On a business level, he seemed to feel, or he wanted us to think, that he could not make a profit while also keeping up his high standards for materials and machining. He refused to compromise on either, or to lower his prices, and so chose the option of quitting the business entirely. I always thought his turntables were a bargain in terms of quality of construction at his asking prices, but I have no direct experience with any of them. I reckon they weren't selling well. He did seem more than a little petulant at the end. But that does not mean he would not help out the OP, necessarily.