Restocking Fees, 30-Day Free Trials

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.

The OP's post is a perfect demonstration of how "audiophiles" are driving audio dealers out of business.
03-02-13: Br3098

Br3098,

I assume you mean B&M dealers....

There is only one Hi-End B&M dealer left in my area.
His policy, and always has been his policy, you buy it you own it.

If you are serious about buying a piece of equipment and want to hear how it sounds in your home, connected to your system, the dealer will allow the customer to take home an in store demo unit for a few days.

The dealer asks what do dealers do with a returned item? Resale the item as new? Resale the item as used?

I guess a dealer that accepts returns, especially an online dealer, has a returned item section on his web page where buyers can buy returned equipment at a used price..... Surely online dealers don't resale returned equipment as new......

It would be fraudulent to sell a returned item as new. Could the dealer lie about it? Sure. But anyone can lie about anything.

Usually I suspect what happens is the dealer sells a returned item as a demo unit. You see a number of dealer ads selling demo items.

Is a 15% restocking fee reasonable versus an arbitrary cap? From the dealer point of view, absolutely. A new $25K preamp will not sell for $24K used or demo. It's going to be much less than that. Oh, say at least 15% less, and probably worse.

If you believe the dealer is above board and would not sell a used item as new, then you should also believe that a percentage based restocking fee is reasonable.

Some dealers and manufacturers have a restocking fee and others don't. If you personally do not want to do business with those that do, well, it's a free country.

I would prefer to take a dealers demo home for a weekend then buy a new peice of equipment for a 30 day in home trial. It takes longer than 30 days for equipment to break in properly. I figure the dealer demo is well broken in and is a true representation of what my system will sound like over time. You cannot underestimate the advantage of a brick and mortar store in the decision making of a good and balanced system.

Forgot 15% restocking charge is not a FREE 30 day in home trial by any means.