Unable to audition used speakers a problem

As always, whatever is mutually agreeable to the seller and buyer is fine with us, but as a geneal rule "used" market is different.

It is a dealer's full-time job to wait for customers and provide them with auditions, to help them decide what they like. He also charges a premium for it. A private once-in-a-blue-moon seller is hardly equipped with time or resources to do so.

I can see an exception being made if I were buying/selling a very expensive piece, but in general I would neither offer nor expect auditions in routine transactions of used equipment.

Speakers are unlike a piece of furniture that you can inspect in a few minutes. Imagine what an imposition it is on the seller's family and their private life if each potential "buyer", often someone just interested in hearing that model, spent a whole evening listening to his favorite cd's in their living room.

So, no cigar. :-) I must tell you gently but clearly that you don't have a good case. If you want audition, find a dealer and pay the price. This is not a game to be played at the expense of a family's private life, already under attack in our soceity from jobs, schools, and many other demands.

>Prefer to audition because IMO speakers are more difficult to evaluate than other gear when they have not been heard.<

Rockdanny,

I see your point, BUT, the speakers in question (any speakers, really) are not going to sound the same in YOUR room with YOUR equipment as they did at the previous owner's home. You strike me as someone who puts little credence in the importance of front end equipment. Hell, my son has an old pair of Polk Monitor 7s in his bedroom that I can make sound fantastic in my big rig. Do they sound that great in his system? No, only average.

Ok, now let's say you have taken ALL your components to the seller's house. Better, but still no cigar. Room acoustics will also drastically change the sound. So either you end up buying a great pair of speakers that sound like crap in YOUR room, or you pass up a great pair because they sounded like crap in HIS room. That's a no win situation if ever there was one.

I agree with what was mentioned before. Buy the best speaker you can for your $$ on the used market and sell it on the used market if it doesn't cut it for you. Beyond that, only buy from a dealer if he lets you bring them home first, or you feel confident that your environment will be better suited to said speakers. In the end, this type of dilemma is what keeps Agon flourishing.

Oz

I like Unclejeff's comments about qualification. Why not apply the same considerations we use to filter on line prospects to the evaluation of local suitors? Feedback should certainly come into play as well as knowledge and comportment.
You can stop by my house for an audition anytime, Unclejeff.

Interesting discussion and good points made by both buyer and seller. I'm actually looking for another pair of speakers and would like to buy used (and local) and being as such would appreciate hearing said speakers, but if that's not possible, at least being able to actually physically examine the speakers before purchase. Now I do understand from the seller's point of view about "tire-kickers", "strangers coming to house", issues. One thing I've thought about offering to a seller is a "non-refundable" audition fee ($20 or so) to cover the seller's inconvenience for "unboxing" and setting up the speakers for audition, and this fee would be sent in advance of the audition. If I actually do buy the speakers, then the fee would be applied to cost of the speakers. If I didn't buy, then at least seller has gotten something for their time and efforts, and no doubt, this would help get rid of the "tire-kicker" crowd. Any thoughts on this approach?