Originally Posted by kurremkarm
Ever try and find customer service in a bike shop when you didn't buy a bike from them? They want to steer you into a new bike.
All the time, but my shops are not your shops.
Originally Posted by kurremkarm
I talked to one shop that wanted 45 dollars to fit me. I went to another that i ordered a stem from and 4 weeks later it hadn't came.
Don't know what's up with your 4-week friend, but at this point you'd be ahead of the game if you'd spent the $45 for the fit. I know, that's an assload of money for something like that, but it's cheaper than buying a bunch of stems. I don't know if that's high or low for fitting as I've never been fit myself, I buy based on inseam (and even then my frames are a few cm too large) and everything else is fit on an as-you-go basis.
Another alternative is to find a shop with a used parts selection and buy a bunch of different reaches and see what's comfy for you. For what it's worth, the Nitto Technomic is a nice long stem that can be as tall or short as you like. Then it's only a matter of reach.
Also, buying a whole bike is an expensive experience never mind 2 or 3. Service may be sucky, but be patient. Go in knowing what you don't know, ask some questions, listen to the answers and consider their advice. Declare your budget up front so that you don't waste everyone's time. Basically treat the bike shop staff as your helpers and consultants, not your fast food order guy, and you'll have a better (maybe still not great) experience. But you've already accumulated a few rides, so that's probably not an option.