[JLM]

Not sure where this thread should go...

Paul McGowan announced earlier this month (to be implemented by year end) that this is due to lack of customer service from retailers. 

Also recently announced is their offer to provide full original retail price on traded in pieces towards purchase of new PS Audio gear.  This on top of soft pricing for new PS Audio gear that has been going on for some time.

On top of all this, Ted Smith, their DAC designer has revealed that he has serious tinnitus and hearing loss.  Release of their flaunted server and two box DAC have been slow while Paul works on introduction of a speaker line.  Meanwhile their major product development team have gotten very old.

Currently PS Audio offers: a very nice/compact entry level Sprout DAC/integrated; mid-fi Stellar Gain Cell DAC/preamp and matching power amps; top of the line DAC, preamp, and power amps; and a line of clean power devices.  Prices range from $600 to $35,400 for a DAC, preamp, power amp, and clean power.  They offer excellent service and have loyal following. 

[Elizabeth]

Seems the beginning of the op post was lost. What I think he wanted to say was PS Audio is going to a NO DEALER format, and direct sales only... Very soon.
(For what ever unknown reasons. ) ((My 'guess' is the constant discounting by some dealers is harming the brand image. And since the direct sales are strong, even at list price, why allow some dealers to harm that? I would cut them out too!)
I do wonder when PS Audio starts selling speakers.. If they will suddenly sprout a new dealer network, with 'minimum markup' MSRP requirements  (I would guess this would be way easier than trying to cut some dealers... all that threat of lawsuit stuff for discriminating? Just ending dealers 100% now.. And in a year suddenly offering some dealers a re-entry with minimum markup would make a lot of sense. This is my bet.

As far as hearing loss. Beethoven was stone deaf and made plenty of beautiful music. Just sayin'.

[Photon46]

PS Audio has their own forums on their website. The thread dedicated to the subject of going to direct sales marketing has generated nearly five hundred responses as of today. https://forum.psaudio.com/t/is-ps-audio-going-direct-sale-only/12247

People are quite divided on their opinions about this change. The loudest complaints revolve around the fact that people know the constant deep discounting that dealers provided in the past isn't going to happen any more. PS Audio says the majority of their sales occur through their internet based business as it stands now, so from their perspective, not much is changing. I've been a customer of theirs for many years and have found their customer service after the sale to be the best of any product I've ever purchased. I have their BHK preamp, BHK250 power amp, and the new Stellar P3 power plant. All offer great value for the money IMO.

I would agree that the direct sales model for large, expensive, heavy speakers seems to have much potential for difficulties. As to the design team getting old, I'm sure Paul knows they need new blood. PS Audio has one new face on the engineering design team, Darren Myers. He was responsible for the new phono stage.

[Mike B.]

I have read several threads on this. One of the often written questions is why didn't they weed out the dealers doing the deep discounting? Was it so widespread to require this move?
PS Audio has been a provider of high value equipment for a number of decades going back to the Paul and Stan days. I have met Ted Smith and am sorry to read about his hearing problems.

[Photon46]

Few would be surprised to see PS Audio bring back selected dealers in the future who agree to adhere to a pricing model.

[uncola]

I support this move, dealers are the past, internet direct is the present.  Also, I don't currently own any ps audio products, but the after purchase support I got from them when I had my ps audio gain cell dac was one of the best I received from any company.  They and alvin from vinshine audio won my future purchases from giving really great service

[JLM]

Thanks Elizabeth!

Yes part of my post was somehow lost.  As you and others have figured out, it dealt with PS Audio discontinuing selling through U.S. dealers.  My experience with them over the phone and for service was first rate.  A friend actually got a tour while on layover at Denver airport. 

I too, am not too sure about their endeavor into speakers.