Unbelievable frustraion at "No Auto Parts Available"

I work in parts, mainly hydraulics, bearings, industrial and ag supply stuff. So I've been the guy on the other side of the counter. The one asking "what are you doing with it". And trust me, when I ask that I do need to know. Cause by that point I'll have a sneaking suspicion that what you are trying to do won't work with what you're asking for, or that I might have a better way of doing it. 9/10 times a guy says "doesn't matter I just need this" I'll go grab it, sell it to him. And see him two days later saying "It didn't work". The other time? He probably went to someone else cause he was too embarrassed to see me.

But I run on old school way of doing things. You got a number? Great. You don't? I'll look at it and figure out what it is. You wanna do what? Ok lets figure out how to make this do that. I run off actual information and knowledge. And trust me, for every shitty counter guy, there's a hundred customers who have no idea what they want. Like a guy comes in says:

"I need a bearing"

"Ok, what size?"

"About like this" Holds his hand up, index and thumb together in a circle.

Or my best yet? Was specing out a hydraulic motor for a guy. It was a **** show from the start. He had no idea how much pressure or GPM he was putting to this motor. So I told him unless I knew that I couldn't give him a reliable number as to what the motor would spin, or what torque it would create. So he pulls a couple numbers out of his *** and says run with those. Turns out its 411 rpm. What does buddy do?

Starts spinning his hand in a circle, real fast like and says "That's about 411 rpm right? That should work" I just nodded and sold him the motor. I wasn't going to argue for another 20 minutes with someone who wouldn't listen. Never mind that he was using this hydraulic motor to reel in a mile of hose, and that at 411 rpm with the reel he had that hose would whip along the ground like you couldn't believe. There was just no talking to him.

But I've been on the customers side of the counter, shaking my head while the guy at crappy tire tries to figure out the incredible rocket science of "5/16ths 2 inch long carb studs". That's a whole nother story.