That's the biggest reason I never bring my cars anywhere near my customers!
I don't agree with their reactions, but people are people.
Some professions can pull it off easier than others, but retail is tough (unless it's high end)
I have had customers see me at gas stations and I always cringe.
Kinda sucks that people can't see success as a good thing.

I use to catch crap for my Rolex watches (in my 20s) from customers and most pros would say not to wear an expensive watch in sales, but I'm getting to the point wear I don't care anymore (but there's a big difference between 5-figure watches and 6-figure cars).

 

The sad thing was that there was a time, not too long ago, when someone would see a hard-working, successful person and admire them for what they had done. I remember media from the 50's that highlighted the role of business leaders and others, and made you want to be them.

parents would point out a doctor, lawyer, businessmen and other professionals as they walk down the street and say, "that is what you get when you work hard and make the right choices!"

I know, because my parents and grandparents would say that to me all of the time. Society looked upon successful people with respect.

Nowadays, because of "Populism" and class-warfare, successful people are "rich d@uchebags who steal and exploit the poor and working class". Remember, "you didn't build it". They somehow built your success.

Trust me, I have a few cousins who actually say that with a straight face. They are no longer allowed in my house because it is slightly larger than theirs, and not "egalitarian" enough. So, they go back to their caves and fume.

It saddens me to no end that we have come to this as a society, because this type of thinking always drags the entire system down.

When jerks like that get in my face and make completely rude comments, I just take a similar stance to DrCollie. I try to be reasonable. But they never want that. So, they just continue looking for a fight that I won't give them. They never come back, and I am sure they fume for days that anyone, in the world, is more successful (or even as successful as) they are.

The key is, "you only live once". Enjoy your success!!...because no one else except your wife/partner/children will enjoy it with you. Ignore the rest.

 

I was at a doctor the other day and he was driving an old Ford, wearing a cheap watch and shoes that looked like they were 10 years old. I was very close from running away from his office thinking that if he did not make more money, he probably was not very successful or had other issues. I stayed and he provided good care. Never judge a book by his cover, one way or the other. Spend your money or save it like this doctor did, whatever makes you happy.

Back to the OP, I usually like to think that someone who makes money and can afford to buy nice stuff must be running a good business, sells value for money to happy customers who come back.
The only real exception I can think of is big government. They surely get a lot of money and spend even more of it, but their business totally sucks and 'customers' have no choice than to give them money again and again. And then they dare to say that "you didn't build that"

 

I've never apologized for my success or my assets. In fact, I have always tried to surround myself by others that are more successful than myself as it drives me even harder. I now find others, even customers, want to be around me because of my successes.


Screw it. life is short. enjoy it and whatever you do, never be ashamed of your success. it can be taken away any time.


Dave in Dallas

 

Jealousy is universal ...

 

Put yourself in his shoes. He walks into your store and his wife wants your furniture and he can not afford it. Even worse he wants your car and he can not afford it. His way of dealing with it is to lash out at you. At this point he is a miserable s.o.b. and he wants to drag you down with him. You can not change that . You can however change how you react to it. Enjoy your car, you earned it.

 

This part of your story reminds me of the time I was in practice in New York. It was 1985, and I just took delivery of a brand new Ferrari Testarossa. The first year I owned it, it was my daily driver and I put 15,000 miles on it.
I went out to lunch with another doctor-specialist colleague of mine and he asked me " aren't you afraid that if the other general practitioners in the area see you in the Ferrari, they might not refer patients to you? I answered that you only live once and that if driving the car dissuades them from referring, so be it. He said he would love to get a Porsche, but was afraid that he wouldn't get the referrals.
Several months later I make arrangements to go to lunch with this guy again. When he shows up, he's driving a brand new....Chevy!. Politely I tell him "nice car". Then he tells me that he should have followed my advice. It seemed that after he got the new Chevy, he was out to lunch with a referrer of his and the guy commented to him, " I see you have a new car, it's real nice. I guess you doing so well, you don't need patients from me anymore. My friend thought he was kidding and they had lunch. Turns out that the referrer never sent him another patient. So my specialist colleague said, "you were right, I should have gotten the Porsche, I might as well have enjoyed getting the porsche and losing that guy, instead of losing him over a Chevy".
Personally I always thought that if patients saw me dressed well, nice car, lived in a good section of town, the impression would be " he must be pretty good if he's doing that well". I always like to think the glass is half full.
Bottom line, got to live your life in a way that makes you happy. People will do what they are going to do not matter what. Might as well be happy and not worry about what other people think.

 

what kind of furniture shop do you have? i am close to Alexandria, vA.

 

Same here and I need some furniture in the house. Where is your store? PM me or let me know here

 

Wait, his store is too expensive.. Remember he drives a Porsche .


Sorry dr collie, couldn't resist

 

It is a fact of life and you can't change it.

However, there is no reason to lower yourself to another's level regardless of their behavior.

Everyone knows the doctor does fine. He may collect art instead of drive expensive cars. We all choose different passions/pleasures.

There is no problem with any Porsche image. You can't worry about what other's think about your choices whether they be real estate, watches, cars, motorcycles or anything else. You can only live your life, as you choose, and let other's do the same. I have worked hard for 35 years, saved, invested well, and never gone into debt (other than periodic real estate deals until they were paid off) and don't begrudge myself anything. My rule #1 is pay cash and buy what you can afford. It works well for me.

 

www.keepingroom.com

For the past several years I've been specializing in high-end leather upholstery. stop by and buy something! I need a Ferrari 599 in the worst way....

 

Always tricky with the guys referring to you. If you dress nice, have a nice watch/ house/ car; they either admire your success and wants to work more with you, or become jealous and possibly stop referring.

And if seen by the patients; they might think THAT is why he charges so much, or admire your success.

You can never please everybody all the time.

 

JohnM has it most correct.

Me, I might have answered,

That new Porsche 991 belongs to one of the most successful interior designers in town, and is currently with a client, when they decide, I expect a pretty large order. Boy that porsche is one fine machine. By the way we offer free delivery to select locations, what address would we be delivering to?

Done, close your sale.

Why you f around with a sale, don't let him walk, take his money.

Emotional reactions are counter productive, nothing sweeter than having that couple pay for the next set of pilot super sports.

Sorry but you gave him an out when you said "that's mine" he saves face with wife and you are the bad guy, I wish you better luck in the future.

 

Agree with what you said....

However my experience with people of that mindset that thought process never buy from you anyway.. Often cutting bait early bypasses wasted effort..

They are the type that always go with lowest bid or what's cheapest out of general ignorance.. And they usually get what they pay for and complain about how nothing is done right or is as good anymore..

They are the folks that work you over and waste your time so they can get a competitive bid, or comparison to make themselves feel better with no intention of going with you and the higher quality.

They are the people that go to garage sales and see an item for $ .25 and ask if they can have it for a dime..

In this particular case, the customer was likely just placating his wife and seeing what they liked so they could then go to IKEA on the way home in their 1987 Buick Regal and get something made out of MDF..

It would undoubtedly be assembled in their living room on to compliment their brown **** carpet installed in 1992 and 19" Trinitron console TV with rabbit ears (cable is a ripoff of course and will never take)..