Convincing your local dealer to let you try speakers at home

I've has two experiences - one bad and one good.  When I purchased my Focal Electra 1027  speakers in 2007, the dealer where I auditioned them was a jerk. He wasn't ready when I drove 60 miles for our appointment. He ended the session after 45 minutes and wouldn't  let me take them home on approval. So instead of paying him $8,000 for them which I was willing to do for his time and trouble (which was very little), I bought them new online for $5,000 from Canada.

Recently I purchased some smaller bookshelf speakers from Upscale Audio. They have a 60 day return policy, no questions asked. I did return the speakers and got my refund (but had to pay to ship them back).  I don't know whether that applies to big ticket items but I was pleased with how I was treated.

@styleman UpscaleAudio is one of the best companies I ever dealt with. Super nice, knowledgeable, easy going.

There isn’t a company in my area that will lend speakers. 

(1) I don’t know squat about DEVORE speakers or their dealers, Comments below reflect my general overall experiences

(1) MY EXPERIENCES PRE-COVID

maybe /…. ( but it’s very dealer specific ) AND very dependent on:

(I) speaker size weight & price strata … , and only on demo or pre-owned units (nada chance on the $$$$ models boxed up, and NFC on honkin’ big size units that cannot be boxed up and fit into a trunk of an SUV)

AND

(2) Only if the dealer has a well-established prior relationship with you and supported by a prior purchases history out there …. Not necessarily independent of $$$ …. ( Dealer rationale: too many time wasting tire kickers out there ,,,)

(2) COVID + POST COVID:

..,FFC ….Supply issues restricting available inventory, buyer sentiment on actually closing the deal sucks , COVID isolation threats , etc.….+ all of the other pre-COVID challenges above,

RE: Ka-Ching $$$$ models : = never … they hook them up in-store to the very best electronics and tweaks that they have available. An audition in store will provide a very decent snapshot of whether they will perform admirably at home. Otherwise sayonara (politely, of course) and I cannot blame them. It’s a tuff business to sell $$$$ inventory with a discretionary complimentary audition assistance privilege provided.
(you can test drive a car at a dealership but not take it home syndrome …)

I would suggest an audition fee if you don’t purchase, to cover their costs and time. 
 

I auditioned speakers at home from 4 different dealers.  One brought Magico and Wilson speakers around on separate occasions neither of which I bought.  I offered an audition fee if I did not buy which he appreciated, but in the end  I did buy a few thousand $ of cables from him.

Another loaned me two sets of Avalon that I did not buy, but I’d already bought an expensive amp and cdp from him so I was a good customer. 

Another loaned me some large Proac K series floorstanders and some Sonas Faber neither of which I bought. From him I bought two dac/streamers  I needed for a second system, giving him the business as a ‘thank you’. 

Another shipped three sets of speakers to me for home demo.  There was no cost to me, which is incredible as their shipping costs were large.  I would happily have offered to pay the shipping costs too. Anyway, I bought my final speakers from them in the end so he was happy.