Amazon. What will happen when Amazon starts selling high end audio gear?

Amazon already sells some respectable gear, or at least, some of their marketplace sellers do. The advantage is no hassle returns. The disadvantage is that they sell their items at MSRP. One can often receive significant discounts when buying through a B&M dealer.

Keep in mind that Amazon will only deal in items that sell at worthwhile quantities. They use their marketplace sellers to essentially test the market for them. Free market research.

The question is whether a manufacturer would find it financially viable to enter into Amazon's requirements.
And, what about shipping costs/returns. 
I doubt that many of the smaller companies could eat that cost, even if they are getting greater sales.

Lastly, I think most of the smaller/medium companies want to maintain their independence. The high and super high end manufacturers don't want or need to appeal to the masses. There is no profit nor cachet doing so.

B

elizabeth.."starts selling high end audio gear?" Where have you been? 
Amazon has been selling large volumes of many high end brands for the past four years that I'm aware of including Martin Logan and Bel Canto.
You should have checked out Amazon first before starting this thread. Its called common sense.

And in this corner.......

If you type in on Amazon's search engine, "tube amplifiers" , you will be amazed how many tube amps and tube integrated's pop up from China including models from YAQIN. Never type in the brand, just type of product. Type in Tower or floor standing speakers and the selection is very wide from top manufactures.  

For U.S. products type in the brand. If you type Bel Canto amplifier all their models come up except the Black series.

For a while, Amazon sold Takatsuki 300b tubes. However, Amazon's price was not a bargain.

Amazon is selling Clearaudio turntables as well but always at full retail. One note most of the good audio gear on Amazon is not from Amazon but third party sellers.

I note that you can buy "high end" phono cartridges on Amazon by Shure, Nagaoka, Audio Technica and others. The problem is that rarely do I see cartridges in brick and mortar stores anymore, and, as a result, have had to buy carts online from Music Direct, Audio Advisor, LP Gear,  Needle Doctor, or Wittsolutions via eBay for vintage cartridges. At least if the dedicated audio online retailers can stay in business, and continue supporting their customers, I don't see how Amazon will take a major stake in this for the foreseeable future.

But then, as I've been saying for years, eventually, unless retired (not in my vocabulary) we will all work for Unicorp. 

I neglected to add that the core reason why 50% of High End retail stores
have closed down coast to coast during the past ten years is due to Amazon. Now Amazon is going nationwide with their cashierless supermarket's to put thousands more out of work. Amazon is responsible as well for shutting down over 650 retail chain businesses in the U.S. during the past ten years. Jeff Bezos is a real scumbag. And if you thought the U.S. government still has monopoly laws in place, not anymore.

💰Imagine the system Bezos could afford!💰