So I needed a screw for my laptop --- that's right, one single screw, less than 5mm long.... So I went in to ask if they had some. I took along one of the same size so I could make sure I was getting it right.
There were two blokes working in the shop. Both were very kind and helpful.
Unfortunately I didn't catch the first one's name. He went in back and brought out a couple of screws to check. They were close but not quite a winner.
Then he deferred to the second bloke, Mark, who had just finished with another customer. He had a quick look out the back, then about 30 seconds later came out with a good candidate he'd just 'ripped out of an old clunker' referring to a malfunctioning for-spares laptop he had out the back.
I said, 'sweet!' followed by 'what do I owe you?' and was pleasantly surprised when he joked (You know those screws cost $150 each!)
We had a good laugh after which it was clear that no charge was necessary.... (it was, after all, just one tiny computer-screw).

All in all this experience has been thoroughly refreshing! Have you ever been in an electronics/computer store and felt you had to avoid the workers as much as possible lest they co-opt you into buying something you don't need? A cynical person would say that's the norm in the business world, but the people at SMC computers have restored a small piece of my faith in the goodness of people --- THEY ACTUALLY WANTED TO SOLVE MY PROBLEM. It was great! That was their top priority for the time I was there.
Any further purchasing decisions were left to me, the customer, to make. As it should be!
SMC Computers are now my first port of call for all things computer-related.
And you know what, that screw fit into my laptop perfectly.
Thanks guys!

Approximate cost: $0.00