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Thread: Sad, and almost true - and that's why it's sad

  1. #1
    Join Date: May 2008

    Location: Southern England

    Posts: 2,990
    I'm Howard.

    Default Sad, and almost true - and that's why it's sad

    Said Marco:

    "I always laugh when I hear people saying that such-and-such a dealer is "my friend". Utter bollocks - he or she is only 'your friend' because (ultimately) they want your money!"

    ]Oh dear. I know this to be true - but Marco, I though we were/are friends!? Was it all just a ghastly illusion? Be kind to me Marco; let me down gently.

    And he continued ...

    "That's not to say though that some dealers aren't perfectly nice (and often helpful) people who will try and do their best to provide you with what you want. But quite simply you're deluded if you're under the impression that your dealer is your best buddy... "

    Steady on Marco. You're sounding a bit like me at my pontificating best.


    Please don't view all of us as reprobates, charlatans, snake oil salesmen and so on. Some are, some aren't and ... there are very many in between. But then you know that I guess – and you are having a bit of fun, and no, I'm not taking this personally.


    ---//---
    Last edited by Neil McCauley; 24-10-2008 at 06:24.
    Well, hello.

  2. #2
    Join Date: Jan 2008

    Location: Wrexham, North Wales, UK

    Posts: 110,012
    I'm AudioAl'sArbiterForPISHANTO.

    Default

    LOL, Howard! You know exactly what I mean, and you know I love you



    I'm not saying you necessarily come into the category I've described. Stripping everything else away, at the end of the day, the fact is business is business. I think some people get too carried away and are easily 'lulled into a false sense of security', if you get me.

    Marco.
    Main System

    Turntable: Heavily-modified Technics SL-1210MK5G [Mike New bearing/ETP platter/Paul Hynes SR7 PSU & reg mods]. Funk Firm APM Achromat/Nagaoka GL-601 Crystal Record Weight/Isonoe feet & boots/Ortofon RS-212D/Denon DL-103GL in Denon PCL-300 headshell with Funk Firm Houdini/Kondo SL-115 pure-silver cartridge leads.

    Paul Hynes MC head amp/SR5 PSU. Also modded Lentek head amp/Denon AU-310 SUT.

    Other Cartridges: Nippon Columbia (NOS 1987) Denon DL-103. USA-made Shure SC35C with NOS stylus. Goldring G820 with NOS stylus. Shure M55E with NOS stylus.

    CD Player: Audiocom-modified Sony X-777ES/DAS-R1 DAC.

    Tape Deck: Tandberg TCD 310, fully restored and recalibrated as new, by RDE, plus upgraded with heads from the TCD-420a. Also with matching TM4 Norway microphones.

    Preamps: Heavily-modified Croft Charisma-X. LDR Stereo Coffee. Power Amps: Tube Distinctions Copper Amp fitted with Tungsol KT-150s. Quad 306.

    Cables & Sundries: Mark Grant HDX1 interconnects and digital coaxial cable, plus Mark Grant 6mm UP-LCOFC Van Damme speaker cable. MCRU 'Ultimate' mains leads. Lehmann clone headphone amp with vintage Koss PRO-4AAA headphones.

    Tube Distinctions digital noise filter. VPI HW16.5 record cleaning machine.

    Speakers: Tannoy 15MGs in Lockwood cabinets with modified crossovers. 1967 Celestion Ditton 15.


    Protect your HUMAN RIGHTS and REFUSE ANY *MANDATORY* VACCINE FOR COVID-19!

    Also **SAY NO** to unjust 'vaccine passports' or certificates, which are totally incompatible with a FREE society!!!


  3. #3
    Join Date: Jan 2008

    Location: Central England

    Posts: 2,932

    Default

    Well yes. It depends on the type of relationship. If the dealer takes money off you now and again in return for an improved musical listening experience then that is a good business relationship.

    If he happens to be a hi-fi dealer and you drink with him in the pub then he's your mate.

    I'm not sure about when both the above apply though.

  4. #4
    Join Date: May 2008

    Location: Southern England

    Posts: 2,990
    I'm Howard.

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Marco View Post
    LOL, Howard! You know exactly what I mean, and you know I love you
    Oh alright then. Just as well 'cos The Samaritans have been engaged all afternoon. Sniff. (cue sound of nose blowing at hurricane levels, and then vigorous rubbing with a handy fresh Keenex to dry the tears) - but the internal pain remains.

    I'm not saying you necessarily come into the category

    Interesting application of the word 'necessarily'. Hmm!

    I've described. Stripping everything else away, at the end of the day, the fact is business is business. I think some people get too carried away and are easily 'lulled into a false sense of security', if you get me.

    True, very true. Should this be a catalyst for a fresh thread I wonder?

    ---//---
    Last edited by Neil McCauley; 23-10-2008 at 15:10.
    Well, hello.

  5. #5
    Join Date: Jan 2008

    Location: Fishtoft, Lincolnshire

    Posts: 394
    I'm Dave.

    Default

    How Upsetting!! Earlier today I had determined that I had over 600 friends in my database.
    Now I read this and I feel used.
    I will now go forth and buy some more friends from outsiude of the hifi world.

