SUPER BARGAINS GALORE in CENTRAL LONDON

[rdpx]

Not seen anyone mention this, but WALRUS SYSTEMS in London is closing down, and they are selling off all their mostly demo stock, generally at about 50% of retail.

http://www.walrus.co.uk/secondhand/secondhand.html

They are closing doors finally sometime in June, and at that point you can probably expect some very good bargains indeed. Today they said they would probably be selling their Croft Integrated Phono for £400, but hadn't decided who to yet.

Today he also offered me a pair of NBIEN NX6 with stands included for £100 cash. I said that seemed very cheap and he said they were rubbish. I didn't really want them, but asked him how they would stack up against my PMC GB1. He said he was not even going to talk about it because it was too cheap to be worthy of his mind to answer my questions. I said that I had no idea how he calibrated "RUBBISH", as to me they might be great because I had not been surrounded by top end HIFI for 20 years.

At that point, and I kid you not, he threw me out of the shop. He opened the door and was visibly shaking, saying "go go go go don't come back"

Very very strange man indeed. I had basically been in there for ten minutes trying to establish whether I could buy the Croft off him when they shut the doors, but he was just evasive "We will sell that at the end" "Yes but can I buy it please? I want to give you some money!" "I have 18 people who want it" "well who will you sell it to" "I am not sure".



But be warned, this man is acting like a >@£$% at the moment, and is really only interested in talking to people who have a lot of money. I don't know if he simply is just a >@£$%, or if he is just reacting very badly to the stress of closing down the business. Either way, if he goes on much longer like that he will probably die of a heart attack, or meet someone far less benign than I.


Robert

[struth]

Nbien speakers are very good. ive heard a pair. a no brainer at 100 quid

[rdpx]

Nbien speakers are very good. ive heard a pair. a no brainer at 100 quid

The point is that the man was extremely rude and it was quite upsetting.

Saying that perhaps he was angry because he was trying to give me a really good deal and I wasn't biting his arm off? To be fair though he had said they were rubbish and I wasn't really interested in them anyway as I don't think they would have been allowed in the house.

I get the feeling he has utter contempt for anyone who does not have minimum £10,000 to send on a system. I was in there a month ago and when I said "THORENS TD-150" he lost interest completely. Soon after he pointed at some cables and said (I paraphrase) "that cable is worth £3000 so you see the problem you have in this shop"

[realysm42]

Sounds like he deserves to go out of business.

[struth]

Sounds like he deserves to go out of business.

most definately !!! all that is bad about so called super hi end sellers. Treat anyone without a huge wad in their pockets like dirt. trouble is many hi end custom dont like this attitude as they often were poorer once themselves.. i,d have had his speakers though:eyebrows:

[rdpx]

i,d have had his speakers though:eyebrows:

If he had said "They will be better than your PMC" I would have asked him where the cashpoint was. I had no idea what they were worth really though they did look expensive. I have since looked online and can only find one example on eBay that failed to sell for £250.

It was the Croft I wanted really.

[The Black Adder]

He doesn't deserve your money. It's good that you let us all know though.

If the transaction went through swimmingly then this thread would have been 'totally different' with a very 'positive outcome'... therefore a positive outcome means more business for him, etc... everyone would be happy.

[southall-1998]

Nice shop but that Les chap is one arrogant git!

S.

[The Black Adder]

No thanks... lol - I've never spoke to him and I'd rather not waste my time. Don't want anything he's got anyway so I'm hardly in a position to buy in the first place..

[southall-1998]

I've actually met him 3 times...He seemed ok with me!

He sure loves his camera and food though!

S.

[Anthony K]

Only spoke to him twice and the man set an all new standard for bad behaviour , he never deserved be in business in the 1st place , may I be the first to bid him a thoroughly descent and well deserved 4Q...good riddance

[walpurgis]

Most dealers I've met have seemed OK, but there are a few cranky characters though.

What they should bear in mind is that not every scruff that comes in apparently poking about for a bargain, is necessarily skint and not prepared to splash out on the right thing. I'm a scruff and poke about for bargains, but I've also been known to lay out a big bunch of readies on an impulse buy at no notice. Pushiness or impatience on the part of a salesman has been known to prompt a bit of abuse from me as I walk out waving a big wad of cash at them (happened a couple of times actually).

(car dealers are even worse!)

