This might just be the end of brick and mortar

Schubert- true, and since my niece, a millennial, seems perfectly content to watch a film or listen to music on her computer with a small ancillary sound system, this stuff has functionally replaced hi-fi and even 'home theatre' gear, rather than just being a diversion to something else.

"11-16-14: Taters
Zd 542, I totally disagree with you. They have a guy that works there named Bess. He probably knows more about analog than any other dealer in the country. I would bet music direct sells more turntables than the top 5 audio dealers in the country. Besides Bess they do have some other knowledgable phone reps. If you want to deal with reps that have no knowledge call Audio Advisor."

With something like this, I've got no problem with being proven wrong. I haven't dealt with them in a few years, so maybe they fixed a few problems. Although, I don't know if I would agree that they know more than any other dealer in the country. I can name a few others that may be just as good. I also agree on Audio Advisor. They set the bar pretty low. Its hard to believe, but they used to be really good. It was a long time ago, but they used to have a great reputation.

I can promise you that Nick at Audio Connections knows as much about set up and sound than all the other old timers. How can say that Bess knows more than anyone else in the country? How do you know since you don't got to B&M stores? I have been to many great stores recently. These guys all know a ton about analog. Does Bess know how his turntables, arms and cartridges sound with preamps they don't sell? How about how well they mate with my Ayre integrated amp and Vandersteen Treo's with top AQ cables? I bet he has no clue unless he recently went to a B&M to listen to Ayre and Vandy's, which I doubt. I get that you love Music Direct and I use them for vinyl purchases. I have nothing against any good dealer and I consider them a very good dealer, but aren't putting anyone out of business. Those of us who shop B&M don't want to deal with mailing stuff back etc....

Business has and continues to change. Going direct is indeed good
business and one can indeed save big sums of money. Often times the
gear is also much better. Small boutique companies making extraordinary
gear out of passion and innovation. We are all buying online more and
more for most things.

High end companies are increasing prices very sharply as the demand and
volume continue to decline for their products. These expanded prices and
margins are further exaggerated with high dealer mark-ups. This ever
expanding pricing cycle of high end gear is simply out of control for many of
the big brand, dealer pushed products.

Yes, exceptions exist, but goodness the prices asked for amps with so so
parts quality is astounding to me. $20,000 speakers with 50 cent resistors
and $10 caps. Tube amplifiers with puny power supplies, cheap parts and
so so trannys for $10,000 - $20,000.

As a long time Aphile I am getting more and more disturbed by the
unreasonable pricing so evident in our hobby.

Zs542. Regarding Music Direct -- they indeed may have changed. You mentioned that you haven't dealt with them for a few years. I've only dealt with them for a few years -- and have never sensed that I was dealing with a high pressure salesperson. That would have turned me off.

OTOH. Based upon the folks that I've dealt with, I can't give an opinion regarding their product/industry knowledge.