Charging A Fee To Demo An Amplifier In A Brick & Mortar Store

Tire kickers are the price of doing business, thats just the way it is.  If you have an issue with it or are incapable of selling to someone who might not be "real" then its time to find a new business to deal in.
I was a salesperson at Sound by Singer in NYC and we dealt with tire kickers all day.  You educate and show people the difference between high end and the junk they listen to and you maybe earn a sale down the road

Most of these problems can be solved by putting audio sales staff on salary or salary + commission.Most of the remaining problems can be solved by the customers who fail to realize the importance of "cultivating" a likeable salesman by showing something more than adversarial attitudes. I always try to come up with something I need before going into the store. If you get a lot of good attention, pay the guy by buying something on the way out: cables, accessories, etc.Everyone deserves to be treated with respect, even salespersons! All stores owe everyone that deference. But if you want a salesperson to set up special demos, cart stuff to your house, do research with suppliers, and THEN cut you more than a token discount--which will usually come out of his paycheck--then you should expect to show the guy that at the very least he has a CUSTOMER and not a stroker.

Yeah tell him to "Piss Off " !! Have never heard of such crap.

I'm in sales.  I would love to be compensated every time I pitch a client but it doesn't work that way.  Sometimes I spend months courting new business and end up with a donut.  The point is I have made a choice and this is the process in the business I have chosen.  I went into it with my eyes wide open and accept the fact that sometimes I will spend time that I will not be paid for.  

If I ever walked into a shop and was told I'd have to pay for a demo I'd be deeply offended and NEVER spend a dime with those people at any point in the future.  Just my 2c.