Part store strike out

Good counter help can "cover a multitude of sins" and shortcomings in other areas.
My way of doing it:
I always try to have the part number in hand from research before I go in a store.
What we use on the old cars is hit and miss and I don't want to burn time at the counters.
If I can't find that they carry a particular part from checking on line, I sometime check with the store since their systems don't always jive and sometimes it turns out they CAN get it.
(Since Covid I use the phone and don't go in nearly as much anyway).

What I really want to know is why people feel the need to empty their mouths of various contents in the parking places.