With the ever increasing prices of commercial rents, especially in major urban centers like New York, San Francisco, LA, the "traditional" walk-in high-end audio store is rapidly becoming a pleasant memory. In addition, many of the people who started and have been running these B&M stores are getting on in years, retiring, or have passed away, Increasingly, many audio entrepreneurs in an effort to reduce overheads costs are instead to turning to an appointment only, run out of their homes, business model. And apparently some are very successful at it.
On the other hand, many major and established high-end manufacturers (that is after a credit check, etc.) maintain a policy of only "giving" their lines to traditional stores. In the end, however, there are only so many traditional stores to go around and other and newer audio companies, in an effort to penetrate major markets, instead give their lines to these by appointment only stores. (of course, there's still the question what do audiophiles who live 100s of miles from stores do?)
It would seem, though, that these newer brick and mortar stores need to get their customers from other avenues other than walk-in business or ads in magazines. Of course, there's also there's the question do these newer stores give the same vetting to products and service? Moreso, is it a sustainable model?
What's been everyone's experience and thoughts on the ever evolving high-end audio sales model?
On the other hand, many major and established high-end manufacturers (that is after a credit check, etc.) maintain a policy of only "giving" their lines to traditional stores. In the end, however, there are only so many traditional stores to go around and other and newer audio companies, in an effort to penetrate major markets, instead give their lines to these by appointment only stores. (of course, there's still the question what do audiophiles who live 100s of miles from stores do?)
It would seem, though, that these newer brick and mortar stores need to get their customers from other avenues other than walk-in business or ads in magazines. Of course, there's also there's the question do these newer stores give the same vetting to products and service? Moreso, is it a sustainable model?
What's been everyone's experience and thoughts on the ever evolving high-end audio sales model?
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