Policy changes at The Music Room TMR Audio

@jetter - Once a new unit is sold, opened and returned it should then be sold as an open box return.

as some have mentioned, it is important to see an issue as this from both the consumer and business perspectives

much of the commentary has naturally been from a user perspective - witness @hilde45's calculations

when you have been involved in and run businesses, particularly retail businesses, you have an appreciation of the costs to do that business -- it is not free for a business to provide a return policy to customers... the earnings of the business need to support this valuable offering provided... 

@bill_k 

@jetter - Once a new unit is sold, opened and returned it should then be sold as an open box return.

Thanks for the answer Bill.

If I am purchasing an open box return I would expect to receive a discount of a lot more than 5%.  For example (and not looking up the precise numbers), RenoHiFi was/is selling their like new XA25s for about $1,000 less than their retail price of about $5,000.  So in my book, only paying return shipping and a 5% restocking fee is totally fair and then some.

Being in Canada, the idea of test driving audio gear for free is a foreign concept.

Because of that, I don’t think a 5% "handling" fee is unreasonable.

If you are buying within your budget, 5% is not a huge amount for that privilege.

If both parties feel that they left money on the table, then it is probably a fair deal for both sides.

I have never used The Music Room, but they seem to be a very good company to deal with.