I've re-read the original post and something just doesn't smell right here.

The biggest question I have in situations like this is, "Why would a business person act as he did toward a paying customer?"

I can't imagine any business, regardless of type, that would go out of their way to be rude, arrogant and generally unhelpful to a paying customer, especially a business that relies on repeat customers and word of mouth.  If the scenario really played out as you stated, there must be, as the late Paul Harvey would say, "the rest of the story".

I wouldn't know the outfitter if I bumped into him on the street, but I'll bet he could share some perspective.