It seems the consensus my some here that the dealer is the bad guy, and the customer is the good guy.
I’d just like to interject a question: Did the dealer let the customer down? Or, did the customer let the dealer down?
I wasn’t there.
When the customer crossed the threshold of the business, there was some value added for the customer. He is free to wander, observe, touch, and listen. He also may get the added benefit of an intellectual exchange with someone familiar with the products on display. IF the customer was introduced to the brand, presented with all the good reasons to consider it, there is true VALUE for the customer.
So, NOW we get to (in this case) the hard part. How do we put this deal together? There is a rational, and reasonable agrument that the dealer didn’t see the "right" buying signs, and felt the risk (of damaged equipment) was not worth the potential benefit. It was his call. We should respect that.
I can also make the argument that his "fee" was reasonable, based on a number of factors. (Details provided upon request)
I’m not a prophet, but I’m going to predict that the OP is going to get the unit from another dealer, love it, and make the purchase. Which would have happened IF he had just agreed to purchase it and take it home in the first place. So, the dealer who introduced him to the brand, let him see it, touch it, and listen to it gets nothing.
Like I said; I wasn’t there. But, as a consumer, I would have worked pretty hard on behalf of the dealer who introduced me to the product and took the time to fill in the details. As one poster stated: "Why not take YOUR current streamer to shop, and do a shootout with the prospective product?" This would have provided a workable solution for all those financially vested in the outcome.