A word of thanks for Robert Ritchie in Montrose
Posted by: TomK on 24 April 2013
The XLR connector on one of my NAC A5 leads became detached. Who knows why as the cable had been made up several years ago.
I sent it to Ritchie's on Friday, they got it on Monday, and I received it yesterday (Tuesday). Totally FOC.
Thanks guys, Robert and Jez. Superb as usual.
Posted on: 25 April 2013 by Paul Davies
Nice to know that Robert's still giving outstanding service. I bought most of my system from him in the early 1990s and the service I got was nothing short of brilliant.
Posted on: 30 April 2013 by David S Robb
It is good to see Robert's name appearing yet again in this forum. Over a dozen years ago, there were a number of enthusiastic posts about Robert and his service, and I myself was instrumental in his gaining one of his various customer service awards. For those of you who don't know Montrose, it is a smallish, ancient Scottish burgh on the east coast, with a thriving port area. But it is a bit off the beaten track -- not at all the sort of place where you'd expect to find any examples of outstanding retail excellence. But Robert's shop has long been a Mecca for people, from all over Scotland, seriously interested in hi-fi.
His shop doesn't look all that much from the outside, and the website is nothing to write home about. But, he told me a year ago, his business thrives, despite the prolonged recession, because his reputation is spread by word of mouth. And his reputation is one of dedicated concentration on hi-fi excellence and thoroughly professional customer support. It is very much a family business, with a first-rate team of staff. Robert himself combines decades of hi-fi knowledge with boyish enthusiasm -- despite the fact that he is at the age when he might decently retire. But he loves hi-fi, and the business of demonstrating it -- a demonstration from Robert Ritchie is an experience in itself. You are left feeling that you have made a great friend (and so you have), but he is also a fantastic salesman, So you never know what the end result of a visit might be. (My wife is especially conscious of this!) He is his own man when it comes to judging what is good equipment and what is less so -- some of his opinions, for example, might not always find favour with some contributors to the forum. It seems to me that while he can be infectiously appreciative of technical sophistication and high-end distinction, he is very much guided by his awareness of what real instruments and voices sound like in real acoustics. He is also capable of applying the law of diminishing returns. Hence the satisfaction felt by countless customers.
I am sure that there are many other equally outstanding dealers, up and down the land. But it seems a little marvel that such a valuable shop should exist in such a comparatively out-of-the-way location. Long may he continue.
His shop doesn't look all that much from the outside, and the website is nothing to write home about. But, he told me a year ago, his business thrives, despite the prolonged recession, because his reputation is spread by word of mouth. And his reputation is one of dedicated concentration on hi-fi excellence and thoroughly professional customer support. It is very much a family business, with a first-rate team of staff. Robert himself combines decades of hi-fi knowledge with boyish enthusiasm -- despite the fact that he is at the age when he might decently retire. But he loves hi-fi, and the business of demonstrating it -- a demonstration from Robert Ritchie is an experience in itself. You are left feeling that you have made a great friend (and so you have), but he is also a fantastic salesman, So you never know what the end result of a visit might be. (My wife is especially conscious of this!) He is his own man when it comes to judging what is good equipment and what is less so -- some of his opinions, for example, might not always find favour with some contributors to the forum. It seems to me that while he can be infectiously appreciative of technical sophistication and high-end distinction, he is very much guided by his awareness of what real instruments and voices sound like in real acoustics. He is also capable of applying the law of diminishing returns. Hence the satisfaction felt by countless customers.
I am sure that there are many other equally outstanding dealers, up and down the land. But it seems a little marvel that such a valuable shop should exist in such a comparatively out-of-the-way location. Long may he continue.