I wholly agree. A majority of bicycle shops that I see aren't staffed with folks who know proper salesmanship. Pushing high-end clientele into "needed" services during the information-gathering phase is plain dumb. If they knew their clientele they would market, advise and service accordingly. That being said - having returned to the cycling world after a 30 year hiatus the profit margin on bikes doesn't seem large and a number of shops seemed ambivalent about product movement focusing more on bicycle maintenance, clothing and parallel products in fitness. Which means - unless your local LBS is the only game in town - go elsewhere.

Cheers.

Essex