You know what? I'd probably be treating even worse than you were. I've been into TWO homebrew stores, ever, where I was treated well.
I've gone into a number of homebrew stores, throughout the country as I travel a bit. And I've been ignored, and sometimes been talked down to if spoken to at all.
I've had 20-somethings say to me, "Hey little lady, are you interested in learning to make beer?" as I've walked through aisles, but most often I'm completely ignored.
My answer to that question, if asked, is something like, "Oh, no. I'm not interested in a beginner's kit, thanks."
A minute later: "I was just looking for a small burner for my secondary MLT, so I could upgrade my 1/2 barrel all-electric indoor HERMS because it's hard to do a triple decoction with the vessels I have." Then leave.
I actually DID walk out without a thing in in Akron's "Grape and Granary". I went in with my dad who went for the road trip with me to visit Hoppin' Frog Brewery. Three clerks fell over my dad, but ignored me totally. When my dad pointed to me and said, "I'm with her, she is looking for something", one did approach me and ask if he could help. I said I needed some carastan as well as some base grain and he pointed at the room in general and said their bins of grain were "all over". And they were- but in no sort of order and I didn't feel like spending an hour looking for a pound or two of crystal malt. And no way was I going to purchase the sacks I had planned.
I said, well, then, I need a pH meter. He sort of rolled his eyes and went behind the counter and grabbed one from the shelf behind put it down on the counter. When I asked the accuracy of it, he had to go ask, and the second guy was pretty condescending to me.
So I left. It happens all the time!
Northern Brewer treated me well, and so did Midwest Brewing Supplies. I spend over $500 on each of those walk-in trips, though, so maybe it's better to be ignored!
