Restocking Fees, 30-Day Free Trials

True. It isn't a free trial. But are these being advertised as "free home trials" or just as having "a 30 day return period" etc.? But also not a biggie how they decide to phrase it, unless the buyer is not clear that there is a restocking fee.

I can't agree with Br3098 that this is what is driving audio dealers out of business. The marketplace has certainly changed with the advent of the internet, and dealers are going to have to adjust to that. Many audiophiles are also stuck in a town or city where they cannot audition the gear that they are most interested in locally.

But in response to the OP's question, the return policy and possible restocking fee should be up to a dealer to determine based on the dealers' calculations of the potential financial gain and loss from these policies.

A returned product can no longer be sold as new, so the restocking fee can help the dealer take less of a loss for a returned item. Also, a restocking fee may separate the more likely buyers from gear swappers who just want to try something different out.

On the other hand, other dealers seem to have decided that not having a restocking fee will potentially attract more buyers to their business, and that makes up for the likely higher number of returns from buyers who are only out the cost of shipping.