Demos - To Charge a Fee or to Not Charge a Fee?

Demoing equipment at the store should be considered part of the business.



But I’m perfectly fine paying for in-home demos. That’s asking a lot having the salesman haul the equipment to my house and letting me have it for a while.


A local salesman hauled the Joseph Perspective speakers to my placefor an in home demo. I said I’d pay but he waved it off as part of his job.   (However some other dealers charge, and I'm fine with that)


It turned out I really liked the Perspectives, but not quite enough to replace the speakers I already owned. And I needed to sell the speakers I owned in order to buy new speakers.



I told the salesman that the in home demo made me realize I couldn’t part with my speakers but also wanted the Perspectives. Therefore I would save up money and if I still wanted Perspectives by the time I had saved for new speakers, I’d buy them from his store. Later when I had accumulated enough money for new speakers and checked a few more out I decided on the Perspectives. So instead of buying them used for less second hand, I came back and bought Perspectives from the same dealer when I could. I want to support dealers to the extent I can.


Similarly, around the time I was contemplating the Perspectives I was also interested in Devore O/96 speakers that I demoed a few times at a local shop, a very nice salesman there.



At the time I demoed the O/96s a few years ago I had the money to buy them new from that dealer IF I decided on those speakers. I would not have demoed them if I wasn’t in a position to buy (or at the very least, if I’m ever in an audio store and there is some interesting gear set up, I"m up front if I’m looking to buy or not. It’s the salesman’s call then if he’s fine having me listen. It’s actually a smart thing to do - I’ve been led to purchases I didn’t know I wanted just by dealers letting me listen to stuff...in fact, that’s how I ended up buying the expensive Perspective speakers).


Now I find myself in a different spot. It’s a few years later, I still have the itch for the Devores, but at this time I don’t have the money to buy new.
And don’t see buying new as likely possible at this point.


But I could possibly stretch to buy them second hand.



On the other hand, they are very finicky speakers and it’s only an in-home demo that would let me know if they work in my room.


The Devore dealer offers in home demos for a fee, which as I said I’m good with. However I’d never ask for a home demo if I weren’t going to buy the speakers from that dealer.


I’ve sometimes wondered if a dealer would do an in home loan at higher rate of pay than he’d normally charge, if the customer acknowledges up front he wouldn’t be buying a new pair.


I’m interested in what a dealer would think of such an offer, as there is perhaps something I’m missing that makes it an unattractive proposition.


More likely route is just buying speakers second hand and selling if they don’t work out.

@millercarbon the people who will have a big problem with this are the bungholes who want to use the dealer services for free and then buy off the internet. Those of us who would prefer to have and support local dealers won’t have a problem with it.

I don’t think that’s quite accurate.

I guess it depends on exactly what we are talking about.


It seems awfully odd to have to pay simply to have a salesman demonstrate a product he wants to sell you.

Especially if YOU the customer are taking time out of your schedule to make the trip to HIS dealership, to offer yourself as a potential customer.He’s got the equipment set up...he should be able to demonstrate it for a customer.


I can’t think of any other business where a customer shows up to check out the wares of a salesman, and has to pay the salesman for the privilege. Can you?


Home demos are another thing, though. That’s hauling gear, sometimes heavy, out to do a "house call" at someone’s house. I can see paying for that.

It’s completely accurate,

No it’s not.

You wrote:

the people who will have a big problem with this are the bungholes who want to use the dealer services for free and then buy off the internet.

But I have a problem with it becoming routine to pay simply to hear gear at a dealer, yet I don’t fit the description of someone who is dicking around dealers in the way you just described.


And I don’t think I’m that unusual. None of my audiophile friends are the "bungholes" you describe, but I bet they wouldn’t think it a good idea for dealers to start routinely charging for customers to hear anything in their showroom.


You shouldn’t forget there are two parts to the equation here. Yes, audiophiles may be grateful if there is a dealer nearby where they can hear gear.


On the other hand, the customer is taking time out of his own day to bring himself TO the business. It’s not like the business owner has to haul his ass over to the customer’s house.  It's the other way around.


If I’m running a business I damn well would be thankful that customers are making the trip to my store! Best to have something to show them.


Now...of course there are crappy customers, just like there are crappy salesmen. But that doesn’t in of itself warrant charging everyone to hear the things you are trying to sell.


Again: where else does this occur that makes it a good idea in reality?

Can someone please explain on what basis my post would have been removed, where I asked a question that included a description of some poor dealer experiences (without even naming the dealers?).

It violated precisely none of the guidelines for posting on the forum.

Maybe I’m being thick at the moment, but I can’t even imagine the justification for the removal.

Ah, I included a profanity in the post. My bad.

ETA:  It's been reposted with the bad word removed.  Cheers.

Here’s a question for the gang:

A dealer has a product you want to audition, say speakers.

You generally work on the principle that if you audition gear at the dealers premises, you’d buy from the dealer, not go somewhere else.
BUT...

You have a really crappy audition experience at the dealer.


We’ve all had some really bad audio salesmen experiences right?

Here’s a couple of mine:

Local dealer had a speaker line I was very interested in possibly purchasing. I showed up, system was essentially already set up so no effort from the salesmen. Big store, virtually no other customers there (I purposely went at a dead time). As I’m listening I note that the salesmen are just standing about, not having to do anything as there aren’t any other customers. Yet about 20 minutes in to my audition tracks, once of the salesman walks over, turns down my music, and starts giving me the hard sell - "well, what’s it going to be? What is your decision? Are you walking out with these today?" No more listening, it was just pushy, pushy "buy now or not, your listening is over."

I left furious not having been able to get a good idea of whether I wanted the speaker or not.

Another:

Ended up in a small room listening to some speakers. Second-In-Command audio salesman has accompanied me and proceeds to talk ENDLESSLY about the speakers and everything else as I’m trying to listen. I can’t concentrate on a thing. I’m hoping he’s going to stop, but he never does. Eventually I ask as politely as possible "I wonder if it’s possible I could listen alone just for a little bit. I find it helps me concentrate best."

The guy left in a huff. Clearly went to tell his boss. The Boss comes in with a sort of "So you think you can mess with us?" smirk, pulls up a chair and sits directly behind me, making occaisional remarks. Clearly a passive agressive move that ruined the experience.


So...whadya do? Do you still feel you still "owe" such places your business if you end up wanting the item you heard?

Do you reward crappy salesmen or bad experiences with your business?