I went to buy a boat at a boat show a few years ago, despite having an appointment the sales guy was more interested in chatting up the girls giving away umbrellas. He knew I was waiting there - but kept the chatter going with the girls. I made sure he knew I bought my boat eleswhere.
It's not just car dealers.
What a moron - shouldn't be working in sales. Years ago, when I was a student I used to work for a yacht builder. One time at the London Boat show the sales manager tore me off a strip for "wasting my time" by spending half an hour talking to a visitor to the stand who though rather scruffy looking was knowledgeable and seemed genuinely interested in buying a boat.
Three days later he returned and put down a 20% deposit and signed an order for a new yacht. He also told my boss that ours was the only stand he'd visited at the show where he had been treated as a serious customer.
To use a cliché.... never judge a book by the cover.
