steal cars?

Over a quarter of a century ago, I learned from a legendary dealer in Montrose what makes a great (hi-fi) dealer:

• A passion for music
• An understanding of which aspects of audio reproduction actually make a difference to a listener's long-term enjoyment of recorded music
• The ability to demonstrate how well (or otherwise) different pieces of hi-fi equipment excel at those aspects of audio reproduction
• An approach to system building and upgrading that maximizes the customer's enjoyment of the system at every step along the upgrade path
• Trust in the customer's judgement
• An unwavering commitment to customer satisfaction
• A degree of well-informed opinionation
• The willingness to go the extra (70) mile(s) for a customer, even when there's no sale at the end of it
• The honesty to admit that a proposed upgrade isn't actually an improvement, even if it means losing a sale
• The skills and the patience to set up and maintain the customer's system so that it is always performing at its best
• Sound business acumen

Perhaps the greatest compliment I can pay to this dealer that I am still highly delighted with the equipment I bought all those years ago and that the only reason I would be tempted to upgrade would be because my existing equipment could not be maintained any more.

dayjay posted:

Richard, if this isn't allowed please delete.

Last summer I managed to prang the cartridge on my RP8 which lead to a time consuming and frustrating interaction with my insurance company.  The pain was also felt by one of my local dealers, Doug Brady, who were messed around by the insurance company who eventually sourced a cartridge from the other side of the country.

A week or two ago I lost the right channel output from the new cartridge for no obvious reason and, in despair, phoned Doug Brady up to ask for advice.  They very kindly offered to test the cartridge for me if I took it in, which I did, and they also, to my relief, dealt with Rega and sent the cartridge off for me.  

This week Rega confirmed that it was a manufacturing fault and sent a new catridge out which Andrea, from Dooug Brady, set up on my turntable and tested for me.  All of this,the testing, dealing with Rega, and the set up of the cartridge, along with some interesting and useful advice, cost not a penny despite the fact that neither the cartrdige not the turntable was purchased from there in the first place.  

I sometimes see critical posts of dealers on here but few in praise but I wanted to highlight what to me is absolutely brilliant service from a great dealer.  As a plus they also had a copy of Rush 2112 live from 1980 in stock that I didn't own and had never heard before.  Thanks to their service I'm now listening to it on my turntable and enjoying it hugely.  If you need a dealer and you live near Warrington you can't go far wrong with this one.

I remember Doug. He delivered and installed my first LP12 more years ago now than I care to remember. I always had good service from him and the other staff at WA Brady's on Smithdown Road.

fatcat posted:

Harry posted:

If it's a dealer praise thread

It doesn’t have to be, let’s remove the rose tinted glasses. 

Too late!