I can't see a problem with any of the previous points -^
1) No business is going to chuck xhundred quids worth of stuff out to an unknown customer without payment, not in the real world.
2) £30/40 to send it back is very fair - try hiring good kit for thirty days for that..........
3) Alex is quite right to require customers to discuss their needs (I used email) - otherwise he could be on the end of a load of 'retail regret' returns.
I found Barefaced to be honest, straightforward and keen to 'get it right'.
OK, I bought something I like very much, so there is some bias here -
-I realise that the sound/design/handles aren't to everyones taste, but Alex must be doing 'something' right !