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Charging A Fee To Demo An Amplifier In A Brick & Mortar Store

I Saw a pair of pre-owned tube monoblocs for sale on an onlline forum for around $17k.
The seller has a retail store for hiigh end audio. The seller mentioned that there will be an up-front fee for the demo if a prospect comes to the store the amps are not purchased. The demo fee may also be used for credit towards any purchase in the store.

This is the first time I’ve ever heard of this. Is this now a common occurance in high end audio stores? I sent a note to the seller asking what the demo fee amount was....two weeks and I didn’t get a response.

Does anyone know what amount of fees are charged for a demo?
128x128mitch4t
glupson
7,842 posts
 
"800 of them in 2 weeks huh?"

That would be about one sold every 13 minutes for 12 hours a day for two weeks straight. A few minutes here or there. An achievement, indeed. One must wonder how many people were hired to do all the paperwork.
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ianellis
10 posts
 
Maybe, just maybe, in these current times I could understand a charge for a demo. IF and only IF the store owner stated that the cost was to cover sanitizing the store/demo room/equipment to CDC guidelines before the demo and then also afterwards.

But they didn't state that so I would just go elsewhere.
david12
1,454 posts
 

Just a thought, which might explain the dealers reasons. How has the current economic situation and Covid, affected Hi fi retailers viability? I don't know the answer, but I suspect it isn't good. In theory, spending more time at home, you might look at an upgrade, but unemployment is rising, so buyers confidence is falling. If the retailer is doing his job, he should be doing some cleansing after a demo, which takes time and expense.

So I'm not supporting the charge for a demo, even in store, but maybe I understand it's part of a survival plan for the retailer

phd
1,314 posts
 
Was there a meter in the showroom where you have to keep inserting money for every 30 minutes of listening? Are you kidding me? This dealer is over the line. I could see a restocking fee for an amplifier you purchased then decided to return. Stay clear of this freak-zoid and shop elsewhere.
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