An interesting, and appropriate question. In reading through the replies, I have to agree that I have run into a few audio salespeople who “knew everything”, and had no interest in answering my questions. I had also agree with the “80-20” rule cited above. At a CES Show at McCormick Place, many years ago, I was fortunate to speak with Richard Vandersteen about how much more money is required to have a small improvement in a system. So while I agree that are those “sales types” in the industry, I would be remiss not to cite the “Great Ones” that I’ve had the good fortune to find and deal with. Eric Lang at Salon 1 Audio in Ormond Beach, Florida, and Taylor Everhart at Goldprint Audio in Lexington, NC. The most receptive, understanding, honest and helpful dealers that I have encountered in 40 years in this passion. I also need to mention the great folks at Rogue Audio. Always willing to listen and help, the aforementioned folks are some of the “Cream” of the industry. Allow me to extend a personal “thank you” to these folks, and offer to all who read this post, speak with these folks and you won’t be disappointed.
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/