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

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.

@rushfan71 I also called a speaker manufacturer once with questions about some of his products. He also sounded as if he didn’t want to be bothered and answering my questions was the LAST thing on Earth he wanted to do.

AND he has speakers that look like they have many tweeters... So interesting indeed.

Herbie Hancock went to the Ford dealership just to see a car his friend told him of. The car was the new 289 Cobra. The salesman seeing a young black man wearing a t-shirt and jeans, said "that car is too expensive for you" or similar. Little did he know Herbie had been in the studio recording with Miles!! Also, he made recently made some good bucks from Watermellon Man. So... Herbie came back the next day with cash just to show the guy up!! He now hold's the record for the longest original owner of an original Cobra!! True story.