Oh no! That rude clerk! How dare they attempt to offer an alternative to their customer! They should have known better! Someone should speak to their manager.
Wasn’t there another Everette one with a similar scenario except the clerk points him to another store that does carry what he wants and he ends up buying their alternative instead?
They are many years apart but they do fit together great and may get one additional layer to the story if we assume True being to the shop in OP first, and besides comparing these two approaches (business-oriented vs client-oriented) he already knew there're no right peaches at the competitor's.
It's business' interest to keep the client in the shop by providing products alternative to what's needed. Unlike other strips where True comes physical over every small thing, there he doesn't.