You're not buying a car from these people. Who cares if they hire idiots? Here's the bottom line...Suppose I need a guitar. I go to the places near me who carry guitars and I play them until I find one I like the sound of that's in my price range. I'm not expecting that anyone there is going to be able to tell me something I don't know, and I don't expect a Christmas card after my purchase. If they lock up the guitar, they can get it out when I want to play it. Who's actually running around looking for guitars by model number? Do people acutally say.."I'm going to buy a Martin D-28 tomorrow from blah blah guitars because it's my favorite store"? Should'nt they be more worried about how that guitar sounds. I've heard D-28's that sounded horrible. I'd buy a guitar from Britney Spears if it sounded good and the price wasn't ridiculous. And who cares if some moron at the front of the store says "Hi" to you when you walk in the door? You don't have to take him out for drinks. Stores like Guitar Center are good for finding what you want, buying it, and leaving. I live near Elderly and I'm always amazed when people walk in the door and ask for an acoustic guitar by model number, play it for a minute and walk out with it. Every guitar sounds different. D-28's with consecutive serial numbers sound different. Your guitar store is a business. It's not there to make you feel warm and fuzzy.... jeez...i guess i'm a little grumpy today...

-Spartacus