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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
calvinj
2,315 posts
 
Run away fast run away now.  Sign of things to come. If you have a problem with these he is not going to take care of you! His attitude towards customer service 17k to buy something. I can’t hear it for free? He needs your money more than you need his Amps. 
denverfred's avatar
denverfred
252 posts
 
3 cheers for Mammothguy! The guy everyone wishes they could sell to. I’ll give thumbs-up in advance if he brings us a report. It would be especially interesting if you go in there with cash and then get “blown out” by some crummy shenanigans.
That’s more salesperson jargon: a “blow out” is when you cause a customer to leave the store without buying. The customer is always right. But when he/she is wrong, a good salesperson doesn’t make a “weenie-wagging” contest out of it. (Especially with women!)
facten
2,876 posts
 
@mitch4t

" When I created this post, I was truly curious if high end stores were now charging for an in-store demo. I’d never before heard of such a thing.
I had no intention of being critical of the seller...I just wanted to know if this was now a widespread and common practice in high end audio. "
Might want to read more of the posts on your thread I think things have gone beyond being critical , more like damaging

tubes444
91 posts
 
Mitch41

Nothing real new! Happen to me, at the time I went to a S.F. Ca. to visit the Highest high end audio dealer
there at the end of the last century. To hear Sound Labs A.1 panels $25 bucks & no choice on records.
Here’ WHAT I told him. Will hear them somewhere TRUST ME! I did on a 737 down to L.A>
I listened and bought, them plus (2)ARC big Mono blocks to drive them all on the same ticket. Got home sent a copy of the sales ticket to the S.F. Ca dealer and a not so nice letter to him and C/c same to Sound Labs.
He’s no longer there dealer in San Francisco. Call me a real S.O.B. Ha!!!!

carey1110's avatar
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carey1110
566 posts
 
I don’t think it is unreasonable to give a dealer a couple hundred bucks for the time and inconvenience of packing and unpacking them if you don’t buy.  However if you have a good relationship with you dealer and have made purchases from him in the past he probably won’t ask for it. 
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