I have been blessed and very very fortunate to have an LBS within walking distance that is staffed with knowledgeable, caring people. They seem mostly interested in making sure that their customer's experiences are good ones.

For myself, they supported me as a newbie rider and got me started right and also got the old Cannondale that had been given to me working like a charm. Then, when I was looking at a used hybrid on EBay they even provided some great advice on that as well and saved me from making a mistake (the bike was too big for me)...

For myself, I will throw these guys all of my busines.

Conversely, the guys at the Cannondale shop and another local Trek dealer simply sit behind the counter and look smug...

If you have a good LBS, take care of them. They can be worth their weight in gold.