There are good guys out there....

I have been reading Grahams' and others comments on audio dealers in the GSP Preamp thread

I would like to contrast this with smaller bespoke manufacturers where I have had fabulous responses. Not only are their products of exceptional quality (IMHO) but in each case, their attention to customer service shines through. This is probably because the guy running the business actually speaks to customers and also happens to be a genuine audio enthusiast. I am happy to name them all:

Graham Slee/John Cadman of GSP
Jeff Spall of Audiomods
Frank Smillie of Groovetracer
Michael Lim of Lpturntables
Mr Yip of Mint Best tractor
Ivan Leslie of IPL Acoustics
Stuart Mitchell of SRM-Tech
Alan Langford of DEQX

I put Graham and John at the top of the list because the transparent and open way they do business is so rare in todays world and beats everybody else I have encountered in any walk of life

Here are a few of my own 'experiences' by the way...

When I first auditioned a Gram Amp 2, my local dealer was ambivalent (& gave me an obsolete model). I ended up buying another brand and regretted it

When I tried to audition high end headphones at a dealer in the UK, he said he had far too many time wasters and would only agree to arrange this if I was definitely going to buy something. When I said that would depend on what I heard, he put the phone down on me!

I once ordered a hi-fi component from a dealer in a quite distant location and upon arriving by car, it had been sold that morning to someone else. I did the same with another of their stores and it happened again! They showed no remorse so I went elsewhere

I had to return a B&W subwoofer to the dealer for repair, it was subsequently returned unannounced by courier and left outside in the rain in its cardboard box until I got home!

When I tried to purchase another piece of hi-fi kit from a UK dealer in 2012, he took 2 weeks to reply to my email, by which time I had purchased from the Dutch distributor (fantastic by the way). I had also emailed two other European distributors and never had a response

When I emailed 3 US dealers to audition the Furutech DeStat only one bothered replying. He was very helpful and got my business

I could go on but won't....




Edited by Drewan77 - 19 Aug 2014 at 12:38pm

Yes, I concur with much that you say, Andrew. I have had good and bad experiences with hifi manufacturers and dealers over the years and, on the whole, have tended to receive better (ie quicker, more personal, more concerned for my needs, etc) service from the smaller operators. GSP is clearly included in my list of good guys but I could mention a number of other mostly one-person outfits who have also provided good service.