Why decline in audio stores USA?

[Kingnoob]

Seems to be a decline in the country…only by me is a few stores. Nothing that good. Sears went out of business and a lot of others.

 

[mono-bloc]

It's the same the world over, The specialist audio stores are a declining business. The reason being the ease of on-line purchases
via e-bay, or Amazon and the dealers who have established on-line stores. Who retail the same brands but at a lower price range,
and offering free freight

 

[highfigh]

Seems to be a decline in the country…only by me is a few stores. Nothing that good. Sears went out of business and a lot of others.

People decided that price was more important than local dealers, online sellers offered better prices, done.

Catalog sellers were the low price PITA before the internet for stores but once it became 'click it and ship it', it was only a matter of time. The only stores that are surviving are the ones who offer something different or more, like installation. Some have physical locations, many don't because a store costs a lot to rent/own and operate, an office is much less expensive.

 

[m. zillch]

The vast majority of people now buy audio gear primarily based on hype/buzz, word of mouth, and price. They'll swear on a stack of bibles though that their decisions were based on "sound quality differences" but they are typically relying on the claims of others regarding the sound quality differences. [And the formulation of these claims by their "experts" is often/usually dubious in its methodology.] This makes demo rooms in stores essentially obsolete to them.

 

[Mikado463]

'brick & mortar' has gotten expensive ...........