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

"Then the customer goes and buys online at a discounted price."

Is the dealer allowed to sell new Audio Research equipment online? I know that some brands have restrictions, but I am not sure about Audio Research.

For old and used equipment, I guess anything goes.

tomcy6,

"glupson, You don’t think there’s a difference between getting a bike out from the back and setting up a system with a couple of 170 lb amps?"

I was just pointing out different approaches in enticing a potential buyer.

To answer your question, those bicycles I mentioned were driven from the warehouse, assembled, adjusted to perfection, and then I could take a ride and say "doesn't feel quite right". Setting up a bicycle right, even on a very casual amateur rider level, does require some work. To the extreme of having ten mechanics in a competition team.

I have no problem with this particular dealer charging whatever he thinks is right. Still, I remember one member here who at some point (in another thread) said "your first loss was your best loss". Waiting for the right customer to show up may be a losing game, but I really have no experience with running a store. That storage must cost something. I would really think of keeping those amplifiers as an eternal demo rather than losing money and time on tire kickers and giving it away for only $16995.

If those are the amplifiers on the top of your list, and the price is fair market, I myself would pay a reasonably demo fee. If you don't like their performance, you get them crossed off the list, and just buy something from him for the cost of the fee. Otherwise, you can purchase them with no risk of shipping, damage etc. Pack those monsters in your car and go enjoy.

What I think this shows is the erosion of the function of B&M stores.  Before the internet, that's where you went to see, check out, and hear (!! what a concept) equipment.  If you liked what you heard, you started to think you might buy it, and made a couple more trips back.
These days, it's much more probable it will sell over the internet.  The B&M space is essentially functioning as a warehouse/shipping center.  If this merchant wants to maintain the impression of a real B&M store, a customer should be able to come in, look around, and check out anything.  That's part of the cost of doing business.  

Time to find a new dealer!