Pgawan2b & Bifwynne,
I wasn't talking about manufacturer's markup, I was referring to what an actual audio store would be selling equipment for. Keep in mind, high end audio is not a high volume business. Even if a dealer drop shipps an item he dosen't have in stock, that dosen't mean there's no outlay on the the retailers part. I find that most people don't realize how much of a committment it takes for an audio retailer to get a dealership for a well known high end brand. You just don't call them up and fill out some paperwork. These people are serious. A bad dealer can destroy a company's reputation. Just to get your foot in the door, you will have to show things like: A store front (usually a very nice one), trade references (not just for credit but to show that you have other quality dealerships that will be used to support the brand you are looking to acquire, tax returns, insurance, delivery vehicle, employees, credit checks, the list goes on.
If you make it past all of that, then someone from the company gets on a plane and comes out to meet you and have a look at your store. That's the hardest part. You then have to sell them on why you would make a good dealer for their products. You'll have to prove to them that you have the knowlege and experiance it takes to sell and match equipment. Its not just about money. You can easily have a million+ dollars invested and still not be approved a dealership.
I can go into more detail about all of this, but right now I'm out of time. If there's anything I missed, post and I will try to answer as best I can. This is a very important topic that really needs to be addressed. I'm starting to see how important it is for dealers to show potential customers what goes into this from a business standpoint. The products can be very expensive a lot of people don't always see the value in them. If you're buying something expensive, you have every right to ask some questions. Better communication, I think, would benefit everyone.
