I think that the real question is whether or not you would be spending more with or without head-fi. Having been able to utilize the information I got here, I was able to make a number of informed purchases. Maybe I didn't get the best price, but I tell you what, if I had started elsewhere, even if I was getting a better price, by the time I finally got exactly what I wanted, the amount of time and money lost in a blind quest for upgrades would be far more. If not for head-fi, I probably would have ordered the HD-600 instead of 650, then I would have had to upgrade again in a year. I have been down this path before. Also, I think customer service is an undervalued asset. I like for shopping to be enjoyable, not frustrating. If I can be totally comfortable knowing that I am getting treated the best possible, I am willing to pay more. The problem is many people don't share this viewpoint (yet still complain when they get crappy service). I don't like being on hold for 2 hours or being sent to a number of different departments. I also think that the more money we give to big buisinesses, many of whom are taking jobs out of our country, we are hutring our own economy, which we all pay for. I guess I just appreciate someone doing a good honest job, rather than pandering around for the lowest prices, regardless of impact. And someone said that once the small stores are gone, the big ones will control the marketplace, this is so true. If you look at the approach Japan took in the mid 1900s in selling TVs in America, they sold them for less than cost, until the American companies couldn't compete. Once they had a stranglehold on the market, prices started to increase sharply until other economic forces started to balance the scale. This is not an endorsement for any particualr sponsor, though I can say that having dealt with Todd and having bought some of Jan's stuff, I am very glad that I chose to support our sponsors, as I will be taking advantage of the suppor they provide this community. I have only one statement for our sponsers that is not of total support specifically HR. When I was looking around at the different sponsors, I noticed HR charges twice as much as Todd for Senn airplane adapters; this increase in price I have a harder time explaining/justifying as both are small company supporters of head-fi. It is difficult to justify such a purchase from HR IMHO.
Cheers,
-Silby