restocking fees

Here is a different view:

I would not mind paying a reasonable fee for trying out a product directly from the manufacturer. 20% might seem much but taking the chance in reselling of used products might come out the same anyway.

Frankly, over the past year I have bought many items directly from the Manufacturer (Fi, Wright, Cain, Pass). Compared to regular retail through dealers these products are already discounted and don't have the high mark-ups. A restocking fee, so that one can try out such products directly from the manufacturer, are reasonable. If the manufacturer would have to resell the demo he would have to offer it at a 20% discount anyway.

Overall, I would welcome a change in the retail system:
- Products direct from manufacturer
- 60 day at home trial of either designated demos or
- 60 day at home trial with new product, but restocking fee of 10-20%

The current dealer system is the most useless thing to me: An 2 hour in-store audition under unknown environment just does not help much; a 2 day at home trial is better but not enough either. A longer at 30-60 day at home trial with reduced prices from the start (as there is no dealer needed then) sound much better to me.

And no, my whole reasoning doesn't have anything to do with my moniker :).
Just someone who welcomes longer trial periods.

Rene

Frankly, over the past year I have bought many items directly from the Manufacturer (Fi, Wright, Cain, Pass).

Pass sells direct to the customer? Do you mean drop ship to a customer through a Dealer? If Pass is selling directly to a customer, and I was a dealer, I would drop his product from my store.

The current dealer system is the most useless thing to me: An 2 hour in-store audition under unknown environment just does not help much; a 2 day at home trial is better but not enough either. A longer at 30-60 day at home trial with reduced prices from the start (as there is no dealer needed then) sound much better to me.

Maybe in your area, not mine. The two remaining dealers in my area will check out a piece of demo equipment for a home audition. Screw that waiting for something that is being shipped. I'll take the local dealer first over mail order.

The whole point of a restocking fee is to discourage the non-serious buyer.
As with virtually anything, the amount is negotiable. If you've done you
homework and you're serious restocking fee aren't a barrier.

Restock, great post.

The two remaining dealers in my area will check out a piece of demo equipment for a home audition. Screw that waiting for something that is being shipped. I'll take the local dealer first over mail order.

Aren't you then limited only to the brands that your local dealer sells? Numerous manufacturers sell direct: Wright, Welborne, Tyler, Zu, Moscode.... So I hear that you would rather not wait for their products to ship, but I'm confused as to what that has to do with paying re-stocking fees to hear a product that you cannot get locally?

Obviously, it costs the manufacturer money to box, ship, track, converse via e-mail, receive the product back into inventory, converse again via e-mail, and then refund the money if there is no sale. I'll never understand the expectation that they should do all of this for free. I don't work for free, so why should they?

Many higher-end companies are seeing that their non-HT products are not finding a market. The local dealers are catering to Home Theater almost exclusively (excpet the big boutiques in the biggest major markets). Some mfg'ers have too small of a dealer network to begin with. In both cases, they need market coverage and in-home auditons are their only choice. I am not open to any restocking fee, but gladly pay the shipping. These costs are the mfg'ers cost-of-sale and they need to accept that. If the product comes back, make it available as a demo via their website, etc. Companies like Zu, Ridge Stret Audio and others should be applauded for generous "get-to-market" strategies that include 45-60 day in-home trials, and even include the ability to return products that were custom ordered (specific cabinet colors, etc.). Zu and RSA will pre-burn in their hi-effiency speakers before you take delivery, realizing the small SET amps will never properly prepare the speakers for a decent evaluation.

The high-end audio business is in turmoil right now, and some restocking fees are a natural outbirth. I won't go there, though.
Ted