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.
A buddy once said to me, after leaving one particularly bad store…“Never mistake lack of intelligence or a personality for arrogance. If they had either of those two things they wouldnt be working retail at 55 years old”
With apologies to those who work retail (its a tough gig), he was right.