The Economy.. will hi end audio mfgs lower prices?

I might be in the most unique position to answer this. As publisher of Stereomojo.com, I talk to industry leaders from all over the world on a daily basis. I was talking to a person in Russia yesterday - Russia has cancelled their version of CES for 2009. In addition, after retirning from the music industry, I have spent 15 years as owner of a Financial Advisory firm. I have talked to many people big and small in the audio industry. I am concerned we are going to lose the brick & mortar stores - already weakened by the Best Buys and, internet sales and direct sellers. What I have been told is that those store owners that sit and wait for customers to come to them will fail. Those that care about their customers and work the phones MIGHT survive. There's no doubt that audio makers are deeply stressed. It's a great time to buy as you already know. There is ONE phrase that should be a part of your vocabulary ALWAYS when shopping, and it's more importnat now than ever. It is: "Can you do any better?" Many times I have been amazed at how anxious businesses are to give you a better deal - from grocery stores to car dealers. Hotels and iarlines. even department stores. Just ask. Right now, if you ask a dealer or a direct seller if they can give you a better price, they just might amaze you. just don't be a jerk. If they say no, then move on.

BTW, I cannot give financial advise by law online, but be aware there ARE investments dsigned to go UP when the market goes down. And I don't mean gold or GLD. I've been making a lot of money the last few months. Be smart. Diversify of course. But be aware.

Jimaxp, yes, quite a few of us are aware of tricks like short selling to make money in a downturn but most of us are going to have our retirements wiped out even if we recover from the current mess by the devaluation of the dollar..it's coming.

Absolutely ludicrous question, even moreso many comments...

Jimaxp, I agree there are real risks for main street hiFi stores, but there is a model for how to survive. The clue, bricks and mortar. In the UK, nearly all the independents have closed their stores and operate from home, or a small lock up industrial unit. Stores mean fixed costs, requiring a certain turnover. Get rid of that and you get of a lot of your problems, you do'nt need a minimum turnover to cover costs, you still need a turnover to eat of course.
The remaining cost is mainly dem stock and that is becoming a problem. The dealers/distributors are'nt getting in Dem gear in the current environment. For example I am looking at the Coincident Super victory, partly from the Stereo Mojo review. The UK distribtor does work from home and wants to get a super victory in, in the current environment, he does'nt feel he can justify that. I want to hear the speaker, he can not be sure I want to buy it. I spoke to another UK distributor recentlty of many famous brands, one of the biggest in the UK, he says business is down 65%. He will survive by hunckering down, trying to keep ticking over and avoiding unnecessary costs.
Dealers and distributors, survive like any other business, by reducing costs, staff etc and waiting out the storm. The problem then is, how long will the storm last. It will be longer than most recessions in the last 30 years. Ultimately, that will be the killer.

Trelja:
"That idiot dilettante owner of my Philadelphia Eagles made the list of billionaires this go 'round, with the description "self made" no less. I guess mom buying you a football team with that Harcourt Brace money qualifies as being self made in this day and age."

I often wonder how many people posting and boosting of their financial prowess on the internet have been recipients of trust funds/inheritances/law suits/etc. When I lived in NYC I knew someone who was an only child - became a millionaire many times over after inheriting his mom's sizable assets (one hears this story repeated over and over in slight variations in the Big Apple). I knew this person from my social service circles, and he was unethical in many matters and definitely irresponsible in money matters, yet there he was working as a "financial adviser" for a big financial institution.