As a person who worked as a dealer, I have to put my two cents in. Markups ARE high. Higher than you would expect. Speakers are 100%. The lowest margin product we carried($99 Sony throwaway mass market garbage CD player - dealer cost $84) had an 18% markup. Most electronics went for 35 to 60% profit. And we would give great discounts, provided you asked. Example: PSB Gold i speakers, retail $2499. I have seen the owner several times go all the way down to $1300 on the pair on the floor, and $1500 for a pair he would order. His philosophy, "Hey, I just made $300 for writing a sales slip, and making a phone call. Less than 5 minutes work." And don't spend so much time letting your heart bleed for dealers. If you heard the stuff I heard about customers from so many dealers, you wouldn't have so much sympathy for them.
Do Dealers think it is sinful..........
..... to give a customer a break on the price of high end audio equipment? is there something ethically wrong with this? why is it that i can negotiate down the price of a car or real estate many thousands of dollars, but i cant even get a discount on something the dealer (1) doesnt stock, (2) will not let you bring home for a day. i feel that when you are spending big $, like 8k + on a sale there should be some give and take. what do you think?