LBS - Tri Bike Rant

This is my first post on this subject but I am glad to see I am not alone.

I will search (and maybe post) in my regional forum for a referral to a nearby LBS that has tri expertise.

I understand the for most LBS's 90% of there customers are recreational riders and that I shouldn't expect them to have expertise but for cryin out loud don't BS a possible customer.  Get someone who knows or man up say it's not my expertise.

Translation in red with italics (sarc font):
"You shouldn't buy a tri bike as your first road bike"
We've got inventory and we need to move it so buy one of the ones on the floor please.
"Tri bikes are uncomfortable so you wont be able to use it for long training rides"
I like my roady and I was uncomfortable on my brother-in-law's tri-bike, so you'll definitely be uncomfortable.
"Most serious triathletes train exclusively on road bikes and only use tri bikes for races"
You're obviously not a serious cyclist unless you have a road bike.  Here's a Specialized Allez...
"This tri bike is a very popular seller, we just have to add the clip on aero bars for you." To which I responded, "No, that's a road bike." And she replied, "Once the aerobars are on, it's the same thing."  "Um no," and I turned around and left.
Again, we have inventory and need to move it.  It's a down-economy...come on man!!!

Some Bike Shops are filled with arrogant punks and cycling snobs.  If you show-up for a group ride on a aluminum GT road bike or god forbid a tri-bike (some groups don't allow tri-bikes in the group rides) and you do your turns at the front and carry-on like normal, nobody will say a word to you.  But if you show-up with the new Fuji SL-1 Shimano (MSRP $8500) and you sit in the middle of the pack and suck wheel all-day, more guys will talk to you and invite you back.  Especially if you have the latest jersey, shoes, and $200 pair of cycling shorts. 

Triathletes tend to be a little more accepting of the "whatever you have in your garage" mentality.  I mean we have Mountain Bike and Clydesdale groups in our races for crying out-loud!  At races, the guy with the $7000 tri-bike helps the guy with the $127 Walmart Brand MTB put his stickers on the bike and set-up his transition area.

As for where you should look, I don't know where Barrie is located, but there's a shop in Hilton Head that if you travel to buy a bike, they'll credit $500 toward the price of the bike.  www.gotrisports.com I need to verify they're still doing that though.  I have an awesome LBS (Real Deal Family Bicycle) here too if you're ever in South Fla.  The owner was a pro on the U23 circuit in Belgium.  He's back now and just getting into tris, but a really great guy and not at all a cycling snob. 

Might be worth finding the owner of one of the shops and having a discussion about your experiences.  Either he'll try to bring you in as a customer and you'll start developing a positive LBS relationship, or he'll blow you off in which case you are free to move on to the next shop.  It is helpful to have *someone* who can help you with service. 

Are my experiences the norm as far as LBS's go?