Are Audio Dealers Missing the Boat?

DedicatedAudio: A few questions... 1. Is this activity profitable for you? 2. Has it entwined you in any sticky legal consequences? 3. Have you heard of others doing this? 4. What are your ground rules?
Except for Saturdays, every dealer I've been to is ALWAYS empty which leads me to believe there is time to do this. The beauty of this idea is that sellers would have face-to-face contact with the friendly dealer to discuss product condition, etc. The escrow approach sounds more centralized (sending your merch to a faceless destination) i.e. removing the personal element.

Sounds like a good option. I'm sure some well heeled buyers and sellers would prefer to avoid dealing with the unwashed public altogether. On the other hand, involving a salesperson in your transaction could be like inviting a cat to the mouse picnic: Why get a Belchfire2500 when for a few more bucks you could get the HellRazor5000?

Sean,

Kurt said:

"I would not be wanting the middle man to be any more than a escrow holder/warehouse actually. (They don't need to be an inspector). "

I just wanted to point out that escrow services already exist and are used by at least some Agoners, though I have no experience with them.

- Eric

Well, it all comes down to the reputation of the dealers and the fees they would charge.They should also be able to pick up the items from sellers, pack them well,ship them and deal with all claims.Most dealers should learn how to earn the money,not collect it. For 20% they should buy me a beer too.

Inna, you bring up some good points. But to take it one step further, if one has found such a dealer, then wouldn't it make sense for the dealer to simply buy the product from the seller or for the buyer, thus removing seller/buyer from any further hassle?

I mean wouldn't this also be a clear indication of the dealer's confidence in the transaction?

For 20%, the dealer should be volunteering this buyout program. Because, ultimately, I believe that is the security the seller and buyer are really looking for. Otherwise, exactly what is the dealer really offering to earn that rather large 20 percent?

I'm all for value-added services for a fee even, if the fee is a bit higher than anticipated. But I kinda' cringe at giving monies just for smoke and mirrors. Or as one political commentator calls it, "Symbolism over substance!"

In addition, I would think that a dealer participating in such endeavors who buys outright from the seller/for the buyer is an excellent demonstration of the dealer's reputation.

-IMO