In thedoctor's camp, the brick & mortar dealers are brutally intimidating to those who want to learn the hobby before shelling out 5 figures for a system. I decided to start a relationship with my closest local dealer and they wanted to charge me a 50% markup on a YBA Integre, now they are giving me a hard time about fixing a Creek a friend passed down to me (I am out of work at the moment). Little wonder women don't flock to the high end. Maybe the predator phenomenon exists because I am in affluent WashDC, but now I have more respect, admiration & confidence in the Audiogon community than ever. The dealers just don't get it, that lifelong customers will spend more money in the long run than 1-time victims. Audio's worst enemy is among us.
Why Don't More People Love Audio?
Can anyone explain why high end audio seems to be forever stuck as a cottage industry? Why do my rich friends who absolutely have to have the BEST of everything and wouldn't be caught dead without expensive clothes, watch, car, home, furniture etc. settle for cheap mass produced components stuck away in a closet somewhere? I can hardly afford to go out to dinner, but I wouldn't dream of spending any less on audio or music.