  6. #6
    Join Date: Jan 2008

    Location: Wrexham, North Wales, UK

    Posts: 110,012
    I'm AudioAl'sArbiterForPISHANTO.

    Default

    LOL what are you guys like!

    Marco.
    Main System

    Turntable: Heavily-modified Technics SL-1210MK5G [Mike New bearing/ETP platter/Paul Hynes SR7 PSU & reg mods]. Funk Firm APM Achromat/Nagaoka GL-601 Crystal Record Weight/Isonoe feet & boots/Ortofon RS-212D/Denon DL-103GL in Denon PCL-300 headshell with Funk Firm Houdini/Kondo SL-115 pure-silver cartridge leads.

    Paul Hynes MC head amp/SR5 PSU. Also modded Lentek head amp/Denon AU-310 SUT.

    Other Cartridges: Nippon Columbia (NOS 1987) Denon DL-103. USA-made Shure SC35C with NOS stylus. Goldring G820 with NOS stylus. Shure M55E with NOS stylus.

    CD Player: Audiocom-modified Sony X-777ES/DAS-R1 DAC.

    Tape Deck: Tandberg TCD 310, fully restored and recalibrated as new, by RDE, plus upgraded with heads from the TCD-420a. Also with matching TM4 Norway microphones.

    Preamps: Heavily-modified Croft Charisma-X. LDR Stereo Coffee. Power Amps: Tube Distinctions Copper Amp fitted with Tungsol KT-150s. Quad 306.

    Cables & Sundries: Mark Grant HDX1 interconnects and digital coaxial cable, plus Mark Grant 6mm UP-LCOFC Van Damme speaker cable. MCRU 'Ultimate' mains leads. Lehmann clone headphone amp with vintage Koss PRO-4AAA headphones.

    Tube Distinctions digital noise filter. VPI HW16.5 record cleaning machine.

    Speakers: Tannoy 15MGs in Lockwood cabinets with modified crossovers. 1967 Celestion Ditton 15.


    Protect your HUMAN RIGHTS and REFUSE ANY *MANDATORY* VACCINE FOR COVID-19!

    Also **SAY NO** to unjust 'vaccine passports' or certificates, which are totally incompatible with a FREE society!!!


  7. #7

    Default

    Have any trademembers on this forum have had professional sales training ?

    I thought one of the techniques was to make the potential customer make you feel that you are his friend...
    Hans

    MBL 1531 -> Allnic L-4000 -> Audiolab 8000S used as power amp only -> Quad 2805. Cables: Transparent Ultra

  8. #8
    Join Date: Aug 2008

    Location: Suffolk, UK

    Posts: 1,473
    I'm Paul.

    Default

    Tell him that all your friends are swingers and that you'll like him and his wife to go to the swingers club that night.

    He'll either admit he's not really your friend or you'll be in for an interesting night!
    ~Paul~

  9. #9
    Join Date: May 2008

    Location: Southern England

    Posts: 2,990
    I'm Howard.

    Default

    [quote=Togil;21067]
    Have any trademembers on this forum have had professional sales training ?
    I was a sales trainer for many years, mainly in car showrooms. Does that count?

    I thought one of the techniques was to make the potential customer make you feel that you are his friend...
    No. Wrong, wrong, wrong and dare I say it - WRONG!

    Empathy is one of the most powerful motivational forces. True friendship requires empathy - but empathy does not require nor imply friendship.

    Truly effective salespeople (and the ONLY litmus test that counts is REPEAT business i.e the customer returns because he/she wants to) use empathy. Some of us have it as part of our DNA and others can learn it via NLP . Friendship as a substitute for the ability to help the prospect (the generic term for a person who has yet to metamorphose into a customer) get what they want, when they want it and within their budget (this being universal technique appropriate for pimps, hookers, car salesmen, lawyers and yes even doctors) is blatantly obvious both conciously and subconciously.

    I have studied this for years. Telling the truth works - even if it means helping the prospect walk away without spending a penny.

    Year by year, at least 40% of my encounters result in me carefully, sympathetically, kindly and without resentment directing the prospect to a superior solution i.e one I cannot provide. If their requirements suggest that Richer Sounds can provide what we (the prospect and I, that is) conclude they need, when they need it and withing their budget, I get a real kick by helping them achieve that result.

    Admittedly I can afford to do this as I made my stack from selling out of the company I started in 1998 that – guess what – offered a software that enable users to make better quality decisions. Thus if I were stuck on a high street with silly fixed costs and so on, I very much doubt if I could survive and offer the same degree of truth that I do.

    Sermon and trumpet blowing over.

    Sincerely

    Howard
    Last edited by Neil McCauley; 23-10-2008 at 19:23.
    Well, hello.

  10. #10
    Join Date: Jan 2008

    Location: Fishtoft, Lincolnshire

    Posts: 394
    I'm Dave.

    Default

    I did have a friend once but his head caught fire after I persuaded him to look at the sun through a telescope. He never bothered calling me after that.

    I have actually been on more sales training courses than I care to mention. I spent 10 wasted years as a sales guy in the call center industry. There I have admitted it now.


    Dave.

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