Yeah, and the "help" they provide you is misinformation and stubbornness to go in the back and get you the thing you want to buy...
I agree with you both. When I travel I try to hit up the local drum shop and the local Guitar center. I love the local shops because you can check out vintage gear and talk "shop" with them. Usually GC have kids working and kids beating on all the sets while I'm looking around. I've schooled many GC employees on vintage drums.