Hi Fi Dealers in 2026

[record_spot]

So on another thread, there's been a bit of a discussion around the role of the hifi dealer today compared to say the 1990s and before the advent of online buying.

I guess if you live in a reasonably sized town or city, you might have a few dealers around to choose from. Maybe not quite so many as there were 30 or 40 years ago, but still a decent number.

If you stay somewhere outside a city or town, your choice probably drops somewhat and depending on what you're looking for or how many items you want to compare.

Online shopping opens up in the late 90s and burgeons thereafter. Consumer protections kick in that allow buyers to open and examine products to afford the same luxury they have instore. The legislation requires them to take "reasonable" (always thought that wording was weak, but there it is) care of the goods while in their care and if they eventually opt to return it.

Before too long, some bricks and mortar dealers start going to the wall, consumer trends move away from traditional hifi to more portable audio gear, home cinema and in time, bluetooth capable kit.

Now, for me, online shopping has been a blessing. I haven't demo'd anything in a shop since 2012 (Tannoy DC4 speakers in case you're wondering). Everything since has been an online purchase. Sometimes brand new (hello Richer Sounds), often used (hello lots of other folk). I like to research what I need online from a variety of information providers or reviewers (not YouTubers) then draft my shortlist and then decide from there. Generally, it works a treat.

These days, I stay at best an hour or so and a fair bit more in some cases, from my nearest hifi shops in Edinburgh, Glasgow and Carlisle. And the shopping experience has vastly changed in the last 40 years. Where once you could walk in off the street and literally walk out with a new bit of kit an hour later has been replaced by "have you had a look at the website, it's all on there".

So where are you at in this?

 

[Al ears]

So on another thread, there's been a bit of a discussion around the role of the hifi dealer today compared to say the 1990s and before the advent of online buying.

I guess if you live in a reasonably sized town or city, you might have a few dealers around to choose from. Maybe not quite so many as there were 30 or 40 years ago, but still a decent number.

If you stay somewhere outside a city or town, your choice probably drops somewhat and depending on what you're looking for or how many items you want to compare.

Online shopping opens up in the late 90s and burgeons thereafter. Consumer protections kick in that allow buyers to open and examine products to afford the same luxury they have instore. The legislation requires them to take "reasonable" (always thought that wording was weak, but there it is) care of the goods while in their care and if they eventually opt to return it.

Before too long, some bricks and mortar dealers start going to the wall, consumer trends move away from traditional hifi to more portable audio gear, home cinema and in time, bluetooth capable kit.

Now, for me, online shopping has been a blessing. I haven't demo'd anything in a shop since 2012 (Tannoy DC4 speakers in case you're wondering). Everything since has been an online purchase. Sometimes brand new (hello Richer Sounds), often used (hello lots of other folk). I like to research what I need online from a variety of information providers or reviewers (not YouTubers) then draft my shortlist and then decide from there. Generally, it works a treat.

These days, I stay at best an hour or so and a fair bit more in some cases, from my nearest hifi shops in Edinburgh, Glasgow and Carlisle. And the shopping experience has vastly changed in the last 40 years. Where once you could walk in off the street and literally walk out with a new bit of kit an hour later has been replaced by "have you had a look at the website, it's all on there".

So where are you at in this?

Bored.
Your opinion of dealers, especially one brave enough to post on this forum, are well established.
Each to their own and I feel sure many will agree.

 

[record_spot]

Bored.
Your opinion of dealers, especially one brave enough to post on this forum, are well established.
Each to their own and I feel sure many will agree.

Hey, this was an open question, so thanks for your views, but you don't have a view of your own on any of this that's beyond "each to their own"?

If you're cheek by jowl with a dealer or three, good for you, (te salu Don Corleone) and member DavidF had a fair point, the good dealers will do the right thing, but in 2026?

I've 35 dealers listed on my hifi bookmarks. And most of them are UK wide. None within the Edinburgh, Glasgow and Carlisle ones and within 60-90 minutes distance. Where's that relationship at these days?

 

[Entrigo]

I am in London so am literally spoilt for choice, but still do most of my purchasing online - the rare occasions when I buy new.

Mostly laziness tbh as it's probably still an hour and a Hal;f round journey at the least to get to one and as I actually love the atmosphere of an hi-fi shop...