find a good local bicycle shop (there are still some left) run by old timers. show the old timers some respect and they will offer you the same. support the local shop, help your local economy, and stop supporting corporate hacks.
I have to completely agree with you, the first time I ever went to performance bicycle (brick and mortar version; last month, in the newly opened one in Berkeley); the workers didn't know anything (except the mechanics who had their own work in the work area)... the vast majority of my questions were answered with "I think". I just left and went to the co-op.