Dave, you said:
"To expect a big box store minimum wage employee who is only there for the employee discount to sit down and read manuals and learn everything there is to know about the instruments" ...
Who said "learn everything there is to know about the instruments".
Maybe learn just enough to:
- Not tell the customer looking at a Casio WK-3xxx model that it could not play 2 different tones at the same time
- Not show a Motif to a lady who said she's looking for an electric piano that also has auto rhythms.
- Not answer 'No' to the question "does this keyboard (WK-3500) have stereo output jacks to plug into a church PA system"
- To know enough so as not to show Don a Tyros when he's asking about a Tyros2.
- Not tell a customer that the reason they had no PSR3000's in the store is because it is a higher priced item than what they (GC) usually carry, even though I can see that he's got multi models of Triton's, Motif's -AND- 1 Tyros! (new, not a trade-in) in the store on display.

I've seen and heard many more blundering errors on minor/general details from these "big box store minimum wage employee", as you put it. They are selling EXPENSIVE stuff, and to not know general facts like these I've stated, and many more just like these?
Give me a break.
Radio Shack personnel can't be making that much more, and more often than not, I'm surprised by the knowledge, accurate detail, clarifications, and alternatives they have provided. If the large inventory, large volume stores are hiring the "minimum wage employee who is only there for the employee discount" and that's why they are justified to stand around talking about their personal interests, instead of becoming more familiar with the products that they sell, that's fine with me.

As I said above, I will take my business (even if it means costing me a few extra nickels) to whoever, Wherever they are, if they are more deserving of the sale.