Would you pay to audition speakers

As kurk tank says, the problem for High End dealers is the dreamers and tyre kickers. Too many of us go for demos for a mornings enertainment and a free coffee. As far as I am concerned, I never trouble a dealer for a dem, unless I am at least planning a purchase and FROM A DEALER. Having said that, tyre kickers are part of the landscape a dealer has to live in, I would have thought. If you do'nt like it, find another job.
There is an excellent retailer of very very Low FI in the uk, selling kit for next to nothing, Richer Sounds. They are always helpful, no trouble with dems. They have a big notice in their stores
" The customer is alweays right. Even when he is wrong, the customer is always right"

Viridian - perfectly said.

This day and age, dealers should be quite excited to have someone (speakerkicker or not) coming into their showroom and expressing ANY interest at all! Just forces them to get off the internet or their ass and enjoy something. Music.

NO Way!

$500 for speaker listening?

Then, just tell him you wanedt to hear those Myrtle block footers, not the speakers.

… so to date, he’s tallied up what…. One of those fees? Or is it none? I’d vote for the latter.

I wouldn’t pay $500 in Monopoly money to listen in the store for 10 minutes or less to any speaker… amp… etc.

Ridiculous! Out right rude too. You sure you haven’t irritated this guy somehow? Does he have a sign up which says as much? Or does he just pull that stunt on unqualified time wasters? If he doesn’t have a sign up indicating such practices, it’s probably personal.

Without posting such business policies, and making it up as he goes along, I’d post the name and location of this business and said policy, online. Just so other’s would have a chance to drop by their bank prior to experiencing any inconvenience or embarrassment while at the store… sort of a public service notification, so to speak…. Then send him an email with a link to the post.

Business men like that do need our support, and we should let them have it.

I just visited some relatives in Dayton Ohio. As I always do in new cities, I shop for vinyl and try to scope out audio I don't have access to at home. I went into Hanson Audio and met Kevin. I stated my circumstance and intent was to listen (I never said buy) to some equipment I had only read about before in the Hi-Fi mags. He seemed glad I was there and asked if I had a couple of hours, which I did. He auditioned equipment in four different rooms (including $30,000 Focals) and even allowed me to help carry some speakers/stands from the showfloor downstairs to setup and listen (Thiels, I believe). We discussed what we both heard differently and liked/disliked. I had a great time and heard some terrifc stuff (I was truly enamored with the Pathos/Dunlevy setup). He also provided directions to the record store and said if I found something good, bring it back and could check out the analog equipment. Kevin said his job wasn't to sell, but to educate about audio. He certainly taught me about a place I'd drive seven hours to spend my audio money. Thanks Hanson Audio.