I've been attached to sales in one way or another for decades.
Never the less, I'm continually confounded why when a legit offer to buy for less than MSRP arrives on your doorstep, it is so handily dismissed.
There are all sorts of reasons for the why of it, pro & con. Posturing, policy, etc. I've often felt in these instances letting $$$ walk out the door is no help to anyone, especially the dealership. it can stay there and cost you, or you can let it go and make close to whay you had in mind, and likely recieve another prospect on both the good will engendered by the discount and the performance of the piece as previewed by other associates of the buyer, not to mention his own now positive word of mouth advertising, which to some extent has now been subscribed.
Suits me either way. Sure it can be disappointing at the time, but there's more than one dealer.... or path to purchase your hearts desire OR either it's equivlancy or better somewhere else.
Moving product always paid me. Always. on the consumer front and from the viewpoint of the distributor or manufacturer.
Dusting it off didn't.
high end audio is unlike most any other realm on the planet. For quite invalid reasons. mostly ego. The "if you have to ask attitude" said aloud or by presentation is pervasive.
I think too, it accounts for how tenuous the industry often finds itself.
I'd much rather deal with a businessman who happens to sell high end audio, than a high end snob who thinks he's a businessman.
When a legit, reasonable offer is tendered and then ignored or vanquished outright, the only loser in the equation is the seller. I'll usually come back with an alternative I feel is amicable to both parties based upon my interest in the item, and leave it in their hands. At times my counter is little more than an additional $20 - $30, and the prospective buyer refuses to move up. it's a real headscratcher, but so be it.
I feel more than any other reason, austere attitudes and arrogance are the primary contributors for so many dealership failures. manufacturer positions are more staunch and hard lined on the subject but as the disappointed buyer, so too can the maker simply find another dealer to hock their goods too. Consequently makers will direct their dealers to hold retail prices up as part of their 'dealer profits increasing' with the effort for price protecting the goods publickly throughout their brick & mortar sellers. Usually those handicaps are applied to advertising, and not 'in house' sales, special events, etc.
Find a more ammenable seller of those same goods, or find their other brand duplicate. it's a very big world.
