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

I Saw a pair of pre-owned tube monoblocs for sale on an onlline forum for around $17k.
The seller has a retail store for hiigh end audio. The seller mentioned that there will be an up-front fee for the demo if a prospect comes to the store the amps are not purchased. The demo fee may also be used for credit towards any purchase in the store.

This is the first time I’ve ever heard of this. Is this now a common occurance in high end audio stores? I sent a note to the seller asking what the demo fee amount was....two weeks and I didn’t get a response.

Does anyone know what amount of fees are charged for a demo?
128x128mitch4t
georgehifi's avatar
georgehifi
10,312 posts
 

The seller has a retail store for high end audio. The seller mentioned that there will be an up-front fee for the demo if a prospect comes to the store the amps are not purchased.


Ludicrous, tell him to ***** his amps where to sun don't *****.

Cheers George 
mijostyn's avatar
mijostyn
8,570 posts
 
Then you cut off your nose to spite your face. I'm sure there is an item or two you could use that the store carries. If you do not like the amps just buy one of those items. On returning the amps the dealer has to check them out and clean off any fingerprints and such which takes up his time.
I also think he is trying to weed out the people who are not serious.
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hilde45's avatar
hilde45
4,974 posts
 
I have to agree with George on this one. This is outrageous.

The dealer who has to check things out, clean them off, etc. is merely doing what all shop owners have to do when people browse their merchandise. This is part of the overhead that they add into the purchase price for all their products. The notion that somehow this has changed is completely unbelievable. In my opinion, this is a risky venture by this shop owner to invent an upcharge for people who don't know better.
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