Electric Guitar Culture

I've got it in my head that I want a decent electric guitar. It's a sad, neurotic journey but there it is. First I tried to find the object of my desire at Guitar Center. I attempted to conduct business while looking at my shoes because, quite frankly, I can't handle the extreme facial piercings of your typical GC employee. Deflated, I took my search online and tentatively settled on an Epiphone Les Paul Ultra. So I rambled around craigslist to find a used one and I ended up delving into the culture of Boston-area metal heads. I challenge anyone to try to line up an appointment with one of these smoky hollows. Last week it was a guy who apparently didn't know what day it was. Today I talked to a guy who seemed to have no permanent address but could bring the guitar to me because "I gotta van with an electrical outlet". Retail prices are starting to look good....