The Evolution of Retail Sales in High-End Audio Panel Discussion at T.H.E. Show 2024 Costa Mesa

Join us to discuss the evolution of retail sales in High-End Audio with Scott Walker of Scott Walker Audio, Oz Turan of High End by Oz, Ed Sudario of The Audio Association and Ken Boyce of Cake Audio. We discuss the growth of home dealers; the effect of home dealers on brick & mortar stores; how distributors and manufacturers view home dealers; and audience members' experience with home dealers. In addition, an audience member question about the Rhapsody Listening Room "hybrid" model triggers a lively discussion among the panelists.
Check out Ron Resnick's video tour of T.H.E. Show 2024 Costa Mesa:
• T.H.E. Show 2024 Ron R...

[@cesargutierrez4999]

Great video Ron!!!!! Ty

[@whatsbestforum]

I'm glad you liked it!

[@twraven1]

I’ve been involved with high end audio for 35 plus years as a customer. I have found that attending shows has been instrumental in making decisions about equipment purchases. Yes shows have notoriously poor hotel rooms for demos but it has enabled me to hear a lot of equipment in kaleidoscopic systems I could never hear in so many combinations at a dealer. I require an in home try out too. I need to know that a dealer, home based or store based, be there to support me if there is an equipment failure. I also tend to buy products made by tried and true companies with long histories of support. This has worked for me. This approach makes me a good customer because I have never made a mistake about a product and keep what I buy. I prefer a store to a home based show room. My final decision to buy will always be made in my home.

[@whatsbestforum]

Thank you for your comments!

[@Carrera6rennsport]

I've seen a lot of home dealers in So. Cal come and go. Some had product lines that rivalled B&M stores, but they were almost always a 2nd business for the proprietor. You also have physical constraints of doubling as someone’s private residence, making it way less convenient than a typ retail storefront. I also found B&M stores to be better capitalized, they often have product in stock and more motivated to put together a deal, as its usually their primary business.

[@whatsbestforum]

I think these are all fair points!

[@colekyler002]

Ron - Very informative. Feel bad for Rhapsody, not right that he was totally lambasted and couldn't defend himself, but you did the right thing there!

[@whatsbestforum]

Thank you! Ironically my first two messages to secure home dealer representation on the panel were invitations to two of the Rhapsody listening room proprietors. The out-of-state gentleman I contacted was not coming to the T.H.E. Show. The representative in California never replied to a text message or to a voicemail message. So I tried to have Rhapsody representation on the panel!

[@CarlVanDoren61]

Nice, great discussion 👍

[@whatsbestforum]

I am delighted you enjoyed it!

[@bilguana11]

Before the internet, manufacturers selling direct to customers was called "selling out the back door", and considered highly unethical.

[@carminedesanto6746]

Greetings from Toronto.☕️ An interesting question …I was wondering where the marketing of High End Audio was going…🧐 Great video. Thank you 😎

[@CarlVanDoren61]

Heretic AD612 made in Toronto 😊

[@carminedesanto6746]

Nice!

[@whatsbestforum]

I am glad you enjoyed the discussion!

[@carminedesanto6746]

@@whatsbestforumThe thing is ..unless you can try before you buy..you’re buying blind ( or in this case deaf) . As a HeadFi 🎧 guy ..it’s almost impossible to find dealers with EVERYTHING I’m interested in…and then an expanded in home audition is almost unheard of. This was very interesting as an ordinary consumer. Have a great week.🍻

[@whatsbestforum]

Hi Carmine, Do you go to CanJam? I know it's a noisy environment, but every headphone seems to be there, and available for demo.

[@ericfshook]

Ironically, the audio is out of phase.

[@whatsbestforum]

You probably hear the panelists from your right channel. This is because I have two input channels on my video camcorder, and five microphones to blend. My lapel mic is one channel, and I mixed the four panelists' microphones to the other (right) channel. So I believe the two panelists to my left will sound correct on playback, and the two panelists to my right will sound incorrect on playback. Do you think it would be better if I mixed both channels into mono?

[@ericfshook]

@@whatsbestforum Yes.