iStore and online support do not know Apple products

I have tried finding out a very simple thing from Apple on a few occasions now. That is simply when they anticipate their latest HomePod product to be available in South Africa and without too much hope, what they think the pricing might be. In the local iStore when trying to find out, I was pointed towards a Mac Pro. When I explained what a HomePod was, the Apple expert had no clue and said he never heard of it before. Tried online chat now. IM'd with someone identified as "Dimakatso". Only received responses like "we do not have any communication", "I am not sure", "we do not have any idea", "there is no communucation", and "we do not have any information". The last one was to my request that they at least try to find out rather than wait for communication. I experienced Dimakatso as disinterested and dismissive. As someone who embraced the Apple universe, I'm concerned. If this is the type of support on something really simple, what will happen if someone in our family have a serious issue with one of our Macbook Pros, iPhones, iPads, Apple Tv or Apple Watches? This type of thing makes one think twice about continuing to buy into the Apple line of products.