Home Depot and Lowes, use the barriers to block off aisles when the forklift is in the aisle. This is for the safety of the customer. An item could fall or be pushed off the other side and injure or kill someone. Do you want that someone to be you or your wife? I didn't think so.
"There was a forklift moving our way but nothing life threatening. No warning was given, just a quick pull." How do you know it was not life threatening? Those employees are held to strict safety guidelines. Perhaps there wasn't time to say, "Pardon me Sir, would you move out from under that 2,000 pound pallet of ceramic tile?".
Warehouse stores use forklifts to move ceramic tile, wood flooring and other heavy items. Inventory has nothing to do with it. If a customer "with money to spend" wants it, they drop it.
Go to Lowes. Home Depot will be happy to let you go there.