Local pickup for speakers - should I let the buyer in the house or use the the garage?


I got someone coming from out of town to buy some Focal tower speakers I have for sale. They are going to pay cash. I had the ad on usaudiomart (the buyer is a guest so no ratings). The guy sounds like a good guy (spoke to him on the phone). But I am new to this... should I demo the speakers (just to show they work) in my garage or is it safe to demo them in the house? Wasn’t sure the best practice for this. 

What do most do when having local pickup?

dman777

My brother once sold a IPad inside a bank. Gave him comfort. I thought that was a overkill. 

Once I went to look at HT speakers from craigslist. The seller lived in a forlorn subdivision that even google maps was confused about, but eventually I got there, rang the doorbell, the guy swung the entry door open, and lo and behold the speakers were set up right there behind the door, and behind them a table barring entrance to the home.

On that table sat one of those dinky Dayton tube amps with bluetooth. Soon the guy started blasting horrid Spotify pop crap right out of his phone while I stood there bemused on the concrete walkway two feet out of the threshold.

When I don’t feel I’m being treated reasonably, my reaction is to offer 50% of the asking price. That goes for meeting in supermarket parking lots and such. But that day, I just turned around and walked away.

 

Have him text you a picture of his driver license, with everything marked out but his picture and home address.

Now you have his ID, home address (so you can check out his house on Zillow) and positive identification when he shows up. If he's not willing to do that, bid him adieu. Whenever I buy something and am going to someone’s house to pick it up, I always look up the house on Zillow. Lets me know what I’m driving to, plus I’m nosy. 

For me, it’s not someone robbing at time of sale. But, scoping out my residence to see what’s there and and returning when I’m away.  So, I would do it outside or somewhere else.

......some really good responses here. I sold my Esoteric Grandioso K1x to an Audiogon member who drove 6 hours to come into my home. I asked for photo's and driver's license prior to the sale. I took 50% down on Pay-Pal first ......so get a down payment and then when the buyer saw that it was as advertised and in good working condition, he sent me the other 50% through Pay-Pal while listening. I think the buyer does have a right in listening to it first, I know I would. If you are new to the area , call the local police and see if there is an off duty officer available after hours to stop by and just be there and pay them accordingly. I agree I would be really careful but the buyer does need to listen to them first. I also would ask for a deposit before you go through all that work and then have the buyer say they do not like them.......that also could happen. Good luck on your sale.