I live in Grand Rapids. So one time I ordered speakers for pick up from Audio Advisor. I fully expected them to have some kind of showroom. They are just a warehouse order place. No showroom at all.
That is a surprise, I also just assumed they had a showroom up there. When I was still living in Chicago I always had this idea in the back of my mind that I was going to take a ride by and check out the place, good thing I never bothered.
I've been doing business with them for 30+ years and I will say this about AA, every time I reached out by phone they offered the most polite and enjoyable customer service I ever experienced. I was buying new VTL power amps from them at a time that when I called, Wayne Schuurman would many times answer the phone personally. They always bent over backwards to make sure I was completely happy including shipping one VTL stereo amp, taking it back and shipping out a pair of monoblocks in exchange, and again taking that pair back in exchange for a second pair due to a problem with the first pair and all the shipping was on their dime. All this was done without so much as a minor whine. I've bought a schettload of gear from them and will always give them first shot at a sale if they have what I'm interested in, loyalty works both ways.
I've had similar experience with Crutchfield, truely outstanding customer service.
I do miss the days of brick and mortar stores and being able to go out and tire kick on a weekend or day off. But also remember the looks, being ignored, and getting the "what are you doing in here Mr Dirty Biker?" interactions that sometime came with it.