Avalon Pricing Policy?

Well, it's great that you are offering the dealer the business. That gives them the opportunity to be creative within whatever rules they either need or like to follow.

Provide the opportunity for a dealer gesture that at least sticks to the letter of the manufacturer request. For example, ask whether the dealer has an "open box" pair, customer return or demo pair. Or buy something else as the same time an a VERY high discount.

I try to avoid buying on the net new or used when I've used a local dealers time on a product. I just keep them separate, in order to not waste a dealers time.

And I try to find out up front whether the dealer is permitted to discount a prroduct either explicitly or implicitly.

This is the best way I've come up with to handle a somewhat difficult issue; I'm open to alternative suggestions.

I have always felt that the best approach for a dealer would be to offer free local gatherings & demonstrations, large ones, nearly daily. Develop a steady stream of music lovers that habitually visit your shop at least weekly. Eventually some percentage will surcumb to "I want it now" and also begin to appreciate the value of working with a dealer. Let 95% of them buy on the internet; all you need is that 5% that want to buy local.

I've yet to see any dealer adopt this approach though.

Art