Walking Into A Brick & Mortar High End Audio Store

Only if you take a Wednesday afternoon off work, not a lot of customers at that time of day, and make it clear you are just there to listen to some equipment, and ask if they have time to play some stuff (bring your own music)

Be appreciative and thankful, you will be amazed at how far an attitude like this will get you.

As a young lad of 11, me and my buds would go to the local audio shop, they knew we had no money, but what they did was show us gear, and play music for us, what they did know was that sometime in the future we would have money.

That sales rep played Santa Esmeralda though the the marble base Kenwood turntable with AR9 speakers. 40 yrs later I still remember it like yesterday.

I pity us as a society, I am convinced that within my lifetime the only stores left will be WalMart and Costco

One more thought...perhaps it is the public online forums (such as AudioGon) that actually doomed the brick and mortar stores, and not the online resellers.

Back in the day, I went to my local audio store to learn about high end equipment so that I knew what I wanted to purchase when I had finally saved up my money. Today, experts freely and willingly dispense with very technical information right here on AudioGon. All we have to do is ask our question. Back in the day, I paid for that knowledge when I made a purchase at the brick and mortar store. Today, I pay for that knowledge only if I make a sale through AudioGon.

I would not leave out ebay

Bobnegi----I still have my Santa Esmeralda album.
Also had the AR9's.Big booming bass .
Great to be young
I'm a brick and mortar guy.
Part of the enjoyment of this hobby is listening to and comparing components.Also the satisfaction to know that if things go wrong your dealer will be making it right.

Audiodistinction, Mistakes happen.Enjoy

Another one bites the dust...

HiFi House

I've never been to this shop, but hate to see this happen.