Klarinet Archive - Posting 001081.txt from 2004/07

From: "Morgul" <Morgul@-----.net>
Subj: Re: [kl] Yamaha & MAP
Date: Fri, 30 Jul 2004 01:49:13 -0400

I can relate to this discussion from a slightly different point of view.

In my day job I sell mid- to high-end TVs, stereos and home theaters for a
national A/V chain.

People come to us and say, "We can buy a Shmeckman 500 seven-channel
receiver on the Internet for $500 less than your price." We don't budge; we
cordially invite them to go ahead and buy from their Internet source. But
when they have setup questions or service needs, which we gladly accommodate
for our customers, we refer them back to the boiler room from whom they
purchased. Local retailers MUST emphasize this MAJOR difference between
themselves and the Box Stores interested only in moving boxes, customer
service be damned.

Another example: I buy my computers from a guy who works from his home and
lives five minutes away. He assembles a generic box of generic components
based on my specs and sells it at a price comparable to those in the
computer magazines. I have called him at 7:30 on a Saturday night with a
problem, and he has spent the better part of an hour on the phone talking me
through it. As a last resort, I can bring my computer to him, which I have
done on several occasions. I don't think Mr. Dell or Mr. Compaq would be so
accommodating.

My point is that the difference between the local store and the Internet
retailer is the availability of timely, personal, expert service. If the
local stores aren't getting that message out -- or if that level of
expertise is not available -- then they have a serious problem.

Stan

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