2. amps-preamps
  3. 160032-79

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
mitch4t's avatar
mitch4t OP
1,611 posts
 
This is for an in-store demo.

The amps will not be leaving the store.

Here is the listing for the amps:

https://www.audiogon.com/listings/lis9c0bg-audio-research-reference-750-1-pair-silver-finish-demos-t...

rlb61
790 posts
 
These amps already have 800 hours on them, AND you have to buy speakers with them if you want the $2K discount. They have a lot of chutzpah charging for an in-store demo given the circumstances.
mapman's avatar
mapman
22,433 posts
 
Never heard of it.  Sounds like a bad idea.   You can take it or leave it.  
hgeifman
2,271 posts
 
@mitch4t, What was the retailer going to charge you to audition the amplifiers?   Was there a fixed time limit, like 30 minutes, or no time restrictions?   If you listened and decided to audition another amplifier, would he charge you, again, for a 2nd audition?

I am not aware of any audio retailers charging to audition audio equipment.   As was posted above, I agree that the audio audition is "part of the overhead expense that they add into the purchase price for all their products". 

  


rsf507
2,347 posts
 
Well that's one retailer to stay clear of.
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