What's your experience with snooty HiFi salesmen?


I began my Hifi journey in 1976 at a shop in Birmingham MI called Audio Dimensions. He was a Magnapan and ARC dealer who was kind to a 15 year old kid who bought a set of MG 1s with paper route money. The ARC amps he carried were about $4K back then- a LOT of money in 1976. In the beginning I drove my MG 1s with an old Fisher Studio Standard integrated amp. Since those lovely innocent days I have encountered some real buttholes. They act like they are doing me a favor as they quiz me about what gear I have and if I'm listening to "approved" recordings. Needless to say I don't buy from those guys. Several wives and businesses later I'm back into the hobby with a much vengeance as a 61 year old  can muster given only so many free hours in a day and only so much cash to apply due to my other vices: Classic cars and salt water fishing. 

Have you ever encountered a really good or really bad dealer (or employee) that changed your buying actions?

Darko posted a video on this topic which I found really enjoyable. Many of you have already seen it but for those (like me) who discovered it much later here's the link: 

https://darko.audio/2022/09/audiophiles-are-snobs-with-money-to-burn/

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Upon reflection in addition to Cresendo...I have had excellent experience with Music Direct and Upscale.....

During my search I did have an amusing experience with a manufacture (US based) ... During my conversation with their TECH EXPERT... after I explained what I was looking for his next comment was "The minimum I WOULD ALLOW, was such and such components"

I just started laughing, thanked him and disconnected...  

I wouldn’t say the stores are rude but it just always feels as if coming to listen to something for more than a few minutes is annoying to them. Not to mention the salesman standing there the whole time. Please turn me loose wit the IPad and let me listen. None of them do that. Might as well buy online or used.

I have been fortunate when it comes to stereo shops.  And I do believe in having valuable relationships.  Over the last 3 years, I've been more active in upgrading than I expected and I think part of the reason is the rapport with the local store.

The openness has resulted in me acquiring demos or being informed of potential trade-ins from other clients when it fits into my goals. 

I'm sure they have clients they don't like to see... and when it comes to 'value' I enjoy listening to music more than ever.