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Demos - To Charge a Fee or to Not Charge a Fee?

One common dealer complaint is that customers sometimes use them to audition equipment only to later purchase it elsewhere.

How much of that is true is not known but it must happen. Such is the nature of some folk.

Therefore, how about abandoning the time honoured practice of free demonstrations (also shared by the car industry) and start charging a fee?

Would $10 an hour be sufficient? 

Surely, even in quiet part of a quiet day it must cost the dealer considerably more than that to provide the facilities and staff to facilitate a satisfactory demonstration.

I don't know how others may feel, but I'd be more than happy to pay for the service.
cd318
danager's avatar
danager
954 posts
 
Or you could just offer price matching. 
I worked selling stereos on commission for a long time.  To pay up front for someone to sell me something makes me throw up a little bit in my mouth.  If you want to drive away customers charge them to listen and when you go out of business they won't be able to hear your equipment to compare, so that'll teach them or you could do your job and create value by purchasing the equipment from you and make a customer for life.
Just as a side note I also DVR sports and shows so I can fast forward thru the adds.  If I time it right I can end the same time the game does.
 
millercarbon's avatar
millercarbon
12,531 posts
 
$10/hr sounds about right. For just being in the store. After all some people just walk in and out never buy a thing just look. But the store had to have lights and heat even for that. It is only fair. They can collect that along with the parking fee. $10/hr sounds about right for that too.   

That is just in and out. If you want to listen I would expect another $10/hr. Of course you would tip your retailer if he has to acknowledge your presence. To play a CD probably $10. Records $20. Only fair.   

Why not? cd318 is happy to pay. Sorry. My bad. "More than happy." 
audiojan's avatar
audiojan
404 posts
 
One model could be to charge a fee but to deduct that from any purchase. At least that way, the dealer gets some business (and it becomes essentially free for the buyer as long as something is purchased...)
deadhead1000's avatar
deadhead1000
714 posts
 
I worked in several audios stores, there’s been looks-looks forever, yes I am sure it’s gotten worse, but even knowing how hard it is to be a store owner and a salesman, I would walk out if someone said pay me upfront. In fact in the city I live in there is an audio store where the owner says if you want advice There is a charge of  $100 an hour. I had several thousand in cash on me, but only got to listen to him for 20 minutes telling me how great and smart he was. I left without hearing any equipment and ended up buying the equipment online that I wanted and that he had. 
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