Very true. I have paid and do pay for repairs and LBS parts when needed. Full retail, no qualms. My original concern was the stores trying to charge more than MSRP or not even put all the manufacturer's parts on a new bike. That should raise a flag to the average person, no? Would the manufacturer be ok with that?

As others said, it's more the exception than the rule to find knowledgeable mechanics. As I'm sure it's an exception that the experienced mechanic feels appreciated.

I once watched the owner at the one store trying to explain to a guy with a bent fork on his Walmart V bike, what it would cost, and how an adult rider is probably going to break it again. I think the guy was trying to process how, if the bike cost 120 bucks and the fork was like a small part of the whole, then a new fork should cost like 30 bucks.