I rarely hit shops but when I do I hate having to wait while they explain what a bike is and how it works to a customer. If they are buying something for someone else why bother?
Maybe manning the register with someone designated as a cashier? Just blows to grab what you need and go stand at the counter for 5-10 minutes until someone gets freed up.

THAT is why I buy online.

crazy a$$ euros--they need to have a beer.

OK, I get that, but people who buy online are the number one reason why LBSs are pissed off. Never compare the price you are paying at a bike shop to the online price. You aren't just purchasing the product from a bike shop, advice, installation and warranty should all be included.

See now? I got hassled recently for being an "******* bike shop employee" - the chick was all like "People should go to ________ to learn, and..."

No.

If you want to learn about your bike research it yourself - don't waste a bike mechanic's time when they're on the clock. It's my job to fix your bike - not to teach you how to fix it. That's business.

There are books, friends and bike co-ops for that.

Potential customer: "No problem. And I'll buy the parts online, and save a ton of money. That's business, too."

What I said is still valid. They're idiots.

i think the problem was letting a cat work on your bike. my cats are pretty much worthless when it comes to bicycle mechanics.

^lolcats at that

It's a business. They get paid for their knowledge and earn nothing by giving it away for free.

whenever my bikes need professional intervention i just play dumb but friendly and try to watch what the mechanic does

i realize we need one more person to chime in on this like we need fewer bike lanes, but i gotta add my 2 cents. one of the most popular shops for fixies here in SD used to be really cool, and a fun place to go and shop and hang out. i had always bought stuff from them when i went in, even if it was just a shirt or water bottle.
but as they've gotten more popular, they have begun to act as if they no longer need customers. it sucks, too, as i was planning on buying 2 bikes from them with my yearly bonus. 2 weeks before i got the bonus i went in to talk about buying them, and got a sh*tload of attitude from one guy who i've shopped from before. i blew it off, and went back the next week. different employee, same experience. no customer service, totally ignored, then given a lot of attitude because i dared to ask a question. needless to say, i ended up dropping $2k online and buying different bikes, which i'm very happy with.
it sucks to have to boycott shops, but if an employee in any store, whether it be a donut shop or porsche dealership, wants to act like a pr*ck to customers, it is the shop telling the customer to go away and spend their money elsewhere.
what sucks even further is that the guys at the trek superstore in my town were actually cooler to me, and had no problem answering questions, and looking stuff up online. i didn't buy a bike from them, but it's too bad that they will eventually take over the small shops, as the small shops turn customers away.
going back to the OP's situation: yeah, he was asking for free advice, probably from a guy he thought looked cool, and who knew more about bikes than he did. maybe he wasn't buying something that day, but who's to say he's not going to be in the market to buy a brand new Pista Concept next month. if the employee treats him like dirt on the small stuff, why should he buy something big from them in the future?

enough of my hating. give shops a second chance. but if they continually act like jerks, they just don't want your money. or to stay in business.

This is like business 101. There are a lot of mechanics on here defending the others that act like jerks, but for the long term health of the industry this is what you've got to do.

If I can get a local job as a wrench in Cleveland this winter I might take it. My friend works at one shop and he's still friendly as ever, so maybe the scene is different here or he's just not pissy in the first place about answering questions for people.