I, too, agree with the Banyan Tree being too pricey. I have sort of decided that if and when I venture inside, it's just for "browsing." It's more of a museum to me than a store. Or maybe a museum gift shop. Where you wander around, look at pretty things, maybe touch some things if nobody's looking, consider buying some set of chopsticks or wine-glass identification tags or a pair of sunglasses, but then you put them back because you realize you don't really need them.
I haven't gotten the "cooler than thou" vibe from the people behind the counter, but they definitely have seem uber-sophisticated and too fashionable for their own good. A little intimidating, which is another story entirely, but which also contributes to the fact that I am almost too self-conscious to buy anything here.
There was one time I actually went in with the purpose of buying something specific (a pair of "thingies" that convert wine bottles to candle holders), only after I went in I realized I hadn't seen those at Banyan, but instead, at the Geode gallery. Oops. It was still nice to look.