This is how NOT to speak to a prospective customer over the phone
Posted by: Alonso on 24 May 2018
So this is the dealio; I wanted to demo the SCM40 actives against the passive version (with a NAP250) - So I thought to myself..., that can't be too hard? I'll check out who carries both Naim and ATC in my area and drop them a line, which was something along the lines of:
"I am wondering if it could be possible to book a demonstration of ATC’s SCM40A and SCM40 with a Naim NAP250. I am particularly interested in this speaker / power amp combination. You can choose the source/pre you deem fit"
2 dealers got back to me; dealer A and dealer B
Dealer A replied first "We are sure we can help you, perhaps it would be useful for us to have a chat about your system plans" - To which I thought, OK, you could've said, "Yes, we have the kit you want to demo, or we don't" but fair enough ... So I give dealeroo A a ring.
The guy was pleasant and very polite - You know, that middle-class / middle-age salesperson demeanour, the type that makes you feel all warm inside and finds everything you say funny, yeah... that type.
Anyway, the first thing he said after I described my system and explained (again) what I wanted, was "Oh I have a power supply that will make your NDX shine". When I said it was not an NDX that I had but a ND5 XS, he said it might not be a good enough source for the SCM40 - (fair enough, he's entitled to his opinion) This was followed by him telling me he did not have the speakers I wanted to demo in stock, and that I would really struggle to find a hifi dealer that had both passive and actives SCM40 for demo. Fair enough, but the bit that took the biscuit was "we could use a pair of SCM11 because they'll give you a good idea of the 'ATC sound" - I was a bit taken aback to be honest... His solution (when I said that the SCM11 was not what I wanted) was to suggest that maybe he could ask Naim for a pair of Actives as demo "If I tell them that I will sell them"
Is this the way most dealers do business? He basically broke every rule in the book
Dealer B got back to me a few hours later, his response?
"Yes, have both speakers in stock as well as a NAP250. I'll use a NACN272. When would you like to come?" No, opening pleasantries , no 'kind regards' at the end. The dude didn't even put his name on the email, but guess which one I'll be visiting....
[RANT OVER]
Sorry HH, couldn't resist.
See you all in the Padded Cell.
SongStream posted:
Richard is a cat? administrator on day, cat on holiday....