Electronic Retailer's, Going By?

I will only buy from my local shop. Once he's gone what else is there? Who's going to leave my $5000 amplifier on my door step? I know I can purchase what ever I want for less money but audio is one area that I'm willing to pay more. I buy everything but groceries and gear online. I pray to the gods that I don't some day have to stay home from work for the tractor trailer to arrive with the speakers ive never heard.

Good point Mrtennis. I just love going to my dealers place to be surrounded by amazing gear. My local guy owns the business and its just him and his wife. No high pressure sales. Sometimes we go for a cocktail or have dinner. I will only buy from him because I like the lines he carries and he can pretty much get me anything he doesn't. As a result I get stuff like cables at his cost. I saved $300 on my speaker cables alone. He will let me borrow gear if my stuff is in the shop so I'm not without tunes. It's just nice. I feel lucky.

I would imagine a very large percentage of the higher end gear is sold through a brick and mortar audio dealer. This might change very quickly but I hope it doesn't. My dealer is amazing and he actually saved me from advice given to me on this web site. I'm not saying there's not good information on this forum but every single opinion differs and most people on here just love to give their opinion. I think a dealer can make it a lot easier for someone to make choices, especially if they're just getting into audio. Where you go from there is fine but its the place to start. I know a lot of people with very expensive rigs who have never heard of Audiogon. They're a dying breed but they still have many years to go. We have a McIntosh dealer conveniently located by the largest University hospital within hundreds of miles and the place is packed every day. There's so much Mac gear in this town it would make your head spin. Why? Because its what their fathers had. My local dealer is just like Audioracle. If I want it he orders it. I would never expect anything more.