>Ed,
>If you think *you* have problems with computer salespeople, try being a 50+ yr old female < grin >. I was looking at laptops at CompUSA and Frys recently, trying out different configurations, and every salesman assumed I wanted something with email and internet browsing only. The first 3 tried to convince me to get an IMac, and NONE would even discuss operating systems. I mentioned "SQL-Server" and "WindowsNT" and was informed that "Microsoft Office will give you everything you need".
>

OK, you win on this. Normally, when I walk into a local retail computer store, I'm in something resembling very casual business attire, and being in desperate need of a haircut and beard trim at the moment, look like a technodweeb. I'm not dressed in elegant-enough business attire to attract the salessharks swimming up and down the aisles in search of an easy commission.

And gawd help them if they try to bs me with a little geekspeak. Even on my meek and mild days, they'd best hope I'd been force-fed a mg or two of Xanax. The bullshitometer pegs in the red and if they're lucky, I'll just snarl, make a purchase and leave. If I'm feeling evil and have time to kill, I'll follow them around and help their customers get the straight answer to their questions...always pointing out how the customer isn't likely to want the same computer three to five years from now, so that extended warranty money could be better spent on some "...For Dummies" books at Barnes & Noble, and explaining in intricate detail why CompuServe 2K is a big ripoff. I've even pointed out how nice Gateway 2000 is with their lease/trade-in policy. Talk about ruining a salesman's whole day...

>Then there was the salesWOMAN who asked if the computer was for my grandchildren....
>

And she's alive to tell about it? < g >

>Needless to say, the actual cash went to an on-line company.

I don't wander into glass-and-chrome-land except when the item has to leave the store with me that day.