Yes shops in nYc have jacked up attitudes but for the issue in the original post . You just don't sell anybody spacers for any wheel you haven't seen.
What type of spacers ? What type of wheel? What kind of axle? If it was that easy it would be a standard.
If your trash get messed up, they are now liable for their mistake.
It looks like as stated before that they wanted to make sure they gave you the correct trash.
Regardless what the site stated you are not dealing with the person who wrote the article for the site.
S/F,
CEYA!