there are three shops close to me. One I frequent quite a bit - they get about 90% of my business. I know most everyone there, and the entire staff is awesome. Friendly, chatty, knowledgable, etc. I love it so much I tell them I'm going to work there one day! The other ones I like too, and if I put out the effort to make conversation, they respond. No one has ever ignored me or been rude, just don't have that same family feel I get from my main LQS. What's hysterical is to get the LQS ladies to talk about the other shops...serious competition, and they say the same things you guys are saying "why go in there...I always feel like I'm interrupting their private conversations" and things like that! It's a very very competitive business where I am (apparently, lol!!) and they all love their valued customers. Given what I have spent there...I'd say they think I'm valuable! LOL