How many of us have worked in audio stores?

I'm with Albert. It's the relationships that make this so interesting,...and the look on a thrilled customers face! John Entwistle (bassist for The Who) once said, "I do this because I have to. The money, the fame, the other perks are nice, but playing is what I was born to do. I'd be doing this even if we never made it big." This is my feeling on owning a Hi-End store. Some months we operate at a loss and I want to have my head examined. Then somebody says, "Thank you, I absolutely love it!" and it all makes sense again.
Mario

Just us few? No wonder! That explains a lot of things...

You know these people never worked in a HiFi store. They have money! I remember in 79 when I was working in audio retail, making $85 bucks a week sometimes, driving a $65 61 Olds Dynamic 88, and listening to my $5000 ARC and Magneplanar rig(beg, borrow, or steal), renting a room in a crappy old roach infested house.Real glamor and status. I did that crap for ten years, and learned to hate every minute of it! If it sounds like I'm bitter about it , I am.

Ah! A classic HiFi bum! Well, it's not easy getting women living like that for sure! We can always change--it's harder as we get older because of age and momentum, but it can be done...

I have been a HiFi bum at times. It's just that music cannot become a compulsion. The building I am renting in is undergoing a condo conversion and I have to leave in a few months. It is very nice, with an indoor pool...I am being tempted to live somewhere cheap in order to complete the audio purchases I have in mind. You are not alone...

worked at HiFI BUys 81-84 in East Lansing Michigan

Sold Nakamichi, ADS, McINtosh, DCM, Genesis, B&O.
Remember the slow embrace of cd's. Always enjoyed the clients, many professors, doctors etc. Like doing home installs, especially getting involved in new building projects. I had the bug early and was constantly upgrading as a college student.

I am now a geophysicist working in oil exploration in the Gulf of Mexico (helps pay for my audio vices)

tom