Since Im here I may as well add to the story line. My story is the reverse of what most have posted, a story from the salesman point of view.
Long ago I was assistant manager of a (very) high end audio store. We had McIntosh, Marantz, Thorens, Ortofon, SME, JBL, Tandberg and good mid line gear like Kenwood, Dual and the wonderful bookshelf speakers from AR and KLH.
The manager was quite a bit older than I, he loved to sit in his high chair behind the counter and scope out the customers. He hated answering the phone and would often let people wander about without even asking if he could help.
I was the opposite, I thought as long as I was there I might as well find someone who liked music and we could listen together. I really was not concerned if they bought or not, it was more fun to pass the day and (in some cases) hear what they brought to audition. I discovered new music nearly every week that way.
One hot summer day it was very slow (yes, audio was slow in the summer then too). A young man came into the store with torn blue jeans, a plaid shirt and cowboy boots. He seemed nice and I looked over at Ed (the manager) as if to ask if he wanted this turn.
The gesture was an emphatic NO so I leaped to my feet and addressed the guy. He said he was going off to school and wanted a system. I showed him the entry level Kenwood receiver and least expensive KLH speaker and his choice of small Dual or AR turntable with "free" cartridge.
He listened for awhile and then ask if this was the best we had. I said no and showed him the upper end of the Kenwood line and some very good AR speakers.
Again, he listened and all the while Ed was grinning through the sound room window as if to say "fool, you're wasting your time."
When the LP ended the young man walked over to the top line Macintosh and ask if he could hear it with a really good speaker.
I accommodated him and even did a brief demo with our pro line Ampex AG440 studio machine and top line Thorens.
I ask what he thought and he said, "I like it, I'll take it." I ask which equipment he was referring to and he said, "The good ones you showed me last."
The young man went into the office where the owner of the store was and we wrote up his invoice. The amount was staggering, as much as an good car cost back then. I ask the owner quietly if this young man could quality for credit to buy and I was informed his family owned a company that manufactured aircraft and he would be paying mostly cash plus a small check.
For weeks afterward Ed actually got off his ass and waited on a few people. Then it was back to me again. I always enjoyed the people that came into our store and thought it crazy that I could make money listening to music with nice people.
Long ago I was assistant manager of a (very) high end audio store. We had McIntosh, Marantz, Thorens, Ortofon, SME, JBL, Tandberg and good mid line gear like Kenwood, Dual and the wonderful bookshelf speakers from AR and KLH.
The manager was quite a bit older than I, he loved to sit in his high chair behind the counter and scope out the customers. He hated answering the phone and would often let people wander about without even asking if he could help.
I was the opposite, I thought as long as I was there I might as well find someone who liked music and we could listen together. I really was not concerned if they bought or not, it was more fun to pass the day and (in some cases) hear what they brought to audition. I discovered new music nearly every week that way.
One hot summer day it was very slow (yes, audio was slow in the summer then too). A young man came into the store with torn blue jeans, a plaid shirt and cowboy boots. He seemed nice and I looked over at Ed (the manager) as if to ask if he wanted this turn.
The gesture was an emphatic NO so I leaped to my feet and addressed the guy. He said he was going off to school and wanted a system. I showed him the entry level Kenwood receiver and least expensive KLH speaker and his choice of small Dual or AR turntable with "free" cartridge.
He listened for awhile and then ask if this was the best we had. I said no and showed him the upper end of the Kenwood line and some very good AR speakers.
Again, he listened and all the while Ed was grinning through the sound room window as if to say "fool, you're wasting your time."
When the LP ended the young man walked over to the top line Macintosh and ask if he could hear it with a really good speaker.
I accommodated him and even did a brief demo with our pro line Ampex AG440 studio machine and top line Thorens.
I ask what he thought and he said, "I like it, I'll take it." I ask which equipment he was referring to and he said, "The good ones you showed me last."
The young man went into the office where the owner of the store was and we wrote up his invoice. The amount was staggering, as much as an good car cost back then. I ask the owner quietly if this young man could quality for credit to buy and I was informed his family owned a company that manufactured aircraft and he would be paying mostly cash plus a small check.
For weeks afterward Ed actually got off his ass and waited on a few people. Then it was back to me again. I always enjoyed the people that came into our store and thought it crazy that I could make money listening to music with nice people.