Helping friends and relatives buy an audio system...

Jeez whatjd. Quite the question. In medical school I made a living setting up systems in the houses of very rich people. I also got my own equipment on saleman's comp this way. In the process I wound up setting up system's for two 1st cousins. Both were thrilled to death with their systems. One is still working nicely in the hands of his son (he passed). The other I have no idea what happen to it. That cousin moved to San Francisco and sold it with the house. Both cousins were not that critical but they were expensive high end systems. I never had any trouble with any of my paying clients but then I left Miami after 5 years there. 
It was a lot of fun and there are days I wished I'd stayed in the business.
Is it dangerous? It could be if you are not totally up front with people. It would be worse with a very critical listener. 

I posted the following on Sept 20 in another thread

"Most of my friends and family have little interest beyond Bluetooth convenience and very casual listening. That said, my best friend's son, and a young guy who used to work for me both showed distinct interests in having systems but didn't really have the budget means. Rather than sell 2 sets of Tyler Acoustic speakers (different models), a Plinius and Arcam integrated amp, an Arcam and Pioneer Elite cd player, and Kimber cables that I wasn't using I put a system together for each of them and gave them to them gratis . Better to let them enjoy"

facten That was extremely gracious and kind hearted of you. Thank you for being an Audiophile and a human being.

In my heyday I had a business in Madison, Wi. and was part of a program that had jobs for people recovering from mental illness...usually caused by childhood abuse. I did something like you when I helped my sister start a business and supplied her with some inventory at no cost and the money she was to pay me for helping her I simply told her not to pay me.

I helped save some people after Hurricane Camille (Biloxi) and the Rapid City Flood....both were awful and the death and destruction made my 19 year old brain suffer with the citizens of those towns.

Even with money, travel, cars, hi-fi and more material things,..nothing has done as much for my happiness as helping those that needed the help with no thought of strings attached.

Take care.  

When life puts you in tough situations, don’t say, why me? Just say, try me! the impossible quiz hot.