Is it possible to be honest and a successful Hi-Fi salesperson?

[Bloomer]

Sure but the salesperson's job is to sell stuff. I've encountered salespeople who were selling carpet the week before and those who have been involved in the industry for decades. Auto salespeople rarely know squat about suspensions and drivetrains, the most important parts of cars. But most can talk up a storm!

There used to be a local small chain "Stereo Lab" who mostly had good people. The one closest to me had a Head Cheese named Norm who was beyond honest.
"I've been in the industry so long, the romance is gone for me, what can I do for you?"

I visited regularly and did lots of listening to mid range and never-could-afford-this electronics and speakers. I didn't really know what to listen for beyond smooth response. My current equipment and all of my friends' equipment exhibited predictable harshness (big distortion) on certain tones, that's mainly what I wanted to get rid of.

Norm once gave me a pair of garden hose sized Monster interconnects and said "These are wicked expensive, try them and see if you hear a difference compared to what you're using now." "And it doesn't really matter what you have now." A week later, when I returned them, "What'd you think?" "I dunno." "Thought so!"

A months or so later, I bought a Threshold Forte 1A class A amp and Forte 2 preamp. They solved problem and weren't super pricy. Still the best sounding amp I have, makes a decent heater, too.

Thanks, Norm!

 

[Purité Audio]

You seem to manage it.

EDIT - sorry - just realised I've replied to a close to 3 year old post. Go on, own up - who's responsible for the thread necromancy?

I have the ‘honesty’ part sorted but the ‘successful’ needs some work.
Keith

 

[antcollinet]

Anyone trying to sell you something is technically dishonest. And that could even fall into someone giving something away. As giving stuff away could mean something they dont want, making room for themselves or to make them feel good in some way. Scientifically speaking there is no such thing as an ethical business. Ethical businesses may be a thing but they don't survive, businesses survive only if they are profitable.

well that is a load of nonsense.

Recently a disabled person who is being moved into an unfurnished flat posted a request on our local "for free" facebook page, for stuff to furnish his flat. I've offered him a TV we can no longer use. I'll take it down for him tonight. Yes it gets it out of our way. Yes there is an element of feeling good by doing something good.

But please because I'm baffled - feel free to explain to me how I am being dishonest?


Similarly how is a hifi sales person, who honestly explains to a customer what a product is , how it works and what it can genuinely do for him, then makes a sale - how exactly is that dishonesty?

 

[Philbo King]

I haven't seen any hifi shops since the 80s. In general (not limited to hifi) the most successful salesmen are the least ethical.

They develop and hone skills that read the desires and pre/misconceptions of the customer and tailor their response to steer them toward whatever is most profitable. As someone above noted that is their job, after all; karma be damned...

 

[TTT15]

I still have access to local dealers and local national brands. But I would not surprised if both die out. I suspect that the reduction in choice will not be good for consumers long term.

 

[Westsounds]

well that is a load of nonsense.

Recently a disabled person who is being moved into an unfurnished flat posted a request on our local "for free" facebook page, for stuff to furnish his flat. I've offered him a TV we can no longer use. I'll take it down for him tonight. Yes it gets it out of our way. Yes there is an element of feeling good by doing something good.

But please because I'm baffled - feel free to explain to me how I am being dishonest?


Similarly how is a hifi sales person, who honestly explains to a customer what a product is , how it works and what it can genuinely do for him, then makes a sale - how exactly is that dishonesty?

Pure, unconditional giving is by many philosophers the highest form of virtue. Yet you’ve shot yourself in the foot by making it public and your ‘give and tell’ social recognition of how virtuous you are.

The best salesman are some of the most dishonest people you can meet, they have to air on the side of never telling the full story and letting the expectations of the buyer do the work.

We live in a parasitic world, though. Your roof blows off due to high winds, and someone comes along and makes money off your misfortune. They don’t do it out of the kindness of their heart. People do people favours sometimes obviously, but business ethics is a BS word, commercial business survive for profit. That is their primary goal, and that is far from a load of nonsense.

 

[whereisbrian]

I had a long career selling logistics services to companies, and each time it involved large budgets that could strain their cash flow, so I was always honest about the expected profits.

As a result, due to my professional background, whenever I went to buy new equipment, I would observe the salesperson's sales tactics!

I remember one of my clients, the manager of a hi-fi store. At the time, I wanted to buy a new pair of speakers. He sat me down on a sofa with a switch, two pairs of speakers I had selected, and the amplifier I was using at the time, for an hour. He was a good salesman, and we made a deal.

 

[DavidEdwinAston]

I remember Howard Popeck Keith. Can't remember how. Since 1983 my favourite local-ish shops have been Grahames, North London, and Unilet South Malden! You may know them both?

 

[antcollinet]

Pure, unconditional giving is by many philosophers the highest form of virtue. Yet you’ve shot yourself in the foot by making it public and your ‘give and tell’ social recognition of how virtuous you are.

And the dishonesty - where is that. Where have I misled anyone? Told an untruth? I'm not a philosopher, I've neither claimed virtue, nor do I expect - or even want - praise.

