money talks....
I've gone as far as when I go music store shopping, to prep my wallet. I'll stock my wallet with a few bills, but cut up newspaper into bill size rectangles and stuff my wallet so I can do that power move of "flipping through bills" while in the PRS/Gibson sections. Talk like money is no object and work with the confidence of a pro without being cocky...

The wallet flip as well as the "I'm GOING to buy something very expensive TODAY if I find something truly impressive" attitude works 90% of the time with the super snobby stores...

Super sad really.