How far have you gone?

Albuquerque, NM to Arena, WI for a pair of Chapman Audio T77SE speaks. A buddy picked them up in Milwaukee for me. Took me a year to go get them. He took really good care of them by playing them constantly. I gave him my Vandersteen 2CE's in exchange for his "storing" them in his listening room. 2500 mile round trip, two days driving each way. Worth every second and mile to this day. (Although lately I've been thinking that change is good. . . )

Should I drive from Jersey to South Carolina for a pair of Aerial 7b's for only $1200?

I guess it would depend on how badly you want them. It will be a lot safer for the speakers to personally pick them up rather than worrying about a shipper dropping them.

Could you take the time to make a vacation out of it too?

Chuck

My next one near 250mi one way to pick up record collection. Part goes to my shelves and part goes for sale.
This kind of trip is usual routine that happens at least once per week.

I once brought a Music Reference RM5 mkII preamp with me on a vacation from Philly to LA and then drove up the coast to SF to personally deliver it. The buyer met me in the lobby of my hotel room and then when he showed up, he asked me about a discount (after the price was long ago negotiated), since he didn't have the opportunity to audition it.

I said, "you're kidding, right? I schlepped this thing all the way here, and drove it up the coast to bring it to you; I have no problem bringing it back home and keeping it." At that point, he paid the price that we agreed upon.