[jandl100]

I knew Les (ex of KJ Leisuresound) 30-35 years ago. Really nice guy then.
Happily loaned me kit to dem and just shrugged with a smile when I returned it. I can't imagine what's happened - but maybe severely stressed by the close down, as you say.

But I guess a lot can happen in 30 years!

[petrat]

I tried to audition some speakers there years ago, and tried to book an appointment by phone, only to be told that they weren't about to waste their time when I would obviously subsequently go somewhere else to buy, which he claimed 'happened all the time'. Probably a reason for that, if he'd thought about it ....

The only time I actually made it into the shop, to try to buy a Transfiguration cartridge, he kept insisting the (more costly) Lyra was much better. When I persisted, he made it very obvious he thought I was an idiot. I eventually got my cartridge from them, but only because, at the time, they were about the only source in the UK. I'd have much preferred to go somewhere else. As did many others, by the looks of things.

[Macca]

I visited once on a cold weekday afternoon, very quiet. There was a young bloke on duty who was very friendly and chatty even though I told him from the off I was only there to kick tyres. Based on that if they were selling something I wanted I would have gone back.

Like Geoff says if you look a bit scruffy in your civvies - like me- then a lot of dealers can't see beyond that.

Local dealer here was the same , I wanted to audition an amp had to go to the bank draw out a wad of cash and show them it before they would give me the time of day. Of course that was before the internet and they were the only game in town. they were more interested in doing 20K multi room installs but what they forget is todays £500 customer is tomorrow's 30K customer. Or can be.

[Clive197]

As an ex HiFi salesman and playing devils advocate I'm here to tell you that there is the other side of the coin. I won't and can't defend the attitude this Les has but for everyone of you guys who have had poor experience in this store stop and think about the people who enter a store to completely waste a salesmans time.
Sadly 'Tyre Kickers' are a real phenomenon. I have been on the end of that too many times, sometimes spending several hours doing a demo only to be told that they already had the equipment but just wanted to have a listen while the other half did some shopping in the town centre or fantasising about kit they will never be able to afford. One cheeky sod telephoned and asked me to do a demo for a piece of kit his own dealer didn't have in to dem but would get it for him to buy the next day. He was surprised when I politely declined his request. (I told him that the dem room had already been booked but I was happy to do the dem a few days later).
There is no reason or excuse to be rude or sharp with a potential customer but sometimes you need to be 'firm'

[Macca]

A salesman should accept that tyre-kickers are part and parcel of the job. And remember that they may be tyre kicking today but next month or next year they could be back to spend . Depending on how they were treated as a tyre kicker, of course. Not that I am saying it is okay to ask for a dem to kill some time while the wife is shopping but there is always going to be some wankers, again they are part and parcel of a salesman's lot. You have to think about the commission ;)

[twotone]

I get tyrekickers all the time on the phone (I'm self employed and in the 'building game') but what usually chases them is the mention of money, they can't get off the phone quickly enough.

Normally it's 'can you send someone to have a look?' and I reply by telling them yes no problem the charges are...then all you hear is, click!

Best sound in the world.

BTW, the guy in the HI-FI shop sounds seriously un-well.

[Clive197]

A salesman should accept that tyre-kickers are part and parcel of the job. And remember that they may be tyre kicking today but next month or next year they could be back to spend . Depending on how they were treated as a tyre kicker, of course. Not that I am saying it is okay to ask for a dem to kill some time while the wife is shopping but there is always going to be some wankers, again they are part and parcel of a salesman's lot. You have to think about the commission ;)

I agree that tyre kickers are part of a salesmans lot but sometimes patience can get a little stretched.

I had one occasion when a customer returned to the store swearing and cursing that a DVD's HDMI output on the machine purchased the previous day didn't work. I plugged it into one of our TV's pressed the HDMI button on the front panel and guess what, it worked perfectly. He was very sheepish so I explained that he might have tried the 'RTFM' feature next time. I shouldn't have but I did.


RTFM......Read The Fu....g Manual.

[Beobloke]

I must say I'm amazed to read this. I haven't spoken to Les for a couple of years but I had quite a few dealings with him when I was working full-time for Hi-Fi World and I have to say he was one of the nicest people in the industry that I have encountered.

I'm very sad to hear Walrus is closing and I can only assume that he's under great stress because of it.

Personally I wish him all the best for the future.

[orbscure]

I got the impression from reading the news part of their website that they may only be moving?

"After almost 17 years we will be leaving our New Quebec Street premises in June 2015. I can't reveal yet what's happening afterwards or where it will be, but in the meantime we want to sell off as much of our stock as possible..."

