This might just be the end of brick and mortar

Too many folks on here and who buy from the net are never happy and keep buying and selling at either big or small loses. To me, that's a waste of time and money.....but that's just me.

To ME, mistakes are an important ingredient in gaining valuable experience and knowledge. You will never learn anything new if afraid making mistakes.

I find the journey is as important and fun as the destination. It's so satisfying when everything clicks.

I always do my homework before purchases so don't cycle through gear very often. But this is a hobby and hobby do cost $$.

Too many components don't sound good together, but a great dealer will know what has synergy. In the end, I feel that I've saved a ton of money by getting what it right up front.

This is where experience from mistakes and successes will help in building a balance satisfying system.

If you don't have any experience, how do you know what you really like and not what B&M just sold you?

I personally pay the extra to the stores to get products that not only sound great, but great together.

Not me. I find most B&M are just audiophiles like myself with similiar amount of knowledge and experience. With the internet and audio shows, I don't need B&M.

Well said David12 except I don't feel much lose with B&M demised. Positives definitely outweighs the negatives to ME.

11-20-14: Ctsooner
On topic, I don't understand why some of you come across as hoping that B&M stores go away.

Why can't there be all options? In the end, that's the best thing for everyone.

11-20-14: Dill
Look at it this way, if all the B&M stores evaporate, you would be left only with two options to audition & buy new audio gear.

1) Buy the item from an online dealer and have it shipped to you.
2) Listen & buy the item from an audio show.

Both 1 & 2 will cost you money if you want to return it.
Only option 2 allows you to listen to it before you buy.

Most B&M stores in this country will let you listen for free, some will let you take the item home for audition for free.

Now, if you do not want the item option 1 & 2 will cost you money, while your local B&M store might not.

Bottom line, without B&M stores it will cost you to audition gear in your home system.

I don't wish for B&M demise but their business model cannot compete with more efficient models. It's a new economy and just taking advantage of all the positives. There are reasons malls are food courts, haven't use ATM to withdraw $$ for 10+ years, all bills are paid online ... World keeps on evolving and I'm trying to evolve and adapt to it.

I'm not the commander and chief and with a stroke of a pen, sign an executive order to save B&M. With the internet and technology, there are more efficient ways to sell products. Commander and chief is working on an internet sales tax. When gov picks the winners and losers, we ALL lose. I digress ...

With technology, home based businesses are popping up in my area. They drop components off my house to demo or demo in their homes. With lower overhead, I get a better deal so both parties win. One owner grossed $1,000,000+ last year working part time while keeping his full time job.