Would you pay to listen?

I've spent $20 in gas/tolls to hear high end systems a number of times, since there are several good dealers roughly 100 miles from me.

I will do this again if/when I get the urge to upgrade or just want to hear what is out there, unless they continue to go out of business. If they do, I will miss the opportunity to spend $20 to hear a high-end system. My $.02

Would I be offended if the store asked me directly for $20? Probably, but only because I think the margins are high enough that it shouldn't be necessary. The fact that brick and mortar high end stores are dropping like flies makes me wonder though.

A thought - maybe the retail price (or discounted MSRP that we usually pay) already includes consideration for the times people walk in just to listen and not make a sale?. Hey, I have a great audio guy (GREAT). Staff always very inviting and willing to play anything for anyone. I have been a customer for over 10 years and have spent mucho bucks - but would still never touch anything.

The level of insulation from the Real World among the Audiophelia (that sounds like a creepy hearing fetish) always mystifies me...I don't think anybody noticed the point I made that high end retail places are awful at attracting new biz...and it is completely their fault. Could they host a jazz band or a solo guitar player maybe? No. And aren't manufacturers dying to come in and show off their stuff? Maybe not, unless they set up a system in a stark hotel room at a show...pathetic.

it seems silly to pay to listen to stuff--a bunch of inanimate objects.

Mrtennis, some of those inanimate objects you are refering to provide a pleasurable listening experience and that is the objective.