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New buy, no return policy

I am negotiating a sale with a reputable, but small dealer for a pair of new Acora SRC-2 speakers. I have heard them in the showroom with comparable electronics to my own and loved the sound and design. The show room was only slightly acoustically treated.

I'm ready to throw down, but the dealer does not have any kind of return policy if, for some reason, they dont work out in my own space. I dont feel comfortable with this policy but wondering if I am just being too entitled?  Other dealers from which I have purchased new speakers  have had 30 or 60 day returns, no questions asked. 

I also have the opportunity to buy a used set of these speakers from TMR with a return policy (minus 5% ,restock) if not satisfied. Of course the used price is considerably cheaper but there is no factory warranty and although they are stated to have had own owner, their age and provenance are unknown.

Any guidance, opinions or advice?

mintakax
ronboco
890 posts
 

@mintakax 

Sounds great! 

Ron 

dogearedaudio's avatar
dogearedaudio
182 posts
 

@inna 

I disagree!  $48K speakers?  I want to hear them in my own space.  That dealer made a...what's the markup?...$20K mistake?

inna
7,913 posts
 

Yeah, that would be ideal, your  own room and electronics. But if the dealer’s room is very similar  it might be alright. Besides, you might move to another room next year. Are you going to replace speakers each time you move your system?  My current speakers have played music in five quite different rooms and they have done it  well enough,, better in bigger rooms, I do mostly listen almost near field, though.

larryi
4,221 posts
 

     An honest dealer cannot take back a trial speaker and then sell it as new.  The cost of a returned item is high.  Most dealers don’t stock such expensive items so a return becomes a very expensive part of inventory that may take a very long time to sell, particularly if the item comes with a variety of colors/finishes.  There is also a risk that the item does not sell before a new model comes on the market.  
     Risk of damage in moving and setting up speakers for a home demonstration, particularly with large and heavy speakers is another disincentive for home trials.

inna
7,913 posts
 

Yes, I understand the dealer, I understand the buyer as well. And he is a small dealer, he can't afford it really. I simply would not think that if I were buying $48k speakers I would be entitled to free or almost free home audition, set up, huge gratitude and a bottle of 100 years old single molt. But again I would want to hear the speakers with electronics, cables and the source they would be used with. Now, taking heavy turntable anywhere would be a big pain, digital source no problem. But if I  still insisted on my own analogue source, I would buy reel to reel tape deck, say, Otari in good condition, make a few recordings off the vinyl and take the deck to the dealer. After that I would either keep the deck or sell it quickly with some loss perhaps. We are talking about very expensive system, so extra couple of thousands dollars should not be a problem. Sounds complicated, but if you want a great sound you got to work on it too !

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