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

This discussion seems pointless. Sure it may be nice if one can be compensated for their services all the time including carrying inventory to display products, but this ignores the fact that people are also driven to reduce costs to stretch their purchasing power. This is true even back to the days of bartering. Asking for fees to inspect inventory generally only works for exclusive high demand low supply products, otherwise the fees would drive customers away and limit exposure to new perspective customers which in our limited niche high-end audio can not afford to do. Sales is like fishing- nothing is guaranteed.

I don’t have much sympathy for retailers. After all, your equipment depreciates 50% as soon as you leave the store.

Retailers do not control product depreciation which is caused market supply and demand.  

+1@ p05129!

That’s the chance you have to take I was a dealer for a number of years ,if you know how to help build system synergy  with other products ,and and are competitive in $$ pricing then no need to loose the sale many dealers that loose the sale are cheap many times plain and simple you should get a minimum of 15-20% off 
the price especially if buying more then one item . I used to offer lay away also ,no refundable for 6 months to lock in sales ,
this way too ,you lock in   a good price ,as well as the sale.

At least $50.00 an hour for time wasters.

When I was shopping for a pair of speakers a few years ago, a dealer about 50 miles away had a pair. I made the drive and auditioned them. I really liked the speakers and was prepared to buy their demo pair which had been on the floor for a few months. I knew I could get them on the internet at a 25% discount from MSRP. But when I asked about even a 10% discount for this pair, the dealer said absolutely not. Retail or no sale.

So I was fine with buying from the brick n mortar guy. But I walked out and did the internet deal. This is one reason why they can't keep the doors open.

Oz