Walking Into A Brick & Mortar High End Audio Store


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I am currently pretty satisfied with my system the way it is right now. I am not in the market for any new purchases right now, mainly because I don't have the discretionary income to make big changes. However, sometimes I get the urge to want to go into a hifi store just to look. Eventually I will upgrade my speakers, cd player, preamp, a new dac for sure and may give class D amps a shot...but not right now.

Is it cool to go into a store just to look around, knowing you don't have the money or immediate need for an item?
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128x128mitch4t
Retail workers never look at the other side of the story. Maybe you should inform the customer on the downside of buying such gear online. I personally would never (and have never) bought anything more expensive than headphones and a headphone amp online. The local shop where I buy my gear appreciates the fact that I buy from them so much that I saved $300 on my speaker cables compared to Cable Co prices. That's something people don't think about. The perks I get as a customer are ridiculous and not obtainable anywhere online. I demanded that my local shop sell Hegel and he did it. He kept in touch with me while they filled out and sent in all the necessary paper work. It's give and take and if you've never experienced this, no wonder your local B&M closed down.
Mitch and Joman,
I agree with both of you that I got a little heavy handed at the end there, but he's treating it like it's a game, and believe me, that's just what it is. It is really annoying to read a flippant post like that when you have to deal with this issue 5 days a week.
It's not a joke; it's selfish and inconsiderate. Both of you may or may not realize just how much time people like this drain from a salesperson's selling time. Some spend 90 minutes prying information from you so that they feel confident about making their purchase from the internet, while others have nothing to do and assume that you are in the same situation, so they bend your ear for an hour or so about what they own and where they bought it for a price you wouldn't believe.
So forgive me if I don't have a lot of patience. Maybe someone else who works in retail will step in with their perspective.
I thought I made it clear that I am not abusing the privilege of honoring a HiFi salesman with a possible sale. This is a hobby and a business where there needs to be information exchanged and demos given.

I like Donjr's statement...
Half the people that go in with no plan to buy probably find a way to buy something after they do it.

My most recent visit resulted in an exchange with the salesman about our taste in music and about the vintage system he is building. And after that he showed me a pair of Dynaudios (his choice), then showed me his favorite TT in the store; well out of my price range.
His passion about this hobby of ours will take me back there to buy those speakers.

It's not an atmosphere where there is contempt for the buyer (or the tire-kicker).
Lowrider 57,
I wrote mt post before I saw your response. I aplogize to you for being abrasive, but in you original post, you did not explain yourself as completely, and it sounded as if you were just saying that it was acceptable to lead salespeople on with false promises of a possible future purchase.
In response to you and Onhwy61, I am not burned out on selling, and I actually get a great deal of satisfaction from it most of the time. Yes Onhwy61, I do value my time, as I imagine that you do yours.
And it is true that I frequently strike up a relationship with a casual browser who later becomes a valued customer.
Selling expensive luxury goods is not like selling groceries, it doesn't always happen the first, second or third time.
All that I am saying is that because of the position I am in every day, I have more respect for the time of others in the same position. Shoppers who are insensitive are not in the majority.
Roxy, thanks for the response. And as I read back my 1st post, I see that I should have elaborated. My thinking is that at some point, one of us will be making an upgrade and it requires some exploring in these high-priced candy stores.

I have no doubt that you often see customers that have no intention of buying from you; and then there's the person who wants a demo from you so he can go buy the item online.
It's probably obvious to your staff who the tourists are and that really is wasting your time. And I see how the online issue must be an extra burden on the sales staff; who's to know if this guy will come back.

I'm glad we have cleared up this misunderstanding.