Parts Express built a community around DIY Audio that isn't quite like anything else. And the way they ran their business felt old-fashioned to me, in a good way. Sure, they had stuff made in China, but the design work and product support happened in the USA. If the new owners want to squeeze some short-term dollars out of PE, that is probably where they will start. I would guess a good chunk of their staff's time is spent supporting the community that they built, but that isn't directly quantifiable on a spreadsheet - however, it is a big part of PE's success. I hope the new owners continue to support the PE DIY community. The techtalk forum and the speaker design competition are big parts of that. I was privileged to be a judge at the last speaker design competition, and the enthusiasm and sense of community are real. All of that needs to be continued or PE will become just another internet retailer.
My guess is that the tariffs really helped to finalize the decision for its owner. It can't be easy to import and sell ultra-affordable manufactured goods which already have a thin profit margin when the tariffs are taking a big chunk out of each sale. I want to be hopeful that the new owners will not make any big changes - I know and have met many of the people who work there, and they are very nice and very knowledgeable people.
