Pretty Woman take 2: I, too, have been subjected to similar treatment. Maybe I was being discriminated against because I was a Yankee in the South (they're still fighting the war, you know, not quite convinced they lost, I guess). When verbally rebuffed for having inquired about the cost of a high falutin' truffle -- this was before anyone knew what a candy truffle was, which made them seem prohibitively expensive and a little naughty; and for god's sake, people, just put a price tag on things, will you?! -- , I replied firmly, "Fine, then, I'll take TWO." The look on the clerk's face was priceless. And very waxy and still. Best $15 I ever spent on two bites of chocolate and almonds!
Re the sudafed, if you cut/crush/chew any time-release tablet, you get nothing, because you've compromised the action of the medicine's very specific time-release mechanism, says so on the package.
Mmmmm, pi XXL (thank you!)