Disappointments

Yes. From drawing a conclusion about the sound too soon before the component was broken in. Typically I knew better... but just could not help it on a couple of components. 

A couple times very early on, when I suddenly really understood the sound and learned what a  new negative attribute was... one was what grain sounded like in a preamp... wow, when I heard it I could not unhear it. Then a warm sounding preamp (Amber ~ late 1970’s) warm, but without detail. 

@wsrrsw 

We 3 Sons fought to get the 3rd seat in my Mother’s Mercury Station Wagon

https://www.hemmings.com/stories/we-call-the-back-back/

I don’t even remember, it must have had a radio, I was usually in the back!

Maybe she kept it off or low so she could hear if one of us fell out. No seat belts back then.

Yes. 

Definitely. It was a big lesson.

I have never again bought gear based solely upon a showroom demo and don’t expect I ever will.

Yes.  Got my first car and wanted to upgrade the stock speakers in the rear well.  Wanted Pioneer 3-way oval speakers I had been eyeing for quite a while at my local HiFi store.  Saved up and finally bought the box I had been eyeing and brought it home.  It only had one speaker.  I brought it back and they said they didn’t have anymore and that they were discontinued.  They wouldn’t take it back since I had opened the box.  They knew what they were doing and they took advantage of a kid.  Tech HiFi went out of business.  I hope they salted the earth so the store can never grow again.  I drove around with that one speaker in the rear well until I sold the car.  Fast forward 50 years to the 19 speaker Lexicon system in my Genesis GV70.  Living well is the best revenge.