This is something I’ve noticed lately. A lot of hifi shops and hifi manufacturers have helpful staff, but just as many are extremely rude and arrogant.
I’ve had people speak condescendingly about my amp when I’m demoing speakers. Same thing for my speakers. I’ve even had someone, and I kid you not, tell me my streamer has shit sound quality.
It seems like hifi shops are either extremely helpful or just downright awful. The same with manufacturers, they either recognise that there exists alternatives or everything sucks ass compared to their product.
Not just the one‘s at shops but also at shows! I (17) got basically ignored at the chord booth at the „Mitteldeutsche HiFi-Tage“, probably because I look like can‘t afford chord, I mean, I do but I planned to buy when I can afford it an M-Scaler and now I won‘t.