Auditioning Used Equipment - Am I crazy ?

@immatthewj the fact the unit was $10k is what blew my mind.  This isnt a mCIntosh where you can go anywhere to hear it.  Who the heck drops $10k on a used product with extremely limited distribution / demand  that they've never heard besides a flipper ?  I get the points some are making that the dealer may not make as much on used - but then do you want $10k of cash sitting out there for 4 months ?  No.  You want to churn and burn.  Makes absolutely no sense.

I am in 100% agreement with you on that.

Who the heck drops $10k on a used product with extremely limited distribution / demand  that they've never heard besides a flipper ? 

Someone who has heard the item elsewhere and knows he wants it.

@greenngoldcheesehead Hasn’t anyone ever lied to you before? The dealer didn’t want to audition the amp for you had other reasons than just being snotty. He may have a new amp to sell you with a higher profit margin. Or he may be holding it for another customer who is willing to take it without audition. Or... think of any number of selfish excuses. Clearly your business isn’t important to him.

Keep in mind that being an hi-end audio dealer is an inherently shady way to make a living. You're buying and selling extremely expensive products to an insanely nit-picky crowd. No shortage of neurotic customers demanding only the very best and changing their minds at the last minute. Selling to this market involves a whole lot of BS and nonsense in pitching their products.

I have no advice to give to anyone who buys gear at your prices. I would *NEVER* drop that kind of loot on an amp, even if I had it to spend. Some of the very most extraordinary sound I’ve ever heard in an audio presentation was a pair of properly set up Dutch & Dutch 8c loudspeakers. They retail at about $15k, but it’s THE WHOLE SYSTEM - amps, active crossover, DSP EQ, DAC... Just add a digital source and you’re done. No need for exotic loudspeaker cables, cable lifts, piles of hardware littering the end of your room. Just two speakers on stands, power cabling and hard ether cables going to them. Add your digital source and you have a complete audio system, clean as can be.

I recommend you reach out to Dutch & Dutch and arrange an audition. They’ll bring it out to the house! Guaranteed to blow your mind.

I’ll bet you are attracted because the price is below market. My guess is the dealer took this unit in for trade and may have more in it than he’d like. He boxed it and priced it low to sell on the net and wants no hassle. Figures the brand will sell itself at the right price. Right or wrong, he’s there. Move on. This amp and dealer aren’t the only fish in the sea. For that money lot’s of great amps for sale.

I think it's unreasonable not to demo anything they have in the store, boxed up or not.  Unless it's already sold. If the OP wasn't trying to take it home, that's just not great business. At least the OP didn't actually make the drive!