2. misc-audio
  3. 190314-173903

Auditioning Used Equipment - Am I crazy ?

I reached out to a well respected dealer to see if I could audition an amp they had advertised on one of the used gear websites.  This amp sells for over $20k and they were asking around $10k.  This mfgr only has 12 dealers nationwide.  I've heard their extreme high end equipment at shows but not this particular line.  To my surprise, the dealer responded No.  The unit was already boxed up to ship (hasn't been sold yet) and they wouldn't set it up for me.  So my questions are:

Am I crazy asking to audition a component priced at $10k ?

For any dealers or dealer salespeople, is there a dollar amount where u turn auditions down at ?  What is it ?

For consumers, is there a dollar amount that you would buy a component and roll the dice without auditioning it ?

Thanks !

 

greenngoldcheesehead
czarivey
5,781 posts
 

@akg_ca John Rutan from Audioconnection (Verona NJ) knew every customer including cheap one like me. What type of "Relationship" is on yer mind pal?

Post removed 
elrod
238 posts
 

You're not crazy for asking. But by the same token, they aren't crazy for saying "no".

kerrybh
106 posts
 

I don’t blame you for wanting the audition and I wouldn’t buy the amp without having a chance to hear it in my system. On the other hand, it’s business, and the dealer has made a business decision that it’s not in his interest to unbox the amp and set it up for your audition. I’ve bought a lot of stuff from my dealer, and I’ve gotten to know him pretty well. I would be pretty Ticked off if he told me no to an audition in a similar situation. On the other hand, if it was a dealer that I did not have that kind of relationship with, I would respect his business decision, but I would just move onto the next thing. 

testpilot
899 posts
 

If a dealer will not audition the equipment he has for sale, then why bother having a brick and mortar store? The customer does not rely on the store to make a living, therefore, it is incumbent on the dealer to develop relationships. 

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