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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
audioman58's avatar
audioman58
4,220 posts
 
For one the guy is a jerk for charging and just reduced his chances of selling by st least 50%.  I sold audio for years ,never a charge .
what is the $$ amount out of curiosity ?
rdk777's avatar
rdk777
578 posts
 
Yeah -  fuggedaboutit
millercarbon's avatar
millercarbon
12,531 posts
 
WOW ! This is amazing. To make things clear this is a $60,000.00 pair of Amplifiers. This has been put into storage. We have to setup a complete vignette and connect everything. This is the reason we asked the customer who was interested to call us. We could set them up with Vandersteen, Vivid Audio, Martin Logan, Stenheim, Egglestonworks etc. To do this custom for a proper audition that makes sense, we need to be compensated. Simple as that. Hope this makes this clear.

Then you are in the wrong business. 


slaw's avatar
slaw
22,122 posts
 
Had a dealer wanting to charge me $500.00 to audition a Mac 275 in my home. That's why I've still never heard one.
ashoka
99 posts
 
A good move, businessmen also have to survive in e-commerce world. A nominal fee per hour is welcome both customer & industry doesn't feel guilty. Everything costs to run demo in a business.
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