When our new, huge ?&? opened they made a fuss about customer advice and care. As it happened I was making a toilet roll holder - the sort with a dowel with 2 finials which slips into a slot. I went to find some turned balls, about 1 1/2" for the ends, but as it was a new store I couldn't find them. I got to the 'customer care' guy 3rd.
The first person was a middle aged woman who asked a perfectly sensible question, for which she got such a ridiculous answer you had to assume that the 'assistant'was just taking the mickey.
Next up was a tradesman who asked a question, got an answer, and then realising that he had forgotten his pen, asked to borrow one. The 'assistant' refused, on the grounds that he had once lost one that way. The customer pointed out that he would be spending about a grand, could he borrow a pen? No. So he cancelled his purchase and walked out.
I asked for a 1 1/2" turned ball and was shown a 5" stair finial.
And then when I left I was asked to show the contents of my basket, of course.