It sounds like not a lot has changed...
In 1962 I was on a waiting list for a cold weather jacket, the 'waiting' bit being for someone my size handing one in as he departed.
I once attended a dining-out in the mid-70s where the departing GD[P] stated the highlight of his career as being finding the Clothing Store actually open... As I recall the Clothing Store, without the aid of a computer in those days, had devised a devilishly clever system of never been open at a time anyone could attend.