New Wholesaler Lied to?

[Cydney Aldridge]

My name is Cydney (unisex name. I'm male). I'm attempting to start a real estate business and looking to start with wholesaling so that I can get a better understanding of the RE market and earn the money to expand into flips and buy/hold. As I've been looking for cash buyers for when I get my first property under contract, I've been told by 1 of the local "we buy houses" people that they don't typically work with wholesalers and that wholesaling is shady and dirty kind of the way people perceive used car salesmen. Is it likely that this "we buy houses" guy is also a wholesaler and he responded to me with the intentions of limiting competition in his local market? Also would it be best to reach outside of my local market for honest general advice so they won't worry about me encroaching? By the way, I'm in Kansas City.