Database of dealer recommendations

Everything Else
1

It might be useful if we create a database of positive recommendations of dealers, both brick and mortar and internet. This should be positive recommendations only. If we want a negative experiences thread, someone can start that separately.
I’ll start:

  1. Innovative Audio, NYC. First class experience from the moment you enter. Lots of questions trying to understand what you’re looking for. And zero pressure to upsell.
    The after service is no different. Their speaker installers spent an entire day uncrating, crating my trade-ins, meticulously setting up my Wilsons, assigning number values to various positions and leaving me with copious notes.
    And for a simple upgrade to my turntable, they had two otherwise identical turntables, left me alone in the studio to let me decide if I liked the difference. The trade-in allowances were better than I expected.
  2. Refined Audio, a Pass Labs dealer. Very fair trade-in allowance against a discounted list price. Jon is a true gentleman.
  3. The Cable Co. Fair, sometimes bewildering upgrade trade-in allowances. Responsive and respectful on the phone.
  4. PS Audio. Trade-in allowances nonpareil.
2

Excellent idea for a thread.

3

I haven’t dealt with them much, but I had one experience with them that irked me, but not anything earthshaking. Just be aware of their restocking charge policy and cost of shipping both ways for return. I sent them a very detailed request and they gave a purchase recommendation that I followed but it was not compatible - I still had to pay a fee for the return on a non-custom order even though it was their erroneous recommendation that led to the return. I would still purchase from them again, but now I’d be much better informed about what to expect.

4

Excellent idea ! Thanks!

5

Sorry @RonR I veered into slight negative territory. Let me add a couple positives to kick this off the way you intended:

  1. Veritas Cables - Quality construction, value, and performance, nearly immediate answer to emails, generous return policy (even on custom made cables!), and the sense that these guys are audiophile enthusiasts first and foremost.
  2. Hifi Heaven - quick response to email questions and they matched their own demo price on a new unit because the demo had been sold a day before.
  3. VH Audio - usually beats any other online dealer price and often has unadvertised discounts on name brand cable components. Answers email quickly and gave me ZERO hassle about cancelling a pricey special order and responded with “no problem Tom, plans change in this hobby all the time.”