Policy changes at The Music Room TMR Audio

So...I'm not impressed by their policy changes. I've found their prices to be sky high in general and their "CPO" warranty a flimsy gimmick. I'd expect a true "CPO" warranty on a 5k used piece of audio gear to be one year - not thirty days, or now, the 45 days they offer. It's ridiculously short. I also find charing a 5% restocking fee to "offset" their "CPO" warranty an insult. Offer a a true benefit that offsets the higher than market prices they charge and at minimum they can rationalize their pricing methodologies. As it is, they charge top dollar and the CPO warranty, due to its ridiculously short duration, only covers an immediate catastrophic problem. 

I have purchased twice from TMR.   The first was a trade in toward an Aurender N200.  Out of pocket cost was low and they made it super easy

They were closing out the excellent little Cyrus i7XR and I am in the process of assembling a bedroom system.  I got a killer deal and it was exactly what I was looking for .  I think its a 60 return window on new gear .  I love this little amp, it was a no brainer for me at that price.   It arrived 4 days later.   TMR is great to deal with in my experience 

They are a great company to deal with, both for buying and consigning equipment.  If you have questions, their customer service is very good as well.

TMR is totally legit. The added incentives are icing on the cake. Bought stuff from them I did not like, they took it back no questions asked. Got stuff I liked from them, still using it today.

@hilde45

A 30 days trial for a $250 plus shipping cost on a $5K item is pretty reasonable to me. And here is why, buying a similar item on used market and reselling is a lot more hassle than the seamless trial process TMR have in place for their customers. You don’t have to agree but I say this based on my 20 plus years of buying/selling gear on used market…you could loose lot more than 5% in the process.

I wouldn’t try a product and risk 30% restock.

The online retailers I order from have no restock, assuming I pay return shipping. Maybe I hit a honey hole….

Those seem like very reasonable policies I've never used TMR but they seem like an excellent company. My only complaint is their ads and not being able to see an item description without going to their website.

If you're balking at a 5% restocking fee perhaps you should reevaluate your purchasing process. When 15%-30% is the norm what tmr charges should be perceived as inconsequential, not a decision influencer.

I figured that eventually they would charge a restocking fee and 5% is actually quite reasonable.  It will cut down on people who aren’t that serious about making the purchase but just want to try something out.   That takes away from their time and then they are out a piece of equipment while the other person is playing with it with really no intention to buy.  Believe it or not, there are a lot of people like that.    They probably got burned one too many times.  It’s a shame it has to come to this but it’s a sign of the times.   
 

@ozzy,   I had bought a Mac MC152 amp from Audio Classics for $2900.00.  I used it almost every day for a little over 2 years and a Mac MC302 amp caught my eye at TMR.  They offered me $2500.00 trade in on my amp and it cost me 2K more for the newer amp. They were asking $4500.00 for it.   I made out great, only losing $400.00 on my trade off the $4500.00 asking price of the MC302.  They sent me a prepaid UPS label on them and I sent my amp.  I received the new amp exactly 1 week later.  I am very pleased, one of the better deals I have made.  

I wasn't posting this as an overall referendum on whether TMR was worth doing business with. Posters addressed that question but it was not one I had in mind. I like TMR. I think they're a good company. 

@lalitk I believe it applies to all equipment, including used. So, imagine you're trying out a $5000 DAC and you don't like it. You're going to spend not only on shipping but also $250 for the month trial. That's what has me hesitating.

+1, I agree that The Music Room is a great company to work with.  My consignment sales have been excellent, and my last item sold for its asking price.  My purchases from them have been fair and everything was handed very quickly.  I find them easy to work with and their customer support is excellent. I had some technical issues with an item I purchased, and they helped me solve the issue. 

Good to know. Does 5% restocking fee across the board or only on the new gear? I wouldn’t mind paying 5% restocking on new gear but not on used or open box items which is a huge part of their business model. My .02 cents! 

@ozzy , interesting.

I've never traded in any equipment there, but have made (and they've accepted) offers I've placed before.

Easy, peasey. 

I even had an issue with a CD player and when they couldn't repair it, they refunded my money with zero hassles.

@coralkong I agree, great to transact with; highly recommended.

Believe me I have tried; we just always seem to be wide apart when it comes to my trade in value or their perceived value of the used item they are selling.

ozzy

TMR is a great company to work with.

I would not hesitate to do business with them again.