[Joe]

Have bought several things from Walrus in the past; they always seemed polite and friendly. Surely the demise of a specialist hifi shop is to be mourned rather than gloated over?

[Frankyc2003]

+ 1
I had good dealings with Pete and Les in the past. They happily lent me a croft preamp for a week. Les is a very knowledgeable dealer I thought. He explained me that having a vol pot for each channel made sense because we have 2 ears, and they might not be fully 'balanced'. Pete sold m a Sumiko cartridge too and I was very happy with the service.
Sad state of affairs really. I wish them all the luck for the next 'step'.

[Spectral Morn]

Have bought several things from Walrus in the past; they always seemed polite and friendly. Surely the demise of a specialist hifi shop is to be mourned rather than gloated over?

Yes, agreed.


Regards Neil

[Spectral Morn]

Only been there the once, many years ago, walked in had a look around walked out.

Having been a Saturday boy, sales staff and manager in a specialist shop, there are days when the stress and pressure of trying to keep the doors open can be way too much and people are human and can snap. I am not excusing what was on the face of it less than professional behaviour but frankly I am appalled at the vibe on here wishing this guy ill and he go out of business and asking people to hassle him.

There is a saying about needing to walk in another's shoes for awhile to understand them and I suggest strongly that this thread stick to civilised discussion - please.

[southall-1998]

Pete is a nice fellow to deal with!

S.

[struth]

some comments have been removed or altered as they went beyond the pale.

[rdpx]

Have bought several things from Walrus in the past; they always seemed polite and friendly. Surely the demise of a specialist hifi shop is to be mourned rather than gloated over?

I am certainly not gloating about anything.

All I know is that I have been in that shop twice, both times I told them that I wanted to buy the Croft Integrated that they had.

Both times Les was extremely rude and made me feel very uncomfortable.

[southall-1998]

I am certainly not gloating about anything.

All I know is that I have been in that shop twice, both times I told them that I wanted to buy the Croft Integrated that they had.

Both times Les was extremely rude.

F*** him.


Did you say something sarcastic to Les as you walked out the shop?

S.

[rdpx]

Did you say something sarcastic to Les as you walked out the shop?

S.

Nope. To be honest I can't remember what I said. It was actually quite a traumatic experience.

[rdpx]

I must say I'm amazed to read this. I haven't spoken to Les for a couple of years but I had quite a few dealings with him when I was working full-time for Hi-Fi World and I have to say he was one of the nicest people in the industry that I have encountered.

So perhaps, had I only been a writer for a HIFI magazine he would have been nice to me?

[Anthony K]

So perhaps, had I only been a writer for a HIFI magazine he would have been nice to me?

No if you had a goat that shat fifty's he would have been nice too

[southall-1998]

Nope. To be honest I can't remember what I said. It was actually quite a traumatic experience.

You should have bought those speakers for £100!

Silly boy!!

S.

[rdpx]

You should have bought those speakers for £100!

Silly boy!!


I would be looking at divorce papers had I done so...
[and I'm not even married]

;)

[Darren]

I've bought kit from walrus on a couple of occasions. They were unfailingly polite and devoted enthusiasts. I'm very, very sorry to hear things have got a little out of hand and know just how horrible it can be when the vultures/wankers begin circling. I suspect that the sooner they get shut, the happier they will be. Anyone who deals with the public for year after year deserves a medal.

[rdpx]

That sounds like you are all but calling me a vulture/wanker, Darren. But again, they have been very polite to someone who is spending a lot of money. Go figure. I should point out that Pete was polite to me on both occasions.

I found Walrus because I was looking for somewhere that sold Croft. On their site landing page they specifically say that everything is on sale and "better still, come and visit us as there are a lot of smaller items being sold...which we won't be posting up here."

[IHP]

I think this is best dropped now Robert. Something unpleasant happened, as things do, you've had your say and now it's just something in the past. You can rarely affect the behaviour of others, but you can walk forwards and away.

I'm not aligning this to that 'Black Friday' thing, though this didn't example the best of humanity. Bottom line is is you find you aren't able to trade in a civilised manner, don't trade.

You're right wanting Croft though ! Perhaps approach another dealer and negotiate a bit.

[The Black Adder]

Hi Robert.

I understand that you had a bad experience with them. But it is now time to move on.

Might be better to start a new thread on asking where to buy what you want.

So to that end I'm going to close this thread.