Walking Into A Brick & Mortar High End Audio Store

I do it, but I go in with a purpose. In other words act like a buyer...I'll say I'm looking for some speakers in the $--- range. Once you're with a salesman in a sound room, you can inquire about some of the other gear.
But I always say that I'm a couple months away from a purchase.

It's so much easier to get a salesman's attention than in years past when they would look at you and give you the "once-over."

Roxy54, I understand what you're saying and you make a valid point, albeit rudely. But with the limited amount of HiFi stores in my area, the salesman gets to know me and I have ended up buying items within the year. It's not like I'm pretending to buy in a Ferrari dealership.

I do tell them I am in an auditioning period, because let's face it, many folks on this forum are in a constant state of upgrading. I have found due to the poor economy, the salesmen are more open to developing relationships with the customers. I'm not going into the $20K speaker room; clearly that would be wrong if my income bracket could only afford $6000 spkrs, but I would ask to see speakers higher up their line.

You may call me a "tire-kicker" or worse but when I'm treated right by a salesman, I'll be back and ask for him personally.
And it's part of the salesman's job to know the risks of having someone waste their time. When I went back and forth between 2 stores looking at speakers and 6 months later bought speakers at one of the stores, I'm not thinking that I wasted the other salesman's time.

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).

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.

Another one bites the dust...

HiFi House

I've never been to this shop, but hate to see this happen.

I'm going to chime in here since I think my earlier comments helped fuel the fire of this thread. I've only been in this hobby about 5 or 6 years even though I've worked in the audio/video production field for over 20 years.

I stated that when I go visit a HiFi shop I go in with a purpose; to audition some gear. I carry my CDs with me and explain that I'm auditioning, for example speakers, and what do they have in a certain price range.
I've adopted this practice after salesmen showed little or no interest in helping me when I was "tire-kicking." Many times I have asked to see some gear and the salesman would set it up and leave the room...there was no interest on his part to ask what components I owned or to have a dialogue with me. Many times the shop was empty, but I still had to go and find the salesguy to ask a question.

When I visit a shop, I'm not pretending to buy anything and it is part of the sales staff's job to try to sell me something. The shop should welcome a customer in these days where money is tight and budgets are lower. And the people in sales should know that their job carries certain risks such as not making a sale that day or losing a sale to another salesman because he has devoted his time to someone like myself.

As I stated earier, this is a hobby and a business where there is constant upgrading on the client's part and a good salesman should want me to return and to refer others to his shop.