How many times can u visit a hifi store before it annoys the store if u plan on a purchase

Build a close customer/salesperson relationship and they won't care how often you go back. I had this in my dealer decades ago (back when customer service wasn't an exception). and was allowed to listen to systems & components costing two to four times what I had bought from them. Not only did it validate my home system, but it allowed me critical listening time to see upgrade paths. I have recommended this store to many other people which has probably "paid" for my extra visits ten time over.

Many years ago, when I was fairly new to this hobby, I would do all of my business with one local shop. I bought a fair amount of gear from this fellow and his company along with records etc., At the time he was the Linn turntable dealer, so i bought my first Linn table from him.

One day I was in his store looking for a particular record. I asked his sales guy if they had the record in stock, only to be told to get out unless I was planning on buying something that visit. I immediately asked for the owner, whom I knew well, expecting him to be a little more courteous to me. Nope, the guy was on the same page, either buy something immediately, or get out!

I left his store and never bought another thing from him, plus I told all of my a’phile friends of this occurrence, and they too boycotted the store.

Many years later, after i had acquired numerous pieces from another local store, I ran into the first stores prior manager. He told me that he had heard of the circumstance with me and that he was shocked that not only the other salesperson spoke to me in that manner, but that the owner himself behaved in such a fashion, wherein he apologized profusely for their actions.Needless to say, the store in question closed up shop several years after my experience with them...and as they say...good riddance.

That was low even by the lowest of standards. Even in NYC I haven't heard anything like this.

Most audio equipment store operators possess extensive experience, allowing them to smell it out real buyers through intuition or conversation. Given that HIFI audio stores typically have relatively few customers, they highly value every visitor and each potential sales opportunity.

In my point of view, its highly depends on the customers themselves. Most male customers have a very clear understanding of what they want basic on what they have at home and wallet. Its totally fine that you sit there enjoy the music even with snacks but if you keep asking to switch the speaker or audio source etc, we will began to think “you gonna buy or what”