I’m floored when I see people respond to this question with something like, "Snobs? What are you talking about? I’ve never met a salesman who wasn’t the salt of the earth and willing to give me the shirt off his back!" I’m not even going to go into the stories of my own experiences. They match the overwhelming number of examples here in this conversation - a mixed bag with plenty of disappointment and unnecessarily rude treatment.
But who are these people who get great treatment from HiFi salesmen? I’m not buying that they’re just new at it, rich, or lucky. I think they’re just full of it. Steve Guttenberg the stereo writer claims that the overwhelming number of salesmen he's met are the exact opposite and then turns around and explains how terrible customers are. Funny, if salesmen are so good and patient and even handed, why the follow-up about how bad customers can be? That doesn’t smell right. I think he has seen plenty of rude salesmen and chooses to reinterpret the question in a convoluted way so he can justify being contrary. Maybe there’s a perfectly clear reason why they come off as snobs and treat people like morons. But saying that they’re a patient professional bunch and don’t act rude is not even remotely credible. The comedy skits and popular stereotypes have a solid basis in the reality where I live.
I have experienced both ends of the spectrum since I started looking in HiFi shops in the mid ’70s. Unfortunately now I don’t know of a place I could go to look and ask questions without being given a snotty attitude, skeptical treatment, and just plain disdain from the salesmen.
And some people have the nerve to ask why brick and mortar shops in a field where in-person auditioning is particularly useful have almost completely disappeared. I think it's blatantly obvious that the field attracts a lot of rather difficult men who aren't good salespeople.