I've been trialing and selecting speaker and power connections and Stereo Design (and another good…read moreretailer) have been very supportive, lending the products to me for unhurried auditions in my home system. I ultimately purchased Synergistic Research and Transparent Audio products which worked very well for me. Their service and support have been invaluable. And heck, I just plain like these guys.
Looking over other recent reviews, I noted a very negative one, bitter about having their effort to pit one dealer against another price wise.
It seems to me that the internet purchase culture has further eroded the ethics of the customer pool. In the past, we needed to work harder to identify dealers across the country, call them long distance and shop a product. Today, a couple keystrokes and voila!
It's one thing to read a review, see an ad, or remember a product from the past and decide you want it and then go out and shop it on the internet, versus getting a price on a product and then going out to the local demonstrating dealer to educate yourself, listen to it, in order to validate your choice and to then expect the demonstrating dealer to price match. If a price match is your goal then you shouldn't appropriate the dealers resources and time.
Let's consider a typical scenario. I go into dealer A who has minimal presence of a product line but is technically a dealer. "Can you get me an XYZ?", "Sure!" says dealer A. "What's the best price?" you ask. Dealer A who will have to do nothing more than order it and take your money says: "25% off". Now, at this point, you think that's great except you really don't want to buy something that expensive without first seeing, touching and listening to it, so you say: "Let me get back to you." You then go out and start looking for a dealer B who does have the XYZ on active display.
Do you go into dealer B and say: "Hey, I got a price on an XYZ of 25% off and if you'll match it and demo the XYZ to me I'll get it from you." No, you more likely say, "Hey, I'm interested in an XYZ, can you demo it?"
At this point, those of us who don't see the difference, are thinking so what. I'm entitled to get the best price. The problem is that it's dishonest. Dealer B, acting in good faith, is tricked into spending time, resources and in the case of Stereo Design, even lending out the XYZ, to a customer who will never buy it from him.
The reality is that a demonstrating dealer cannot stay in business and continue to STOCK/DEMO a luxury product line, in the face of steep discounts. The manufacturers of such products know this and this is why there are often contractual agreements prohibiting such activities.
Back to my scenario: Instead, knowing that my motive of primarily wanting to validate my choice would be poorly received, I choose to simply ask for the demo. After consuming significant time, I ask for a discount from dealer B who might only be able to offer 10-15% in the face of his real overhead. Not satisfied, I let dealer B know that I'm willing to give him the benefit of my business if he'll match dealer A's price.
Of course dealer B is going to be offended and is going to do what he can to scuttle the UNFAIR competition.
Many of you will disagree with my take on the ethics involved here but I suspect that will be due to a one-sided world-view you might possess.
The reality is that dealers like Stereo Design, cannot exist in an internet, everything is a commodity world. The manufacturers know this. They know that you won't want or buy a luxury product if you can't first see it , touch it, and evaluate it.
While the commodity based, price is all that matters, internet world may allow product to be sold in the short term, eventually, the sales will stop once every retail store front, discontinues demonstrating it.
You'll notice that there are some retailers who are catalog/internet based but their overhead is in content. They too are compelled to hold the line on prices because to do so otherwise would undermine their ability to offer the services they offer such as extensive online content and personal consultation.
Do I appreciate a discount? Of course, but I try not to let that be the only factor. If your primary goal is the lowest price, then get it, buy it , and don't waste the resources of an unsuspecting retailer.
