Automotive Parts Stores

Ok, this may be a little bit of a vent for me but I was out buying parts for my RV and it seems that whenever I go to the parts store I always end up with the dolt who knows nothing about cars. I just ask for simple things like light bulbs, brake lines and the occasional bearing. What I am confronted with are the standard questions, what's the year, make model, blah blah blah.
I know it's more efficient than the old fashion way of having employees with a good knowledge of cars who know off the top of their head what the basics are. Breath.
Sometimes I like to mess with them like one time I needed a bearing for a project I was working on which was completely as far from a car as you can get. Sure, I could have ordered it through one of the bearing suppliers I usually deal with but I was on my way home and the auto parts store was there. And I was in a mischievous mood.
I walked into the store and started to browse knowing that it would only be a few minutes before someone from the sales team would descend on me and ask the magic question, Can I help you? I walked around the carefully planned aisles looking for my target carefully avoiding eye contact, and soon my patience paid off.
I saw an employee about three aisles away had noticed me and started the approach. I pretended not to notice him and started walking the other way, still browsing, although at a faster pace. I crossed into another aisle to inspect the new air fresheners all the while keeping the mark within sight.
The moment he rounded the far corner I doubled back as if I forgot to look for something. He fell for it and I  turned once again and entered the high performance aisle. So, much, chrome.
This time I let the team member catch up while I was scoping out the carburetors.
"Can I help you?", I felt a little chill on the back of my neck. I told him that I was looking around and that I was working on a project and needed a bearing. He asked me to follow him back to counter where I said that I have the bearing number in hand so there was no need to . . .
"Year."
"2010", I said.
"Make."
I felt a little giddy. "My own creation."
"Um, what?
I tried to explain that the thing I need the bearing for is not a car, as a matter of fact it doesn't even have wheels.
 Then I tried to give him the number and I could see his eyes glaze over. "I can't look up the part without a vehicle." he said. "Sure you can" I said and asked if he had those big bookish looking things under the counter, preferably one with 'bearing' somewhere on the cover. He pulled out a couple of hefty catalogs and placed them in front of me.
I found what I was looking for, an NSK bearing book. It was a little outdated but that's what the computer is for.
I told him that the bearing I'm replacing is a Timken and to find the NSK equivalent you have to turn to the back of the book to the cross reference guide.
After about five minutes we found the bearing, which had to be ordered.
I consider this a small victory because I may have taught a new skill to a young kid and by doing so he may be better equipped to help the next person who asks for something out of the ordinary.
When I find an auto parts store with someone who knows what they are talking about I tend to be a repeat customer. They understand that when looking up parts for my '89 jeep that the words 'does it have air conditioning?' should never be asked. Unfortunately, they always seem to get promoted or leave. I hate looking for a good part store.
My favorite store to go when I want to be entertained, and I have never been let down, is, shall we say an Advanced store. I walked in to buy an air filter for my jeep when an employee asked me the magic words. I said I was looking for an air filter but the catch is, it's not stock.
To his credit he told me that I could open up the boxes and pick one that fits. I thanked him and went about my business.
As I approached the counter he asked if I was all set to which I replied, yes. Then he threw in 'Can I interest you in fuel injector cleaner, it's on sale."
I told him that my jeep was not fuel injected, but thanks.
"Oh," he said,"you have a diesel."
Gold.
I asked him to try again and he was honestly perplexed.
After a couple of seconds I let him off the hook, "It has a carburetor."
I know I have issues, but really, as far as cheap entertainment goes, this is good stuff.