Pet audiophile peeves - name yours

Losing a sale because of "geographic" policies don't make much sense either. What would you rather do, make a point or make money?

Personally I applaud manufacturers who set and stick to geographic restrictions. These manufactureres rely on a retailer network to put the product "on show" for the consumers. Those dealers need to be protected. A manufacturer who had a dealer network and is transitioning to direct or web sales is undercutting his retailers.

I griped above about manufacturers who use Gon to sell their product lines. I want to qualify: I see retailers who use the Gon to move trades, demos and other used components. I have no problem with that - it's using the Gon for what it was made for. Used inventory can be hard to match to a buyer at any acceptable return if one is restricted to a limited pool of floor traffic. Using a national (world, really) marketplace, retailer and prospective consumer both win.
But if a manufacturer wants to sell his line of goods on the Gon, fercryingoutloud - there's a proper way to do so. Buy one of those big glossy sponsor ads that precede the list of classifieds!
I can imagine one exception to that rule: Small manufacturers who use Gon expertise to help design and evaluate a developmental product, are up front about it, and document the goings-on in the Forums. Jade Audio comes to mind. I consider that another everybody-wins situation
Thanks for reading my rants.
cheers apo

But what if there is no dealer anywhere near wher you live?

What I dont care for are people who contact you to sell you something based on reading what you post in private, like trolling for a sale....I dont agree with it and some times it may actually be a breach of dealer network agreements.

That's sort of my situation. I buy used gear that conforms with what I remember from when I did hang out in retail shops. Most of them looked at me (worn jeans, Harley shirt) and treated me indifferently. One shining exception was this fellow in Berkeley who spent over twenty hours listening to me and showing me different products, how they worked or didn't work together, the elements of speaker placement, many other things. He treated me like I was an old friend. I bought two big items from him at list. It seemed like the right thing to do for all his service. Mind you he didn't expect that outcome ... which made my decision of support that much more "right" feeling.
Now I do not have access to retailers. I would like to go to audio shows (like the RMAF) when cash and health permit. Basically thoughI have to extrapolate from what I learned a decade ago, and I tend to buy top-line equipment from that era. For more modern or unfamiliar products, it's all in how to read reviews and comparos, be they pro or amateur. That's how I narrow a list of "things I'd like to try", and I wait patiently for good deals on used gear. So far I have been very fortunate. For specifics, please visit my system.
But for new hot gear, I'm pretty much out of that loop.
cheers apo