Store auditioning and then buying on-line from others. How do you feel about it ?

I think it's ok, sometimes....

The auditioning wasn't done with the undisclosed intent to buy somewhere else. If price was the issue, gave the LAS an opportunity to come close in price.  "Hey man, thanks for taking the time with me the other day.  I'm about ready to pull the trigger, but I did see X-super-cool-device at Y authorized dealer, online, at Z price.  Can you sell for that?"

Or later found a pre-loved item at a significant discount.

Or the buyer does buy a reasonable amount of stuff from the LAS and otherwise has a good, ongoing relationship, including referrals.  But, then, wouldn't the buyer probably be able to negotiate a deal close to the online competitor?

Or got a package deal that includes "necessary" stuff the LAS doesn't carry.

Or the LAS folks were jerks.  Yes, they exist.

Loathsome to go audition something already seen online, have the LAS give you its best advice, spend all day trying stuff out or even allowing a home audition, and buy somewhere else to save a few bucks, especially without giving the LAS a shot at coming close in price---double especially if the LAS is cool about questions and service concerns.

"In fact I bought all my equipment used- a lot of it from Johnny's customers."

In the right circumstances, that's almost as good as buying from him!  I assume at least some of them use the funds to buy more stuff.  I don't know if it works this way, but maybe if he has a customer that waffles because he/she needs to unload something, first, he can say, "Don't worry, I know a guy."  :)

@zavato. I think, if one has taken the LAS's time to audition its item and it was cool about it, one should then give the LAS to opportunity to match that online 1/2 price before clicking "buy-it."  If it's close, probably better to go with the LAS, particularly if it has a good reputation for questions and support.

"Obligated" to pay double?  No.  Morally obligated to give the LAS a fair shot to earn the business by price or service?  I personally think so.

I suspect some places, if you are up front about it and they aren't busy, will still offer a brief audition even if only to try to establish a relationship or future sale, even if they can't/won't match the online price.  Or offer some added benefit--maybe delivery and set-up or something to justify a slightly higher price.

Right.  If they're jerks, no problem at all.  Or, if they're idea of level-matching is giving the one that's in stock or has a higher margin a couple db cushion.  Same guy who trashes everything you and competitors have and even his own product if it's not in stock.  Same guy who won't stfu while one tries to listen to the wonderfulness he kept describing.  Go somewhere else.  No problem.