Costco and others like it may not have an AV demo on Bose products but whatever Bose speaker system they are selling from computer speakers to home theater speakers there will always be an audio demo (press this button type demo). I agree you can not beat the marketing they perform,

Agreed, they do a great job of creating an in-store wow factor. When I did my first blind speaker comparison, they were the first ruled out. Matter of fact the sales guy (who opened the store on a Sunday to do a series of blind tests) said he was glad he also did the test... he didn't think there would be that big of a difference between what were were comparing.

Bose strategy for maximum profits:
1) Repeat over and over "We're the Best" and advertise, advertise, advertise (better compared to whom? When is the last time you heard Pioneer advertise their A/V receivers on a major radio talk show?)
2) Don't allow your products to share floor space with the competition (to prevent A-B comparisons)
3) Ensure the customers are treated warmly and kindly (who can complain with that?)
4) Slick demo interfaces with easy-to-understand interace (again, the competition could learn from this)
5) Ensure the customer stands within the near-field soundstage for great sound and imaging (never mind that no one sits within 3 feet of all their speakers at home, and the sub will never be heard again in their family rooms without major distortion at volumes required)
6) Pay high fees to the big-box stores to put their gear in the high traffic areas (kaching! Money that goes into marketing, and not hardware materials..but all paid by the consumer)
7) Proprietary cable management and RF remotes that prevent/disuade consumers from using non-Bose amplifiers/EQ's/remotes that might steal market share, or future purchases outside the corporate brand.

Again, Bose should be applauded by any capitalist for their marketing genius and I would probably buy a few shares if it was a publicly traded company. But, by no means should anyone put their consumer gear into the same category as "audiophile" equipment. It's "fair" gear, with "great" ease-of-setup by the Grandpa with lots of money, but no audiophile aspirations, or the middle-class "Joe" who has been sold on Bose by the crazy-great marketing machine that is "Bose".

Cheers,
Doc

PS: I've converted more friends from their "1-2-3-WTF?" or "3-2-1-Is that all?" systems than I can even remember. I then take their next $2000 and buy them excellent separates that blow their mind and still have the WAF.

The only, and I literally mean only, thing AV retailers/manufacturers can learn from Bose is to market beyond enthusiast circles. Ferraris and Porsches continue to rise in price, their sales aren't effected by used car sales on Ebay Motors, or online sales, and the general public understands where the value lies in the money spent on one. Bose accomplishes this feat as well. The general public thinks a $20K AV system is ridiculously priced, even though hours of enjoyment per dollar spent on one is far greater than that of a Ferrari/ Porsche. Heck the AV system may even have greater resale value. This difference in public perception between luxury AV and luxury Cars comes down to advertisings and marketing. Everyone know Porsche, and everyone knows Bose. How many non-enthusiasts can name 2 specialty audio/video brands?