Honestly, I'd be scared off by a line like that. That tells me the employer wants to play games with you in an attempt to minimize your compensation. Good comp

Honestly, I'd be scared off by a line like that. That tells me the employer wants to play games with you in an attempt to minimize your compensation. Good companies and good recruiters aren't trying to minimize you per se. They want to hire the best people, and they know that the best people have a decent sense for market rates and aren't going to settle for that sort of line. Try to do your research on comps and industry standards beforehand, so that least you're reducing some information asymmetry going into the process with the recruiter. In my experience, you'll actually gain respect for asking about their ranges. It shows you have experience and know your worth. It also establishes you as someone who's been around the block and is no stranger to job offers and the way they really work. This is what separates the entry-level candidate from the managerial-potential candidate.