Could I be a Retail Wretch?

To answer your question, you are wasting their time.  What you think you should pay for any given item has nothing to do what the store needs to cover expenses and generate a profit.  

Long time ago salesman "wasted" many hours presenting car to me, including test drive.  After that he asked for MSRP and refused to negotiate.  I bought same car in 5 minutes at another dealership for much less.  

Restrooms Are For Customers Only.  : )

I have a problem with BM dealers who charge MSRP, then have the item drop shipped to me and tell me that I would have to contact the manufacturer for warranty service.  They function as order takers only, and have succeeded in turning the item into a commodity.  Why should I encourage this activity ?   Why shouldn't I look for a lower price ?

OTOH:  " The particular dealer I was referring to, emails me weekly, sends postcards monthly and catalogs quarterly. It’s always with an invitation to “see and hear the difference”.    This scenario represents a BM that tries to add value.  I suspect a salesman may invest time in the prospective buyer to help find the best fit.  I am sure this dealer would oblige a request for an equipment loan to enable home evaluation.  I suspect this dealer may have the item in inventory, and may assist with a warranty claim.   As to price- we no longer exist in a vacuum, so it is incumbent on the dealer (any dealer) to be aware that online pricing is their competition.  The dealer in question has provided extra service that represents value and should be able to earn a profit from the sale.   But there should also be an acknowledgement that some discount may be negotiated.    

Next time, I would ask the local dealer for a discount.  You may be pleasantly surprised.

As for me, I tend to purchase used, and I am respectful of dealer's time for that reason.  I am very good at finding what I want at very attractive prices so that I can resell if needed, and not lose money.

If you owe the shop where you auditioned the gear, it is to be in on any eventual purchase if they are willing.  If you decide to buy, do the research on line and then go and see the dealer and tell them what it will cost you if bought elsewhere (be sure and include all costs including shipping) and ask if they can get anywhere near that. If they match it, buy from them. If they get close, consider buying from them, as the back up from a dealer you bought from is worth more than from a remote seller who probably doesn't give a damn once your payment went through.

I have had great luck doing this - the dealer appreciates my point of view and the fact that I feel obligated to give them a shot at it, and in the event that there are issues with the gear, local support beats remote hands down.

Smart dealers realize that it is business they otherwise wouldn't get and usually offer a better price. If they don't, at least you offered and needn't feel guilty.

I have also had great luck in calling out of province dealers 500 km away and telling them that I am going to buy a particular unit and can do it out of the US or from them if they give me a similar price.   Never been turned down.  There is always a lot of gear with no local representation  that one might want to try.

I see both sides to this and have dealt with elitist dealers who demand full retail while talking down to you.  I have given them second and even third chances... going back into their showroom while considering a new component.

Now... if they treat me poorly after I have given them a second chance I do not feel the smallest bit remorseful buying it elsewhere after auditioning it during their second chance opportunity.

These dealers are living in the 90's and need to understand that full retail is a tough pill to swallow, so they had better make MY buying experience orgasmic, otherwise I don't have much sympathy for them.

I don't expect them to price match someone who is slinging gear out of their garage with a website, but I also don't appreciate the derision and outrage they display when I ask them if they are negotiable off retail.

At this point, I'm done with them and haven't set foot in their store in over 5 years.  I watch them struggle to keep their doors open, yet they are still a "retail only" shop.  In this environment I don't expect them to be around much longer and it's their own fault quite frankly.  I know what they pay for their products and I know what the margins are.  At this point it's either pride or greed or a poorly run business - that keeps them trying to get full retail for their wares.

Guess what, 20 years ago I was billing at MUCH higher rates than I am now - but environments change and you either adapt or disappear.  For some reason the typical high-end B&M feels they should be immune to this phenomenon.  They aren't.  Period.