Audio stores going out of business?

Regrettably, I had to live in Cleveland for a few years. Anyway, there were a few high-end audio stores there that closed over the course of about 18 months. One of them "re-opened" as a Home Theater store. The new store had inferior equipment, and teenage know-nothings for salesmen. Sad, sad, sad.

I have seen three go out in my area in the last five years. One I used often and will always miss the relationship that we had. I was told that there are just to many tire kickers and not enough people buying. It has to be a hard business. Yes the mark ups are huge but after you calculate stock, advertisment, rent, and salary Im sure that mark up doesnt look so favorable.

Its a shame because when I look back on what I was planning to buy before getting there advice and help I cringe at the collosal amount of money I almost wasted.

I have gotten locked-out of a few brands that are not sold in my area. Most high end audio manufacturers--to both their credit and detriment--protect their distrubuters. So that makes it nearly impossible to get something mail-ordered. And on top of that I cannot audition the stuff. Sadly, I may be forced to find the best that HTS or Tweeter has to offer and make my purchases there.

Things seem to be booming here in Atlanta.

living in the nj-ny area,there are quite a number of so - called high end shops,yes they sell very expensive audio,and carry the brands we most lust for,but sincere and informative information is a lost art.you could walk into any of these dealers and the mix bag of information from sales person to sales person is a joke.profit and commissions are priorty,i feel we as music lover's and audiophlies are really catching on to the primary interest of audio manufacturers and dealers.MONEY.this is leading to a decline in new 2ch audio system's.look at the USED market.