certin speaker makers harder to get dissounts fro

About a year ago I was wanting to purchase a $6000.00 subwoofer for my HT setup. I could not get my local dealer to give me the same great price I could find online, after several emails to the owner of the local store I purchased my sub from him. What I got for the higher price I paid was about 3 hours of the salespersons time in my home, 30 miles away, to properly set up the sub in my system, which also included some help recalibrating other parts of my system that I did not even purchase from him. I paid for the personal service I got but I have been fully satisfied with the sub in my home and feel confident that the dealer will be there to assist me further if I have the need. Like everyone else here I want to purchase for the best price I can but sometimes we get what we pay for. Thanks and good luck.

Cjlcapp,
Anyone who thinks a 50-60% markup is "wrong" has obviously never spent any time in retail. Many things are marked up many times over, clothes for example. A markup of 50% only gives you a gross profit of 33% try living on that after expenses. Perhaps discounting is more of a standard practise, but these days it seems like everyone has this sense of entitlement when it comes to pricing. I make a point of buying my music from a local independent record store, prices may be a little higher but I know where the money's going. Try getting a part time job in an audio store and check out the economic realities first hand, it can be sobering.

Big Joe, I have a very good handle on reality. I've worked in retail I know what kinda margins big box stores have in comparison to high end stores. The margins in High end stores are set high for a reason, they need them to surive. They don't deal in volume, they deal taking customers showing them or introducing them to hifi and hopefully holding on them them for life. Discounts are fine, but to take a person's time...sometimes hours then beat them down on price then wonder why they are closed for business well...I think it add's up.

Actually, you mentioned some dealers not changing with the times, the ones that have survived have done it not through discounting but shifting focus from Audio, to Home Theatre.

In my area (Greater Toronto Area) I can think of at least 4 dealers that use to deal in high end audio but have now taken a more mid-fi approach to Home Theatre. The reason is simple, there is no money left in Audio based on custmomers expecting the same service in the late 80's early 90's and todays trend for discount pricing. They can't afford to sell 1 pair of Wilson Audio speakers a month at 30% off.

Two channel audio is a risky enough business to begin with. Count how many friends you have, now how many are serious about music? The percentage will be small I'm sure. Now take that small percentage and have a dealer cut deals to all of them. There isn't enough money left over at the end of the month to pay for bills. If you think I'm wrong count again how many two channel dealers now focus more on home theatre. I mention all of this because I'm not a wealthy man, so I buy used. Never do I walk into a high end dealers showroom ask a bunch of questions spend time with the equipment then ask for a crazy deal.

There is nothing wrong with saving money, but there is nothing wrong with making some either. And quite frankly, in today's climate high end dealers aren't reaping the rewards of years gone by.

Good morning Lush. You make good points. Let me say that two of us (with differing POV's) have used the phrase "sense of entitlement". Both uses are valid. Customers who simply "expect" dollars off are better off using the net and retailers who "expect" potential customers to buy their sales lines Hook, Line and Sinker without asking questions or leaving to go home and process/discuss the info with a significant other before coming back to purchase is arrogant. I always support buying local if possible and I can't tell you how many times I've passed on a "done deal" because a salesperson just annoyed the sh*t out of me.
This isn't a black/white customer vs retailer issue. Customers should work for the best deal and salespeople should extol the virtues of quality accessories and equipment and try to acquire every dollar the customer budgeted.
What gets lost is what a "customer" actually is. A person doesn't become a customer "only after a sale", we are customers as soon as we have an interest in something (our brain says we need it and we put a mental plan in place to get it). I am a customer before I walk into your store and the onlt way I have to know if you understand my need/want is to talk casually with you. I may not have the money today because I'm not shopping for equipment, I'm shopping for a salesperson, some I trust and like talking with. Personal interactions are very complex, equipment is not (if you don't seem to care if I'm in your store, act like I'm wasting your time or treat me in a condesending manner by putting yourself on an informational pedestal, I'm gone and so is my future money). Audio is emotional and we want to FEEL good about our purchases. Negotiation is about feeling good, not about money. Reatilers often lose sight of this factor. If you see us as simply $$$, ultimately no one will be happy with the sale.

WOW, what a responce . Thanks everyone for their thoughts and time taken to to respond. I have gained some good tools and will put them to good use.