Walking Into A Brick & Mortar High End Audio Store

Roxy54 wrote "The problem is that people like yourself are wasting the valuable time of the commissioned sales associate who is there trying to make a living. While he is doing a fruitless demo, or just shooting the breeze with you, he is missing his next turn to wait on a client who may actually want to buy something from him/her."

Wow! Do you purchase a book every time you walk into a Barnes & Noble? I don't want to flame you for what I assume is a defense of brick and mortar stores, but I don't share your attitude about casual visitors.

I can't speak for any other dealer, but I enjoy having people come by my little store and listening to gear. You never know when someone will decide to buy a piece of gear, and I get a lot of referrals from guys who haven't bought anything but have mentioned a piece of gear I carry to a friend.

There might be a few guys who drop by on a regular basis and aren't regular customers, but many of these guys have become audio friends. Many have shared some wonderful music I hadn't heard before or just come by to enjoy the sound. I am flattered that guys would take the time to visit my showroom, and visitors have always been respectful and well behaved. If I am busy with another customer I will politely excuse myself and return when I am finished.

But that's just my opinion.

Roxy54 with your attitude its doubtful sales is a good career path for you. Grow up son this is part of the business. I agree anyone just looking needs to be up front about that. There are ways to treat these folks without alienating them from a possible future sale, or from them recommending YOU as a resource.

My friend and I make the rounds in the twin cities audio shops once or twice a year and are always met with the same contempt by the sales staff. Neither of us have intentions of buying mostly because I would rather spend money elsewhere than with a store that treats customers like they are a nuesance. In the last year we have both spent combined around $18000 dollars on audio this year and not a penny went to a local brick and mortar store. Every time we go in we are usually the only customers in the store and the consignment pieces sit in the shelves for months. I am not suprised these stores are becoming extinct.

Here's the thing though....when I go into the HiFi shops the sales staff as well as the owners are more often than not aloof and apathetic unless you tell them you are planning on making a purchase. That's insane. The equipment is on display for a reason. If I ask to hear something I do not expect to be met with eyes rolling and the the sound a pop can makes when you open it. Its your job Hello.

Christ I may not have the money today but who knows in a week a month or a year I might. Maybe I catch a financial windfall and I come back and buy a whole system. But if In our get lousy service I'm not spending it in that store. Often times I see sales staff migrate to the customers with suits and ties and ignore those in casual dress. That is a big mistake. I know quite a few blue collar workers that spend a lot of money on this hobby and they all say the same thing about the shops. Entirely too much snobbery so they spend it elseware. I'm not saying all the audio stores are like this I'm just stating my experience as well as many others I have spoken with.

I haven't been in an audio store in at least 10 years. Am I missing anything?
After I don't know how many years of selling this stuff, I do not get the urge. The last audio show I attended I was an exhibitor and I think that was close to 20 years ago.
So, here's what I think about the topic. As a salesman you are, in essence, a servant. You gamble every time you take on a customer. Sometimes you get a customer who has done enough homework to know what he wants and just buys it. Easy! The next one will spend two hours having you switch between two nearly identical speakers trying to determine which one better meets the various parameter she's read about in the magazines but cannot identify even with help. Imaging is the biggest concern so that needs to be explained, demonstrated and re-explained. Eventually you learn that these speakers will not be on the same wall and will be placed at different heights. It doesn't matter what the hell he buys, which turns out to be nothing. Meanwhile, Elliott, the jerk they just hired who doesn't know a dome from a ribbon sold the first guy I mentioned a $4200 power amp. Where the hell are the aspirin?
So, there's two sides to this and nobody's right if everybody's wrong. You have to realize that the whole thing is a crapshoot. If that is not something about which you can feel comfortable, try selling insurance or real estate. I think you will find those fields have their own problems. Nonetheless, sales is the one place where a person with no real training or education can make a damn good living. Be grateful you have a job with regular hours that isn't dirty or dangerous. I don't think Mike Rowe ever took on selling audio on his show.