Best Buy

[Woochifer]

I went in the Magnolia at the BB near my old home in NJ today. Didn't see any Krell or McIntosh (wasn't looking closely) but they had a nice selection of Martin Logan and Vienna.

Like I said, you'll find those higher end products inside the standalone Magnolia locations, which are ALL located on the west coast. The Magnolia mini-stores inside BB only carry a portion of Magnolia's full product lineup.

[perry2070]

I went in the Magnolia at the BB near my old home in NJ today. Didn't see any Krell or McIntosh (wasn't looking closely) but they had a nice selection of Martin Logan and Vienna.

I went into a couple of Magnolia listening rooms. You have to ask to hear anything. That is, except the time I went in and was about to put in one of their demo CD's and demo a system myself. That got their attention - like I don't know what I'm doing and they do? One of the rooms had their setup so bad, that my wife's Kenwood bookshelf speakers sounded better than the Vienna and Martin Logan's they had set up. First, I had to tell the guy that only one channel was playing. Then, I asked the guy if he was sure the receiver was set right. He had no idea!
You'd think they would at least try to sell a $1500 set of speakers to someone who brings their own demo CD's in.

[Woochifer]

I went into a couple of Magnolia listening rooms. You have to ask to hear anything. That is, except the time I went in and was about to put in one of their demo CD's and demo a system myself. That got their attention - like I don't know what I'm doing and they do? One of the rooms had their setup so bad, that my wife's Kenwood bookshelf speakers sounded better than the Vienna and Martin Logan's they had set up. First, I had to tell the guy that only one channel was playing. Then, I asked the guy if he was sure the receiver was set right. He had no idea!
You'd think they would at least try to sell a $1500 set of speakers to someone who brings their own demo CD's in.

YOU might know what you're doing, but the majority of the customers that roll through BB DON'T know what they're doing.

The problem is usually not the setup. Rather, the problem is customers going into the demo rooms and messing around with the equipment settings. And it's not necessarily easy to keep track of all the setup menu options for every piece of equipment that the store carries, especially with receivers that use that OSD menus while the units' video outputs are not plugged in.

From what I've seen, the Magnolia demo rooms inside BB are setup similarly from store to store. The rooms themselves are well designed with acoustical treatments in place. They will vary with the equipment on the floor, and they all use a touchscreen system that does all of the component switching and keeps track of the different components. But, that does nothing to stop customers from tinkering with the components themselves.

[GMichael]

I have found that shops selling high end audio are almost like car dealers. I'm a professional in a high income job but when I go into a car dealer or audio shop wearing jeans, tennis shoes and T shirt, I don't get good service or respect. But when I go into the same places wearing nice clothes and maybe even a sport coat and tie that the sales people swarm all over you. Its unfortunate but your appearance is equated with money and sales.

This is true. It's why when I want to go look at cars without having a Salesman up my butt, I always dress down and bring a friend in nice clothes. By time the Salesmen have figured out that I'm the buyer, I've already seen what I wanted to see. This way I don't have to be bothered with them on cars I'm not interested in. Once I find a car I like, then it will be known why I'm there.
Many of my friends are pilots who make nice money. Most of them wear jeans and T-shirts when not flying. Salesmen should wise up to this.
I was wearing Jeans that day in Albany but still got great service.

[perry2070]

YOU might know what you're doing, but the majority of the customers that roll through BB DON'T know what they're doing.

The problem is usually not the setup. Rather, the problem is customers going into the demo rooms and messing around with the equipment settings. And it's not necessarily easy to keep track of all the setup menu options for every piece of equipment that the store carries, especially with receivers that use that OSD menus while the units' video outputs are not plugged in.

From what I've seen, the Magnolia demo rooms inside BB are setup similarly from store to store. The rooms themselves are well designed with acoustical treatments in place. They will vary with the equipment on the floor, and they all use a touchscreen system that does all of the component switching and keeps track of the different components. But, that does nothing to stop customers from tinkering with the components themselves.

I agree.
But if you are trying to infuse some high-end equipment into your store, there should be someone there at all times so that the equipment is not tweaked, and the receivers/players are ready to demo your screens and speakers. The setup they have in their listening room is actually quite impressive, and the other store I visited did have everything done right. The salesman at that store also knew how to describe Martin Logans and contrasted them to the Viennas. I was impressed with that setup, but the first store I mentioned really made me wonder...

[Dusty Chalk]

Hey I never thought of that,maybe because I have hair down past my shoulders,tats,and always seem to mention I play in a band I may be hurting my image,OH MY!

It's the musician part that turns retailers off -- we musicians notoriously are always hurting for money.

Especially the long-haired ones.

[blackraven]

I was at BB today, I'm going to buy the Samsung 46" 1080P LCD TV. I stopped into the Magnolia area and talked with a salesman who actually owned Martin Logans and McIntosh amp. I was very impressed with his knowledge. He said they can order just about anything that the free standing Magnolia stores carry, including REL subs, Primare and Krell.

[powerlord]

It's the musician part that turns retailers off -- we musicians notoriously are always hurting for money.

Especially the long-haired ones.

I knew I felt a bond there Dusty. Must have been your other avatar.long live 80's hair!!

[Dusty Chalk]

Rock on. \m/