Ever feel like a "low dollar" customer that your dealer doesn't think worth their time?

Years ago, something happened to me and I wrote in to The Absolute Sound and Stereophile and they both printed my story. Now, I share it with you...

I called a brick-and-mortar store and asked them to listen to a turntable that I was interested in purchasing. The turntable, tonearm and cartridge altogether retailed for around $2,500. The guy on the phone actually told me that he would not take the time to set up that combination. He would, however, set up something for me to listen to if I was spending around $10,000.

NO BS!!! TRUE STORY.

Needless to say this put a very bad taste in my mouth. But I guess karma is a b**** because he was associated with some shady business deals and had to close up shop shortly thereafter.

Still...WTF?

No, I never do because I wouldn’t waste my time on people like that.
Any retail outfit can decide which customers they want to cater to and any customer can decide what type of people they want to deal with.
You are what you tolerate.  Go find a better dealer.

@lwin Wow. That's interesting. I was really trying to avoid that conclusion, but I think we all know when we're being given "the bum's rush." I do sense that the people at my shop know their stuff and I do feel like they've dealt more than fairly on purchases. That's why I have some cognitive dissonance about this other kind of treatment. But people are complicated, and what I think folks here are saying they like about their longtime dealers is consistent respect over a long period of time. Not just one good deal.

@devilboy WTF, indeed.

@mitch2 -- You're giving me the "talking to" I probably deserve to hear -- and which I'm already telling myself, however quietly. What makes it hard is that there is such value in *hearing things* that it seems worth it to put up with some mistreatment. But you're right — it is demeaning.

Here in NYC, there are numerous dealers who 'size up' their clientele.
It got so bad, I never wanted to deal with another dealer(namely one with S and S in their name).
I felt that way until I met with John Rutan at Audioconnection.
Bob

I own a pair of Chapman audio loudspeakers that are my favorite by far. They are getting a little long in the tooth so I have been interested in hearing what more recent offerings sound like. They only have one dealer, located in Seattle. I am in Albuquerque. I contacted that dealer by email, text and phone to set a time to audition some new Chapmans, flew to Seattle, went to the store and nope the owner would not let me audition a pair unless I put money down with a commitment to purchase prior to hearing. Probably should’ve gotten on the ferry and headed over to Vashon Island and visited Stuart directly. Instead, I hopped in my rental and headed to Tacoma where a dealer let me sit for four hours listening to Vandersteen Quatro’s and Treo’s with no obligation whatsoever. Since that time, I’ve had a number of friends and acquaintances from Portland to San Juan Island ask me for component and full system recommendations. No guessing where I send them and who I tell them to avoid. They’ve spent thousands at Advanced Audio.