If you go into an audio "salon" ready to complain about "outrageous prices" and suspicious of being "ripped off", they're not going to show you a lot of love. I used to actually buy equipment I liked from a store once I had enough money to make it happen, while my brother used to go into the same store to argue over what they had and how much they could lower the price to what he wanted. I drank the Kool-Aid- it's true. But I got to audition a lot of gear over the years so I could make educated choices. Another friend I had told me I was crazy to buy "wires that looked like garden hoses", but HIS system just played music which sounded "clean enough", but also utterly lifeless. I was diplomatic about his remarks but went on doing what made ME happy. The store wants to see if you will buy something they have- otherwise you can look around all you want as long as you don't take up their time with demo's and asking a lot of off-topic questions. They can be pretty snobby- it's true.
That is until you show that you're motivated. And the service after the sale is usually pretty good.
That is until you show that you're motivated. And the service after the sale is usually pretty good.