2. speakers
  3. 181558-139155

Convincing your local dealer to let you try speakers at home

So, I had a great experience listening to some Devore 0/96 speakers yesterday. The challenge for me is that the room I heard them in is wildly different than any other room I’d ever listen in. (I’ll share a photo, below.) I really have no idea if spending $13k plus on these speakers would work out. I’d need to try them at home.

For all I know, these dealers might be ok with me trying some speakers at home. I don’t know and am not yet ready to ask.

But I’m curious whether folks here have any stories to tell about the reactions they’ve gotten when they’ve asked to try speakers at their home. If you have a story, especially if it’s a more expensive speaker, I’d love to hear your story. How did you convince them? If they turned you down, what was the reason? Did you agree?

 

128x128hilde45
ghdprentice
6,967 posts
 

@rsf507 

 

OK, that is really cool. If I was into cars and wealthy that is right up my alley. The perfect transportation to transport my transportation around. 

jbuhl's avatar
jbuhl
977 posts
 

My dealer has let me demo speakers, turntables , subs, DACS.  They even let me demo a pair of Focal and Sonus Faber at the same time.  But I dont ever do it unless I am committed to buy from them and they know that.  I would never demo and then buy used.  I have demoed and not purchased but its rare (just wasn't compelled enough to upgrade) .   I did ask a dealer in Denver to demo an amp a few years back But he knew me from a previous shop and he also wanted to drop the amp off because he too had suffered damage loaning stuff out. 

larryi
3,983 posts
 

In addition to the damage issue, the loss of a demo model while a speaker is being used in a home trial, the main problem is that most customers cannot take a speaker home for  quick trial that is fair--it takes a lot of experience, experimentation, room treatment, etc., to make a speaker work right, so how can one do a meaningful in-home test over a day or two? 

One of my local dealers offers to do the setup at the customer's home.  I don't think there is a fee involved, at least for regular customers, unless the circumstances are extraordinary (he has travelled long distances and stayed over night to do some setups).  Even a quick setup of the speakers typically involves at least three hours of moving the speakers around and listening.  I know stuff that does not work out gets returned to the dealer, but, I don't know what is the financial arrangement.  This dealer does a lot of horse trading to make things work out for his customers--he takes trade-ins, including non-audio items that are truly weird--cars, big game rifles, vintage chess sets, watches, etc.

Post removed 
barts's avatar
barts
713 posts
 

@hilde45 

My greatest concern with a home demo is perception.  You obviously really like these speakers and I submit that they would have to sound pretty bad in your space for you to return them.  As many have stated above, pick up late Saturday and return early Tuesday is not enough time to make a fair (to you) judgement. I would hope that the audition be at least a week. 

Lest we forget that old beast confirmation bias!

Warm Regards,

barts

 

More to discover