Originally Posted by JeffS

You mean that bike shops that don't carry commuter bikes, almost never have any bikes in my size, and are often staffed by people who know less about bikes that I do? My local Trek store does actually have a Madone in my size - the first road bike I've EVER seen in my size locally.

Those are the shops I should be relying on for a good buying experience?

Unfortunately, we don't all get to live in a Bicycle Mecca. Don't take this as a defense of Performance, I don't shop there either. I would though if they were the only source of a bike I wanted.