Restocking Fees, 30-Day Free Trials

Although 85% of audiophiles are genuine and potentially serious buyers, in my experience there is a full 15% that are tire kickers, audiophile nervosa merry-go-rounders, or just individuals unwilling to pay reasonable discount prices. Some are even looking to try out well reviewed new gear in their home, even if unaffordable....and know they're not keeping it before the manufacturer or dealer even approves the home audition. A 15% restocking fee IMHO is reasonable and the only way these non-local sellers (direct manufacturer sales or online or non local dealers) can avoid these individuals and stay solvent. If you don't agree, as said by others, find a local dealer willing to loan his demo unit for a weekend, even if you have to reserve that weekend 4 weeks in advance....have patience or go to shows to audition gear that interests you, or buy used. Let's please remember that dealer cost is usually 55-60% retail for electronics and 50-60% retail for loudspeakers, depending on whether a distributor is involved. Yes, there are some unethical dealers and resellers out there but most are just trying to make a living.  

It's all about relationships.  I have two B&M dealers and one on-line dealer.  The on-line dealer offers no in home trials or returns.  I also get 15% to 20% of retail from him.  Both B&M dealers will let me do in home trials with anything in the store even unopened box inventory.  Neither one would charge me a restocking fee if I returned gear based on my dissatisfaction.  Of course, I give all three a ton of business so I am a known quantity.  My guess is that I would have to pay a restocking fee if  I walked into a new place with no buying history. 

"Audiophile" dealers don't care about promoting their businesses beyond whatever customers they currently have. The only ones left rely on the 'phile community and have seemingly zero interest in expanding by promotion of any kind I can see, or reaching out to any of the great unwashed by maybe promoting house concerts or even meet and greet in-store events (Goodwin's has no email list…they recommend checking their site for news of whatever). They seem to not care about actual music, they often have either (paradoxically) smug or unsophisticated sales people, and although online prices are generally always cheaper, they seem to not be interested in discounting new gear…and they wonder why people buy online.

Wolf-garcia - you should check out Audio Video Therapy in Nashua, NH.  The exact opposite of Goodwins.  

Good luck with that it will never be fair find a great dealer and borrow a demo unit.