"High end" store snobbery

@jeffseight     A real cash buyer.

Yes!   Real cash buyers can negotiate discounts on expensive gear if they don't fog the deal by offering to sell their item.  For the dealer that just kills the deal as he has to get rid of the part exchange item that probably doesn't match his market profile or his customers' requirements.

Horses for courses.  Sell your used gear on Audiomart, eBay etc etc.

Bingo!

I completely agree with the “be a real cash buyer” advice above. Sell your receiver yourself. Probably the best place being your local Craigslist.

I have found this to be true (sell your used audio gear yourself, not trade in) not just with audio, but also with cars. I have been better off selling my old car to CarMax for cash (they make it very easy), then buy the new car outright with the dealership, as now I am focusing on one single deal (buying a new car), rather than two deals at the same time (trading in my old car AND buying the new one)

Agree with what AKG-CA said in above post.

Personal experience with a famous dealer in Delware ,who accepted Mcintosh and AR in trade in but refused AVRs

Something worth $500 retail?  At best, they may offer $200 on a trade.

Hardly worth the effort.  Maybe they didn't want to insult you with their offer?  Their cables probably go for more.

Just give the unit to your niece, nephew, or use it as a shop or garage unit.

We don't have a lot of choice in stores locally here either, so I feel your pain.

If you live in the northwest, go to definitive in Seattle, very good if not 1 of the best in the nation. If you want to deal with a store with new and used gear, check out echohifi.com in Portland. Have done quite a bit of business with them over 20+ years.