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

The biz is full of irony. You pull up in something like a Camry and the salesman judges you as a poor chump, yet he drives home in a screeching Kia. 

First time poster and this story isn't audio specific but it fits with the customer service subject. Anyhow, here's how its should be done...when I was 15 my sightly older cousin and I happened into a high end men's clothing store in our home town. Now, based on my families situation most of my clothes at the time were from K-Mart, Sears and JC Penny. Not dogging those stores but it wasn't the type of clothes I was seeing at the men's store. The owner upon hearing the door chime came out from the backroom and introduced himself and invited us to take our time and look around. What the heck! So we did. The price of the first shirt I looked nearly knocked me to the ground. Dang, it would take me a year and half of recycling my Dad's beer cans to afford one shirt! At the end of our visit, the owner, who had returned to the back room as we browsed, came out and asked if we had any questions. We did and he graciously answered them. Then I mentioned I could never afford to buy any clothes in his shop. He chuckled and said, "most kids your age couldn't but someday you might just be able to afford a shirt or a pair a pants or coat from me and I hope the day you can you come back and visit my store". Well, after earning my first true paycheck where do you think I went to purchase a new get-up? That's a great shop owner/businessman who see's the whole picture. I learned a huge lesson from this man that I use to this day. And yes after 26 years he still gets a few dollars out the pants he's sold me through the years!  

gator, that is a great example of a conscientious salesperson. Many work a job for eight hours with much free time in between. They are there anyway. Use each "sales" opportunity as practice for perfection, even if a sale is not made. The well treated costumer will then remember that experience positively. Win-win!

Maybe try putting snooty salespeople on the defense from the Get-Go.

When they ask...

"May/or (how can) I help you?

Reply...

"Yes, you can go away and leave me alone."

Just a thought.

DeKay

@jerbeast said:

I've been lucky enough through patience and being a thrifty shopper (ok, cheap m*f*), to put together a decent system, and try to improve it as I can.

I think that makes you a true audiophile — because you love sound/music enough to struggle to achieve it. Anyone can throw money at gear and anyone can sell to such people. The "love" root of audiophile is completely missing from those transactions.

@brownsfan said:

"borderline rude treatment in my experience seems to hinge more on being recognized as audiophile cogniscenti than looking like a fountain of cash."

That's exactly right. I have provided plenty of evidence that I am learning the terms of the audio arena and learning to listen; I'm not throwing around terms like a neophyte, but rather trying to make discriminations that will matter. That has probably soured these folks on me.
And agree — the AG forum — especially several key members — has taught me a lot. More important, they have put up with my questions and my need for clarification. The Harley book was one of the best suggestions anyone made, and I bought and read most of it as soon as I could. But this does not endear me to the audio store.

@stereo5 I wonder if you ever bumped into my cousin Hillary who lived in Northampton and was an audiophile. Would have been back in the 1980's. He had big Maggies and a sweet Denon turntable. If so, please P.M. me.

@gator899 That's a great story. It seems obvious that someone merely entering the store — no matter what their ability to spend — has already indicated 1000 times more interest than everyone else. Why that is not seen as a starting point is beyond me.