We have a Bass Pro Outdoor world here in South Florida. The staff knows quite a bit more than most hunting outlets, but believe me, they are no experts either.
The biggest problem is that the salespersons just don't listen to their customers. Rather, they just tell them what they may want to hear. I, on the other hand, while at the counter, literally ask Bass Pro's customers all sorts of questions, and then give them my advice. I do this ALL the time, and the customers end up VERY happy with their purchases. In fact, I sometimes see them months later, whether at the ammo counter, or other parts of the store, and they tell me how happy they were with my advice. After seeing a few of these events, I once had the manager (or assistant manager) of the gun and optics department offer me a job. Granted, he likely did so jokingly, but there is always some truth in jokes and sarcasm.
There are many things that separate good lawyers from bad lawyers, and good businessmen from bad businessmen, and one of these things is LISTENING. As an attorney, I can assure you that no one will be able to fully and correctly solve your problem unless he fully and correctly UNDERSTANDS it.[/color]
Yes, knowledge and experience go a very long way, and the salespersons at Kmart, Walmart, etc. often show that they don't have it. But even if they did, it would be of little or no use if they don't actually LISTEN to their customer and their customer's issues and needs.
Zachary