Eventually you will find the salesperson you really trust and the store you don't mind giving all your business to. Keep in Mind Gear is great, but it isn't everything. If time and money are an issue get what you can, at a price you can afford, grab the old equipment you already own and get going. You do not have to look pretty in order to have a great time. In many other countries looking expensive will just invite trouble from those people you never wanted to meet in the first place and instantly bring distance between you and the locals you were really hoping to connect with.
Some adventures do however call for some serious gear.
If this is the case, buy accordingly. Safety should always be a concern. Dangling fifty feet up from an old rope one grabbed from the closet is a place I do not think anyone wants to be. When you go in these stores with all this awesome gear hanging in front of you, the climbing wall towering over-head, the sparkling carabiners, the backpacks, the water sacks, it is easy to get carried away. Remind yourself where your going, how long you'll be there, what time of year it is, and how much money you have to spend.