Am I expecting too much?

I have noticed a disturbing trend at local stores lately. The customer (me) is ignored while the owner attends to personal business. I stopped in my local hobby shop and stood there for 15 minutes while the owner talked on the phone. He was trying to buy a BMW. After 15 minutes, I walked out and left. I see this same thing everywhere these days.
When I ran my business a customer was greeted as soon as they walked in the door. If I was on the phone then I would stop the phone conversation to ackowledge the customer in the store. It seems like stores these days do not care about the customer standing in front of them with money. They pay more attention to the phone or computer.
Is this the way of doing business now? I have been in retail for over 40 years. I could never treat a customer this way.
Are others seeing this or am I being too critical or expecting too much?

This really irritates me when this happens. Hello? I am. a. customer. right. here.
And if I need to call a business I don't mind at all if I am put on hold. I don't expect them to drop everything because I phoned them.

Crazy way to do business, I agree!

This has always been one of my biggest pet peeves. Especially in places like the grocery store or Target, etc. You are standing there, spending between $100-200 and the two teenagers are yakking about their dates last night. They don't even acknowledge you. I do have to admit that here in Phoenix, there is more competition for the comsumer dollar so there's more emphasis on customer skills but some places, you might as well be invisible.

Modelcarguy, if that store owner was buying a BMW, maybe he didn't need your business. ????

But I agree with what you said. If I get treated that way in a store, it's the last time they'll see me.

I can't even count how many times this has happened to me. I have even gotten attitude for asking help.