Tim wrote:

this attitude is exactly why HIFI and HIFI dealers are dying. Don't
blame me when there are no shops left to dem at.

I understand the above point but it doesn't really apply to my rather
odd attitude. I didn't buy my last system in a shop 10 years ago, and
they seem to be doing ok without my rather, infrequent, frugal
business. Given the choice between being forced to paying list price or
not buying anything I might even see sense and keep what I've got.

Its not the price per se that bothers me, but the absence of
competition.

Anyway...despite the above I actually went in to a shop today. The sole
hi-fi shop in Sevenoaks, Kent. I was on my way home from work and
glancing at my reflection in the window as I entered I though it might
just have been conceivable to an uninformed observer that I might be in
the market to buy something.

None of the grown up salemen could be arsed to come down to the sales
floor and I was left with the work experience kid to answer my
questions. He had no idea how powerful the Arcam amp was but did tell
me it has some sort of special damping material used in a spaceship to
stop electrical interference moving about and messing with my music. I
asked why it was £150 cheaper than the discontinued model it replaced
but he said this one was much better. This may be true but I'm not
inclined to take his word for it.

The B&W speakers I was interested in weren't in stock but he did point
me to some smaller ones by the same manufacturer. He couldn't actually
be arsed to point them out so had to call out "left a bit" etc. which
made me feel a bit of a tool. Especially since they were right next to
another salesman's desk.

He then clumsily attempted to trade me up to some appropriately named
Spendor speakers about £500 over my budget. Also despite their website
advertising them, apparently they don't sell the Acoustic Energy
speakers I was considering.

The final nail in the coffin (and I had to try hard not to laugh) was
when he went the other way and showed me some sort of tiny bookshelf
speakers. I explained that my room is quite large, around 100m3 (its a
Victorian building with high ceilings) and he said, that's ok, you'd be
amazed how much sound they can throw out. I took his card and near ran
outside.

Rant over anyway. I'm sure there are far better shops independent shops
elsewhere, I might even try to find one. But after that experience any
qualms about negoitating when I've enjoyed "dealer service", at that
chain anyway, have evaporated.

What a miserable young git I am.

Mark