Auditioning Used Equipment - Am I crazy ?
I reached out to a well respected dealer to see if I could audition an amp they had advertised on one of the used gear websites. This amp sells for over $20k and they were asking around $10k. This mfgr only has 12 dealers nationwide. I've heard their extreme high end equipment at shows but not this particular line. To my surprise, the dealer responded No. The unit was already boxed up to ship (hasn't been sold yet) and they wouldn't set it up for me. So my questions are:
Am I crazy asking to audition a component priced at $10k ?
For any dealers or dealer salespeople, is there a dollar amount where u turn auditions down at ? What is it ?
For consumers, is there a dollar amount that you would buy a component and roll the dice without auditioning it ?
Thanks !
@russbutton , the D&Ds are a great suggestion. I am seriously considering them. Thank you ! |
Did you ask him how he thought it would compare to what you have and what you are looking to improve with a switch? If you are just in the auditioning stage, he isn't in business to audition that brand. If it a great deal, he probably thinks it will sell easily for the price he is asking and the service he offers with the sale for that price is not the same as a brand he carries. Even if it is a great deal, how do you know you will like it better than what you have? I have spoken to The Music Room when I saw a "great deal" on some close out speakers and since I knew about their try and return policy, I gave them a call. After a quick conversation asking what I had and what I was looking for, he said I might not like these as much. I appreciated the honesty. I would have had to pay shipping charges which would have probably been $500 if I didn't keep them. I passed. Once I did buy a tonearm with the 100% money back guarantee because the dealer knew it was a dramatic improvement and I would like it. He as local so there was no shipping inbvolved but he did set up the arm with my existing cartridge so there was some investment on his part. One of the best improvements I ever made. |
A minor anecdote: A good buddy of mine is way into cars (I am as well just not to his degree). So he decides he wants a Dodge Viper and invites me to come along. We drive a Ferrari Testarossa to the Dodge dealer who has the Viper on the sales floor. He asks for a test drive and they flatly refuse. We had just drove up in $225K car and the dealer says no! My buddy says if I damage the car I'll buy it, dealer refuses. This led to many bad words which I found hysterical. Dealers are ______ in my book. Regards, barts
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