Ken,
I never said you didn't have the right to NOT shop at FYE, and I couldn't care less if you think they are the retail outlet of the devil himself. I have no interest in FYE any more than you. I'm just stating that teh store in my town is not like the ones you're describing. Obviously your experience with them is completely different from mine. Granted, I don't frequent the store more than 2 or 3 times a year, and it's usually to just kill time listening to CD samples. However, in the times I've been in this particular store, I've never been approached by a sales associate, not for any reason. And this is not during a busy time either, this is when the store is basically empty. My guess is that the teenagers just don't give a crap about helping me, whatever. I've spent well over an hour in the store just going through random CD's and listening to them without harrassment. And this particular store has a very good Metal section, I can assure you of that. And compared to the offerings of other retail stores around here, they are far above the (retail) competition.
As for concerts and being required to buy CD's and merchandise from them in order to get autographs, I agree, that's shitty. But that's the way with businesses in general. When you go to someone's book signing the store they're in usually requires you to buy the book from them, disallowing outside merchandise. My feeling is, if the store went to the trouble of organizing the event, the least you could do is buy the book from the store AS LONG AS it isn't marked up from their normal cost. I agree that this practice in general sucks, but if you disagree with this then do as you already do, don't buy their shit and don't frequent their store. If everyone followed your example they'd have no choice but to change their ways, but there are still people out there who have no alternative to retail, believe it or not. You, myself, and I would think most others of the younger generations have plenty of options other than retail, so we don't have to be slaves to this BS.
Regardless, I don't think Ive ever encoutered a situation with any retailer like the one you're describing. Are you sure you weren't on the lot of "FYE Used Car Emporium"?
Because that's the only place I've ever encoutered overzealous salespeople. Never in a retail store. And I've never had anyone try to sell me a CD from some random artist when they had no idea what my listening preferences were. That just sounds like insanity on the part of the sales clerk.
Anyway, I'm buying my copy tonight from FYE or Best Buy because I want it tonight. Also, I'm trying to support Jax's request to help get the guys some Billboard notification. I don't think it means anything from a sales perspective, but I'm sure ti would make the guys feel good, and I'm willing to buy from a retail outlet to accomplish that. For all the years of enoyment they've given me with their music, I can give a little back beyond just buying the CD.