Man I remember all that shit when it was coming out.
The mom and pop game store i used to always go to had a super hardcore gamer that worked there. He imported a playstation and when he worked he would set it up on one of the tvs and he let us play. Seeing/playing ridge racer in particular was a big holy shit moment. I knew right then I wanted as soon as it came out.
When the shop started taking preorders for the us release I had already saved up money and credit since first playing the playstation that I paid it in full and preordered ridge racer and battle arena toshinden. So I go up to the store with friends and when we walked in they said hey good news and I said what, he holds up the PS1 box and the two games and said come get them.
That was 9 days before launch.
Everyone was so jealous and angry they either couldn't afford it or that they didn't get one of the handful systems they were getting pre-ordered. I was in awe, thankfully my friends mom was still in the parking lot and we got her to drop us off at my house (we were 15). Still gives my joy to this day thinking back.
I was a customer of that place till they closed.