For many men, myself included, shopping is such a hassle that some sort of military-like planning beforehand can ease the pain. A strategy that, providing there are no rogue shop assistants or unforeseen circumstances, should allow one to go in, make an exceedingly quick purchase, and then exit — immediately. Sanity intact and stress at a (hopefully) manageable level.
Others, however, appear to take the military element to a new and frightening level, modifying the misery into what would appear to be a full-on mission.