I think this thread will provide some context...
https://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=185160.0
Increasing the price 20+% at a time when the whole country was bracing for a recessionary meltdown had to have severely hurt short term sales which might have scared the buyers...and then add to that the concern that they might have had as their business doesn't seem to revolve around the "pricier product".
https://www.css-audio.com/online-store