 

[sigbergaudio]

Pure, unconditional giving is by many philosophers the highest form of virtue. Yet you’ve shot yourself in the foot by making it public and your ‘give and tell’ social recognition of how virtuous you are.

The best salesman are some of the most dishonest people you can meet, they have to air on the side of never telling the full story and letting the expectations of the buyer do the work.

We live in a parasitic world, though. Your roof blows off due to high winds, and someone comes along and makes money off your misfortune. They don’t do it out of the kindness of their heart. People do people favours sometimes obviously, but business ethics is a BS word, commercial business survive for profit. That is their primary goal, and that is far from a load of nonsense.

What do you suggest should happen when your roof blows off?

 

[Westsounds]

And the dishonesty - where is that. Where have I misled anyone? Told an untruth? I'm not a philosopher, I've neither claimed virtue, nor do I expect - or even want - praise.

Why mention the person was disabled then. Does that get you extra points. It’s just virtue-signalling. The topic is about salesmen and honesty, and they generally are, just not. They are not giving stuff away to people in need.

What do you suggest should happen when your roof blows off?

You could always pray for a new roof.

 

[antcollinet]

Why mention the person was disabled then. Does that get you extra points. It’s just virtue-signalling. The topic is about salesmen and honesty, and they generally are, just not. They are not giving stuff away to people in need.


You could always pray for a new roof.

You have a peculiar definition of the word "dishonest". I assume you would also state that labouring for pay is dishonest.

 

[Westsounds]

You have a peculiar definition of the word "dishonest". I assume you would also state that labouring for pay is dishonest.

No, that’s wage slavery.

I’m not immune to it, I have done hours of manual labour, or an ‘honest day's work’ as many like to call it. But when you have little options, what can you do other than fit in with social wrongs, or ‘norms’ as some call it.

 

[antcollinet]

No, that’s wage slavery.

I’m not immune to it, I have done hours of manual labour, or an ‘honest day's work’ as many like to call it. But when you have little options, what can you do other than fit in with social wrongs, or ‘norms’ as some call it.

But why - I mean the labourer isn't labouring out of the goodness of their heart. In what way is it different from a roofer not fixing a roof out of the goodness of his heart?

 

[Westsounds]

But why - I mean the labourer isn't labouring out of the goodness of their heart. In what way is it different from a roofer not fixing a roof out of the goodness of his heart?

Why, the same as any other person, people basic needs are not taken care of, that’s why. Like most working class, I didn't have parents that looked after me further than basic education, after that you're in the dog-eat-dog world like almost everyone else. What's the alternative, I didn’t fancy sleeping on the streets or having handouts.

 

[sigbergaudio]

Why mention the person was disabled then. Does that get you extra points. It’s just virtue-signalling. The topic is about salesmen and honesty, and they generally are, just not. They are not giving stuff away to people in need.

So to not give away things is to be dishonest? I don't think that's the definition?

To take it down to the super simple terms (to understand where the dishonesty begins): If I grow a carrot in my garden, and then I exchange it for a tomato that my neighbour grew in his garden, am I being dishonet?

 

[Westsounds]

So to not give away things is to be dishonest? I don't think that's the definition?

To take it down to the super simple terms (to understand where the dishonesty begins): If I grow a carrot in my garden, and then I exchange it for a tomato that my neighbour grew in his garden, am I being dishonet?

Hi-fi salesmen, sales, and consumer electronics is nothing to do with carrots and tomatoes being grown in the garden, you're just being silly now. I talk to my lonely neighbour sometimes as well, I don't charge them for a therapy session. If they were coming into my shop to buy something to support my business, things would be different.

 

[pablolie]

... If they were coming into my shop to buy something to support my business, things would be different.

Many salespeople realize that many consumers aren't idiots, and those consumers will not be back to buy again - which is very bad for business, since for many shops it's repeat customers that make the difference between a business thriving or it going out of business.

 

[Westsounds]

Many salespeople realize that many consumers aren't idiots, and those consumers will not be back to buy again - which is very bad for business, since for many shops it's repeat customers that make the difference between a business thriving or it going out of business.

I truly believe the loyalty to a shop or business days are gone, or certainly numbered if not completely gone. E commerce is just too powerful now. As you say, people are not complete idiots, just search online and get the best price. You’re an idiot if you go physically shopping looking for deals, they are all at your convenience already at home, and you're more likely to get the best deal that way without leaving the house.

Who can realistically compete with giants like Amazon or online retailers, no one.

 

[Duke]

And the dishonesty - where is that. Where have I misled anyone? Told an untruth? I'm not a philosopher, I've neither claimed virtue, nor do I expect - or even want - praise.

Different people see the world through different lenses, sometimes extremely different lenses. I am not qualified to evaluate the validity of those lenses, and in particular not the ones that are extremely different from my own. My guess is that life experiences very different from mine result in worldviews which are likewise very different from mine.

Through my lens I only see good in what you did, and through my lens that good is not retroactively invalidated by your writing about your experience. Imo both of these actions - your gift of the television, and your mentioning it in this thread - tend to make the world a little bit better place.

And just for the record, you have never come across to me as someone claiming virtue or expecting or even wanting praise.