Krell, MBL, Levinson, et al... What if 50% off?

My Krell dealer used to let me buy Krell items at a decent discount, and return them a month or two later if I did not get value from them, no penalty.  When the amp blew some capacitors. the dealer's technicians fixed it in his workshop.  But that dealer is pretty special, rated in the top five worldwide.

These days he still operates the same expensive listening rooms, but his bread and butter comes from home theatre.

The market is highly competitive.  Those manufacturers best placed to survive, in my opinion, have volume mass-market offerings plus flagship high-end products.  Sony and KEF spring to my mind.

Price is rarely the most important factor in any buying decision.  Just look at the variety of cars people buy.

Here's an interesting fact:  Many ultra high priced components won't sell for 50% of retail while still new in box.  I have a close relationship with my local dealer who told me his ARC product line which he pays 60% of MSRP for will only sell online direct for 40% of MSRP while in unopened boxes!  Imagine that- the dealer buys things that are worth less than the wholesale that they pay for them!  When prodded he added that most customers are buying the dealer experience and support and that's how he gets his markup. Interesting. 

I your buying because of price only?

That does not make sense unless you know those components will work in your system to your satisfaction.  

Unfortunately, these days, price does matter to the vast majority of consumers, especially when it comes to non necessities. Cars are a necessity, homes are a necessity,  food is a necessity,  but audio, as much as I/we love it, is not. Treasonous I know, but a reality today.