Negotiate good price


I went to a dealer last week and listen to some really sweet pieces.  I was ready to throw down some coin but am confused about the dealers approach.  He comes in the room and says how is everyhting.  I say it is amazing this is just the sound I am looking for.  He says okay and leaves.  Comes back in 10 minutes and I am ready for hardball.  I sit back with my hands above my head in an inviting posture and say- can you beat prices that I see on Audiogon?  He says he will be right back- great i think he knows- I know my stuff.  Another guy comes in and says he needs to use the room for a client.  I say where is the other guy and he says he's on the phone.  So I wait in the lobby for 20 minutes and don't see anyone. I left my name on a paper and put it on the desk and ask him to call me with the best he can do on the system because I can buy some of it on AUdiomart.  I asked my wife and she thinks that's too hardball- maybe i should have lied and said I'm shopping around for best price.
Any info on how to speed pitch softballs?   
tubebuffer
Just lay the Maggies on their sides so she can see you, however she might suggest you put them back up straight sooner than you think.
Hilarious @noble100.

Why would someone say "do you match Audiogon prices?". That is a ridiculous question. Some dealers sell on Audiogon. You can ask a general question after speaking about a component or two and get tactfully determine if they discount. 

After they get to know you and like you, they'll tell you anything from no discounts to 15% (with some minor variation based on the manufacturer) in my experience with mid to high end stores. If they carry used gear, they probably are very aware and competitive with Audiogon in that area.

After all is said and done, you can make up your mind where the best value lies, not the cheapest price. Sometimes cheapest is best, but not usually. I have bought new, used from dealers, and only once from a very highly regarded private seller a box with no moving parts or switches (a phono stage). I like peace of mind, and in the instances of issues arising after the purchase, it is good to be able to go back to the person who sold it to you for help.  

At the end of the day, you want the best value, and I consider asking a question like that kind of obnoxious. That being said the salesman could have spent another 5-10 minutes sizing up your seriousness and he could have gotten specific with you and see if he scared you off, not the reverse.
I'm on the salesman side of the equation. Not audio gear. Vented heating systems. I get the same thing. Tire kickers. That's okay but; I do have a strategy to employ when the customer doesn't seem to be moving forward. I insist that they buy SOMETHING from me so I can continue to invest my time in them! It has never failed. I'm not impatient with people. There are people who need to be nudged in the right direction when the time is right. I just had a guy who was begging me for a "deal". I told him "Buy from me and I'll work hard for my money". He did and so did I. I was at his house for 2.5 hours yesterday advising him on the installation that he is going to do. I gave him a $500.00 lifter pump (used but perfect) for no charge as he did buy three heaters from me. NOW, he is a nice guy and that goes far with me. I gave him $400.00 in free accessories because he was a gentleman and I liked the guy. Putting ones best foot forward is always the best policy. Joe 

     Where I'm from, we refer to insecure individuals that obviously lack  mental acuity, knowledge, experience, confidence, strength and humility, but adopt various pretensions in a misguided effort to compensate, as wannabes and posers. 
     These flawed individuals typically garner little sympathy, offering them constructive advice is usually viewed as futile, a few pointed and choice words of negative reinforcement are offered instead and we just walk on.
     My intent with this post was to do likewise.

Tim 
noble100 - looks like they removed your earlier post. I liked that better :-)