Another audio dealer closes his shop

Nowadays, a pair of speaker can easily cost $5k. So what the shop owner said
was effectively he couldn't even sell 6 pairs of speakers in a month. This is
really troubling to hear.

Over the past 30 years or so in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area I have seen high-end dealers come and go at an amazing rate. Only a very few have managed to stay in business, and I believe the reason they have been able to do so is the expanding Home Theater market. There is still enough complexity and mystic surrounding the implementation of a first rate installation to warrant, in the customer's mind, the added expense of buying new and having professional assistance in set-up. Even so, these days may be coming to a close as you can hire expert installers who do not have an investment in 'bricks and mortor' and could care less what type of equipment you may have. High-end audio is a tough business and future for the traditional small business owner model does not look good and may in time pretty much disappear altogether. For myself, I consider it already 'six feet under'.

Unfortunately the bricks and mortar guys really have to differentiate themselves to survive. Back in the day, you got a location, got some inventory, hung a sign, went to a chamber of commerce meeting, sponsored a little league team, became a part of the community and people would shop with you as long as the cost of doing so was not way out of line. The idea of a major purchase made outside of your area was really out of the question for service and peace of mind reasons.

Today, product reliability is far superior and transportation costs are much lower to ship. etc. and availability of virtually everything is amazing. As far as this particular dealer, I don't know anything about them. BUT, if a dealer simply unlocks the door and expects a sufficient level of business to survive is naive at best and arrogant at worst. If you are located in the LA area, which Pasadena certainly is, and you aren't cultivating a good and sustainable customer base with a lineup of brands that people want to buy, you aren't trying very hard.

My first audio purchases 20 plus years ago were through audio stores. I found it to be a mixed bag so to speak.
Some audio dealers were helpful while others simply knocked down my current gear with the sole intent of selling me their gear. I started loosing interest in going to dealers and then the internet came along....Audiogon. I have not been to dealer since and do not plan to either. Times are hard and most folks are trying to figure out how to strecth their dollars. Buying used equipment through Agon... other websites only makes.

Years ago I had a neighbor who owned an audio store for 40 plus years. He's now retired. He mentioned carrying product lines that were more profitable versus better sounding. Makes sense from a business perspective. It made me realize I had to do my own research versus trusting a salesman at a dealership. I'm thankful for the internet and audio websites.