Negotiate good price

dill, the OP was "ready to throw down "some coin". Interested in "sweet pieces" although never relegated intent toward's a complete whole system purchase. Otherwise, I fully agree with your suggested approach. The OP should (may) add more relevance as to satisfy us member's feedback. ebm, are you suggesting the OP is a potatoe brain?

This strikes me as trolling the OP signed up here today and posted on the systems page a boombox. The system post was amusing in isolation but combined with this post seems like he's just here to troll.

Thank you I enjoy good feedback and straight criticism of this process.  Perhaps I am not as skill as some of you gentlemen in this area.  Perhaps I am just too much man for some of these hobbies.  My wife says I should put small speakers in the gym, but I have a fondness for the Maggie speaker sound. From the sound of tones, some of you don’t negotiate on these goods, and others have tried and been filled with shame and fear.  I get it. It sounds like a few know how to lay down the law.If I want to buy a house I tell the salesperson that the neighbors house is not kept up as it could be.  I sight the crime statistics if it helps build my case for better price for me.  They do the same to me but the other way.  If I buy a car I show up driving the car on loan from a different  dealer.  He knows I have options.
I told this audio guy that there is plenty of great gear in Audiogon but I like his system too. I will go back and tell that guy I am not paying more than I think is fair.  As miller said I will not continue to be the bird in the bush, but will spread my wings and become the bird in his hand.  Then he and I can make small talk and I will get my price by seeing how he does in his own ring.
Thank you all for being in this process with me.

This is the exact reason that I do not go to visit dealers to waste their time and I manufacturer audio products and know the dealers personally.

I don't understand what price you were looking for as the audio sites are typically used components.  Were you looking for them to match used prices?  How would that work with you buying a car?

BUT the sales person could have simply asked what exactly are you looking for?  He then could have said this is the price for those pieces.

Recently a potential customer heard my phono stage in his home for a trial period.  After two weeks I needed to get it back so other people to hear it.  He told me that it was amazing and blew away his current reference phono stage.  He then came to my house with some of his real-to-real equipment for my partner to repair.  He heard my system and asked about the "best price" I would see the phono stage for.  The parts alone cost me (at my prices) $2800.  He wanted me to sell it for $3000.  It just beat the crap out of his reference phono which was over $8000 or more.  I do not get insulted with these types of people but I tell them thanks but no thanks.

Happy Listening.

  

Ouch. You tried to sound like you were in control and they dissed you like a bum. They’re probably turning over kit with five figure net profits and don’t need or want your business. I hate that high-end snob bs though and wouldn't give them the time of day for that rudeness.

You have no idea who they are or what the situation was, as you weren't there.

then you project into it and hang these people without knowing a single thing.

You're kidding us right? Right?