I stopped at firehouses for directions for the same reason.I always read the instructions. Even if I'm absolutely sure I know what to do just by looking at everything I still read the instructions. It takes just a bit longer but I've never had stop halfway and try to figure something out or realize that I need to take everything apart because I missed a step. It's part of that same "measure twice, cut once" mentality I have.
In another twist of stereotype, I used to to stop and ask for directions when I got lost. On my very first date with my wife it really impressed her when I not only admitted I was lost but also stopped to ask someone how to find the address. Although she was a little surprised that instead of stopping at a gas station for directions I chose a pizza place. But the way I see it, pizza delivery drivers have to know the city to do their job but gas station attendants don't. So whenever I got lost my go-to was a pizza place. I'd walk in and ask "Do you guys deliver? If you had to deliver to this address, how would you get there?"