'In Home Dealers' are the future?

I expect an 'In Home Dealer' to give me a 30-40% discount off list price, and allow me a free in home audition. I've had it, but I can't say from too many 'dealers'. I do know the 'In Home Dealer' that I will go to in the future though, the same one that I've dealt with in the past.

I really don't see how B&M stores can compete....and they do not in my area.

Cheers,
John

I know a guy that does in home audio. He carries all the esoteric brands. He is really struggling in this economy. He will let you take equipment home for a few days to try it out. The most discount he will do is 10%. I only know of one dealer that offers 20% off. He owns his own building so he has low overhead. Most other dealers want full list if it is a current product. If it is discontinued or demo I have seen up to 40% off.

I think for a dealer to make it in these times, they are also going to have to be proficient at internet sales, and will need access to a large number of manufacturer lines. There are a few such dealers here on Audiogon, who can also have the equipment drop shipped directly from the manufacturer to help limit their overhead and storage requirements. The dealers like that I have worked with provided pretty deep discounts for a buyer like me who knew what he wanted, paid in full and didn't require a lot of hand-holding.

So what we are likely to see in future is pure mail order. To get the lines I carry I gave assurances that I would not sell on the internet. At least some of the companies want to preserve a dealer network. I pay 60% + shipping. If I give a 40% discount and home trial I am losing money up front and donating my time and effort. If 40% off becomes the standard there will be no local dealers of any type.

While I like and as many know champion dealers who have commercial stores I do also enjoy and see the benefit of home based dealers, its not about fair or unfair its about a shift in audio that many times cant justify the full blown commercial application. Being in stores is great but its also great to be in many home based dealers with real world rooms and accoustics that many times can offer a better idea of what it may or may not sound like (ofcourse nothing is like in your own room) but furniture, room size, ceiling heght and all that make in a closer representation if what you get in a home. For those reasons I sorta like the idea but what I dont like is any dueschbag with some extra cash can become a dealer now and some lack serious talent, technical and social skills so perhaps in a way it dumbs everything down, but in this day and age what isnt? I do assume the market will likely weed out the losers in time but its a pretty new trend so its gonna take time to play out.