Brick and mortar stores are a relic of the past, meaning that they can no longer hold the customer hostage with ridiculous and meaningless techno-chatter only intended to confuse the buyer into buying whatever the salesguy recommends, while treating his competition like dirt.
I know this is a stiff comment, but I honestly think that only a very few shops will survive, those that can really connect and provide some added value to their services.
Trouble is, the average Audiogoner probably knows as much if not more about hi-end than the typical hi-fi shop know-it-all.
Factor in the snobby attitude and the incredible mark-up profit margin these guys make, and you can wonder what really is their reason for still being around.
They have been scaring away the first-timers (instead of weloming them into the hobby) and shying away from selling ''introductory'' sytems in favor of higher single-order sales....and re-directing curious potential high-enders to the local Circuit City store.
No wonder great web communities like Audiogon and internet web-dealer-direct sales flourish.
What can I say, they asked for it.
I know this is a stiff comment, but I honestly think that only a very few shops will survive, those that can really connect and provide some added value to their services.
Trouble is, the average Audiogoner probably knows as much if not more about hi-end than the typical hi-fi shop know-it-all.
Factor in the snobby attitude and the incredible mark-up profit margin these guys make, and you can wonder what really is their reason for still being around.
They have been scaring away the first-timers (instead of weloming them into the hobby) and shying away from selling ''introductory'' sytems in favor of higher single-order sales....and re-directing curious potential high-enders to the local Circuit City store.
No wonder great web communities like Audiogon and internet web-dealer-direct sales flourish.
What can I say, they asked for it.