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<blockquote data-quote="Prowler573" data-source="post: 1424753" data-attributes="member: 561023">I reckon the question of is the internet and eBay ruining the market will somewhat depend on who you are.The shops that like to gouge any and all customers when they walk in the door right off the bat (I think all of us have likely encountered something like this at one time or another) will fall by the wayside....those that haven&#039;t already, that is.Shops that continually provide outstanding service (and that have established a rep based on that fact) will continue to flourish as there is something about a personal touch that cannot be replaced by buying online ~ and that some consumers will not want to do without. Some buyers will continue to patronize the retail shops for the expertise that is to be found in some as well as valid warranties and/or extended service plan availability (such as those offered by CC, Best Buy, etc) remaining a high priority for some buyers.On the flipside of the coin the Internet has caused some businesses to expand exponentially, Take Crutchfield, for example. They&#039;ve always made the lion&#039;s share of their money through mail-order catalogues, though they do have their lone B&amp;amp;M store in Virginia. Now that the Internet has crept into almost every home in America their potential customer base has expenaded beyond anything they likely ever imagined. Are Crutchfield&#039;s prices at or very near full retail? Yes, they are - but like was mentioned in a previous paragraph ~ it&#039;s the businesses that have staked their reputations on the level of service that you will receive each and every time that will weather the eBay/Internet sales storm and come out the other side juuuust fine.Just my $0.02.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="Prowler573, post: 1424753, member: 561023"] I reckon the question of is the internet and eBay ruining the market will somewhat depend on who you are. The shops that like to gouge any and all customers when they walk in the door right off the bat (I think all of us have likely encountered something like this at one time or another) will fall by the wayside....those that haven't already, that is. Shops that continually provide outstanding service (and that have established a rep based on that fact) will continue to flourish as there is something about a personal touch that cannot be replaced by buying online ~ and that some consumers will not want to do without. Some buyers will continue to patronize the retail shops for the expertise that is to be found in some as well as valid warranties and/or extended service plan availability (such as those offered by CC, Best Buy, etc) remaining a high priority for some buyers. On the flipside of the coin the Internet has caused some businesses to expand exponentially, Take Crutchfield, for example. They've always made the lion's share of their money through mail-order catalogues, though they do have their lone B&M store in Virginia. Now that the Internet has crept into almost every home in America their potential customer base has expenaded beyond anything they likely ever imagined. Are Crutchfield's prices at or very near full retail? Yes, they are - but like was mentioned in a previous paragraph ~ it's the businesses that have staked their reputations on the level of service that you will receive each and every time that will weather the eBay/Internet sales storm and come out the other side juuuust fine. Just my $0.02. [/QUOTE]

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