My experience of dealers (pre access to the internet) was always fine. He always seemed to have my interest at heart. He always nudged me along towards the correct new box to add to the system always letting my own ears finally decide if the new box did represent an upgrade.

However I was always puzzled why we only every used the same manufacturers equipment. He had other peoples kit in the shop but when asked he always said he thought the stuff I used to be superior.

Never having the time to investigate properly other manufacturers kit, and having no mates who had the slightest interest in music the way folks who frequent the forums do, always made it difficult ....... no.... almost impossible to listen to other equipment.

Suddenly as the internet opened up and access become possible to all of us, it became very apparent that there was a whole host of manufacturers kit out there, some a lot cheaper and better sounding to my ears than the stuff I had been drip fed over the previous 20 odd years.

Needless to say I don`t have any of that equipment left in my system, My system now stands me at an awful lot less money and I never ever go near a dealers shop. I now take advice from people who frequent the forums and trust my own ears.

Listening to kit in other peoples systems and then borrowing the said bit of kit is to my mind the way forward.

Just my take on the question raised