LOL Dave! Your story reminded me of a couple things, one working the parts counter at Checker Auto Parts in Colorado out of high school. I had fun with those Flux Capacitor people too (though you did get more inventive than me :-D), and got the full run of muffler bearing, blinker fluid, chrome plated master cylinder spark plug -- and even a '55 VW lower radiator hose -- requests, probably more than most being the only girl who worked there. The only computers in the store were in the manager's office and the cash registers up front; I miss the catalog days myself.
I moved to SoCal a few years later and ended up with a phone number one digit off from the local Super Shops. The usual "Hello?" when I answered it the first time and gave the caller the right number turned into a "Good afternoon, Highland Super Shops. This is Lee. How can I help you?" when they immediately called back. I wonder sometimes how many people over the years insisted their parts were supposed to be waiting on the counter when they got there ........ :angel12: