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

NO...it's part of the business unfortunately, hopefully you will get a sale, if not, you tried. 

I wonder how many times somebody has walked into a dealer and asked to audition half a dozen or so full-range, big, heavy, loudspeakers, taking a great deal of time and effort for the dealer, only to be told "I like that one - now I'll go online to see if I can find a used one or one on sale!". My guess is that it's happened more than a few times, and some have then set up auditioning surcharges to reduce or eliminate this kind of being stiffed in time and effort by the 'customer'

It’s completely accurate,

No it’s not.

You wrote:

the people who will have a big problem with this are the bungholes who want to use the dealer services for free and then buy off the internet.

But I have a problem with it becoming routine to pay simply to hear gear at a dealer, yet I don’t fit the description of someone who is dicking around dealers in the way you just described.


And I don’t think I’m that unusual. None of my audiophile friends are the "bungholes" you describe, but I bet they wouldn’t think it a good idea for dealers to start routinely charging for customers to hear anything in their showroom.


You shouldn’t forget there are two parts to the equation here. Yes, audiophiles may be grateful if there is a dealer nearby where they can hear gear.


On the other hand, the customer is taking time out of his own day to bring himself TO the business. It’s not like the business owner has to haul his ass over to the customer’s house.  It's the other way around.


If I’m running a business I damn well would be thankful that customers are making the trip to my store! Best to have something to show them.


Now...of course there are crappy customers, just like there are crappy salesmen. But that doesn’t in of itself warrant charging everyone to hear the things you are trying to sell.


Again: where else does this occur that makes it a good idea in reality?

If a dealer is willing to go 20+% off list I will consider buying from them. Most of the time they do IME. I would likely pay a fee to hear something I was really interested in so I would feel like a dick if I bought it used or elsewhere for a much better price. 
On the other hand I get Prof’s point. Where is this actually done in reality? I think it would turn a lot of people off from the dealer. 

My gear was purchased almost exclusively used. At one point I was very interested in purchasing the small Harbeths. Brand new was out of my budget,so they would be purchased on the used market. I just couldn't go to the local dealer,and pretend he might make a sale. That's not my style.