Convincing your local dealer to let you try speakers at home

Home demos are such a conundrum.  The speaker/room influence interaction is so dramatic that no two rooms sound the same so the speakers will sound different in each of those rooms.  I like @sounds_real_audio  idea of a dealer visit.  It is true a way to listen at home is an important feature of purchasing hi end home gear.  It's easy with everything but speakers and turntables that require set up and space.  In our pro business, when we do a demo for a studio, we go set it up for the customer- the dealer doesn't do the demo.  The results for everyone is much better this way,   IF we did that in hi fi would possible buyers be more comfortable if the company itself set up the demo or the dealer?

Brad      

@sounds_real_audio - I've often thought of doing that, as long as the initial consultation payment was credited towards the purchase price, if I made a purchase. I would also insist that they do any delivery, setup and pickup so they'll know what shape the speakers are in. 

@lonemountain curious if companies did home demos then why need a dealer network? Are you suggesting a company that is located in CA ship a speaker to someone in FL then fly out to do the setup? I would imagine this type of scenario would raise the price of the component by hundreds if not thousands of dollars

Our side gig, selling from his home, guy doesn't wait to be asked for home auditions, he volunteers them. "Hey Chris, are you busy this Saturday? I've got a beautiful pair of Magico S5 Mk II's that I'd like to bring over and set up. I can leave them for a few days. I'll bring a bunch of different cables to play with too." He delivers and sets up everything he sells unless you really insist on doing it.  Allows returns for full refunds as well. 

I didn't take him up on the offer-waiting for him to get his hands on another pair of S7's. Maybe then. Fun shoot-out between those and my Vandersteen 7s.

Home demos are such a conundrum.

Not for many companies. I guess the issue is that some audio companies are so small or cautious that they can’t take the risk. But The Music Room, Audio Advisor, Crutchfield. Fritz speakers, Salk Speakers, Ohm speakers, Joseph Audio, Magneplanar, Upscale Audio, and many others do it. In some cases, you pay the shipping fee if you return them. All require an outright purchase up front; that protect the seller.