Another audio dealer closes his shop

At the end of the day it is sad to see any business close. I am sure the owner of this shop you mention could blame the internet and probably be correct in doing so. Some dealers never got out of the "snobbish" attitude and they really have become dinosours in the audio business. Some dealers feel that MSRP is the price and lose business to the internet by retaining 100% of the profit margin an sales never made. But the sad truth for any customer is that with a diminshing availabilty of showrooms to audition equipment has it's negative effects. First you really don't know what you are getting and second, service.
Although saving 10-20% through an internet purchase, the possibility of a loaner while yours is being repaired vanishes in the bargain. I don't feel that I should have to pay full margin in a competitve market, but I will pay more for the exact product to help keep a business viable to offer future service and problem solutions as well as sampling before buying. The trend seems to be the guy that operates out of his home and many good dealers have made that a successful transition. They reduce their overhead and can be more readily available plus they crate a more "homelike" atmosphere that I find friendly and comfortable.
Again it is sad to see any business fail.

People go into the hi end audio business with their hearts, not their heads. I am thankful for that in I don't think we would have some of the great products today if the 'head' prevailed. The Chinese have in many ways given the business a new lease on life, driving down costs of both parts and finished products. Yes, I can't wait to buy my first Chinese automobile here in the States. Of course it will be ordered on the internet and delivered to my door by UPS. No bricks and mortar needed. I will be so thankful that I don't need to visit a 'dealership', where you are always subjected to one of the most unpleasant sales experiences of life.

""An entry level preamp is $7,000"" what exactly have you been smoking? entry level?
Try a few hundred bucks for a new entry level preamp.
Or used...

Elizabeth,

In the audiophile world an entry pre-amp would be about 1000.00. If you are talking mass market then 200.00 would suffice.

Now we’re arguing about entry level? :-) Entry level is wherever you can afford to enter. And as long as we’re on the subject, "high end" is any audio system that presents the music in such a compelling way that, like live music, it can capture and hold one’s undivided attention. IMHO.