In my area my experience has been that the small, mom & pop type of gun store are friendly and helpful to experienced and beginners alike, and one local big box sporting goods retailer is atrocious with both experienced and beginners. Recent example of their customer service:
I go up to the yards and yards-long handgun display case needing some primers that are kept behind the counter. I know that lots of people window shop and drool on the countertops while ogling the firearms, but I'm standing right there, looking at the several salespeople behind the counter on either side, trying to get some help. I see one older guy look at me three times, return to his conversation with his coworker each time, then sigh, decide I'm not going away, and saunters over. He stops 8 feet away and looks at me, no greeting, just looks at me, which I guess is his way of saying "May I help you?".
Me: "I need a thousand Federal small pistol primers."
Him: Turns his back and starts perusing the shelves of primers.
Him: "Federal you say?"
Me: "Yes."
Him: "What size?"
Me: "Small pistol."
Him: "How many?"
Me: "O-N-E T-H-O-U-S-A-N-D."
Him: Picks out a box, slides them down the counter to me and, without saying another word, returns to his conversation with the co-worker.
I was tempted to slide the box right back at him, but I needed them, it was the only place that had them for 40 miles, and I was in a hurry.