One thing I enjoy about meeting with customers in person is that you get a better sense of who they are, what their office environment is like, how they interact with coworkers, etc. As a salesperson, this information is invaluable and can only be gathered through a meeting.
For instance, I met with one customer yesterday who I thought was somewhat dry from email and phone call interactions. I was completely wrong – he is quite the comedian and prankster. He also knows all of the people who work on the floor. Observing his interactions with them and seeing where his office is (cube right on the floor) told me volumes about him.
And to boot, he described Branson, MO to me at lunch this way, “Imagine Jurassic Park with country music.”
Some things just have to be experienced.