The first time I went to Feathered Friends I was a total gumbie and pretty intimidated. Many years later, that's no longer the case. I agree that it's not the customer service capital of the world. But have you ever been to any pro shop that was? I have surfed, skiied, and climbed for 7 years and I can promise you the pro shops are all pretty much the same. You may not get your ass kissed, but you will get the best advice, beta and gear from people who are out there kicking it, and who are working for the sole purpose of feeding their "habit". If you want a lollipop, go to REI. If you want the real deal, hit the pro shops. It's a total trade-off.
