What is the average dealer mark up?

That said can you blame a customer for attempting to secure a better price?

@4425 - no. Everyone wants the best price

You would think they would advertise to a highly selected mailing list.

@larry5729 - most dealers do this; at least the successful ones

Let me offer some special words in retail that mask the real costs and flow of money

barryaudiophile - I don't know what products you carry as a dealer, but I never had a single audio manufacturer or distributor offer a co-op, rebate, spiff, show special (only to customers) or program (whatever that means). Most audio manufacturers and distributors are small, unsophisticated firms from a marketing perspective

@dill:  I typically do buy on-line and am not taking up salespersons' time needlessly.  I know that in my locale the available audio stores will not carry what I want.  I bought used Parasound amp and drove to the next state to pick it up. I bought a used Parasound pre-amp online and had it delivered.  Now, I spent a bit over $2,000 for the pair. Could I get those items in local stores? I don't think so.  They would be selling new equipment for thousands more, or selling new equipment with less quality, or I could take my chances finding what I want at a pawn shop.  I don't see local purchase options that come close to what I find on-line.  Maybe in a major city the options would be greater and I would shop B&M.

For the 10 years I worked part-time in the business, mid-fi and high end, it was 40% for speakers and 25% for electronics.  Accessories and cables higher.

I just talked to my local dealer a couple of days ago.  He said they are doing fine.  They are appointment only right now.  I live in a small city and there are only 2 dealers in town.  I believe that he is still paying his employees as well, at least he was when this started.

I am a bargain hunter but I also appreciate B&M and am willing to pay more(to an extent) to support them.  My dealer does things right.  He will let you take something home for a week and try it in your system or bring something in and listen side by side.  I recently bought a nice integrated and I went with his recommendation(which wasn't even on my list initially) because I got to try it out with my own equipment.  I won't buy everything there because I like a good deal too much, but I will ask his opinion and give him the opportunity to get my business first(which he appreciates.)