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I was a salesperson at the Good Guys, and the co-owner of Aesthetic Audio, an audiophile cassette duplication company in the late 1970s.
Reader Mark Gdovin is curious. How many of you have professionally worked in the field of audio as "retail salespersons
As an EE, I have "looked at" friends' malfuncioning audio equipment and computers (stop going to those naughty websites!), sometimes fixing or upgrading them, as well as my own. I have sometimes wished I had become an audio equipment designer, but I wonder if I would enjoy it as much then.
Brings back memories---good and bad. I worked as a salesman at Cal Audio in Southern California while working my way through college. Although employment was good, I am truly sorry for the crap I sold to my poor customers.
Worked in audio sales and did occasional installations while in college during the mid-seventies in the top "high end" shop in the small college town. Did lots of benchtop testing and listening. Probably the greatest learning experience for understanding that equipment with the same specifications does not necessarily sound the same.
I am guilty of receiving many incentives from Bose, in the form of clothes and speakers, for moving their products. This eventually led me to the belief that their Acoustimass line is totally wrong for Home Theater (a suckout in the dialog region of the audio spectrum). I am a custom home installer now, and recommend the products of smaller manufacturers, which provide a more "high value" product. I've also learned that the majority of consumers decide what speakers to buy, based on what they see (or the lack thereof), and not what they hear.
In my whole life, and in the 30 years I've been deeply involved in audio, I've never bought a speaker system. I've always designed and built my own. And I wouldn't trade the experience, nor the acoustical results, for a mansion-full of Wilsons (as fine as their speakers are, incidentally).
I've always had a love of movies, so naturally one of my hobbies just had to deal with audio/video equipment. My humble beginnings started as a sales person at RadioShack, which is where I got my first stereo system. Those components have long been replaced now, but I had fond memories of playing with the "toys" there. I am now currently working in the theatrical exhibition business. Lots of fun there, too. How I'd wish I could revamp the sound system at work. It could sound so much better.
I worked at Audio Ecstasy in San Luis Obispo for two years (Jon Iverson used to work there, too). Best job I ever had! I also did smallish installations etc. It was great fun, and I learned more there about good audio than I ever would have reading magazines and Internet browsing. It gave me the invaluable tool of becoming a critical listner, since I was able to listen to all of the equipment in any configuration I wanted to when we were'nt busy (which was too often). Never underestimate the value of having a good dealer!
I've never worked in the field,but I could. I've been an audio hound since I was seventeen and unboxed my first system in my bedroom in my parents house. Now,I took my grandson with me to order a pair of B&W 805's. Nothing matters but the music.
I have worked in sales, service, repair, distribution, installation. and marketing, although each area has an upside and a downside. I love dealing with education professionals and music lovers who care less about cosmetics and prestige, and focus on an all-round quality product, which is why I enjoy talking to them, I call this a pre-qualified buyer. This industry is fun as long as the music remains the most important element of all and politics is left far from conversation.