Serious Decline in Quality Knowledgeable Counter people at Parts stores...

Man, you really gotta know what you're doing because they sure don't..learned to take the old part to match up with the new..the new high turnover help sorta learns how to read the computer and beyond that they are lost in space..I asked for a clutch kit the other day and had to point out to the kid it wasn't for the AC compressor clutch, just to name one..all those added miles and minutes can add up..took three places to find the right group battery for a 88 Honda? (Honda, that was my problem, they had the one for my 69 Eldorado)..I swear I've had more luck buying Studebaker parts than Honda...

 

I found auto zone to be the shittiest place around here...when I went to buy my alt for my poncho, they couldn't figure out why I was buying a chevy alt for a Pontiac. Then they proceeded to tell me I would never get it to work. Funny, it works just fine

 

As an EX counter person....you can't work for 10 bucks an hour and be a car person...and the person willing to work for 10 bucks an hour could careless about cars, to them its just a job.....sign of the times my friend.

John

 

Sounds like you went to Auto Zone. They hire kids because kids work cheap. If they can read and click a mouse, they get hired. This past weekend, I asked the kid for a 2 feet of 3/8" fuel hose and he wanted to know for what make and model car!

I go to a mom and pop auto store (still don't know how they are making money) and the old guy still uses the books to look stuff up. It takes longer, but you get what you need.

 

Hey,I know what you are saying, been working behind the counter in auto parts since 1975.The big box stores are taking out all of the smaller operations,just like when Wally World comes to town,everyone is amazed by the tall ceilings, product stacked to roof.But try and ask for something they do not have! good luck.
A lot of our sales are people that have been to the big box stores and cant find what the need,so they come to us.We take the extra time to try to help,BUT there is no loyality anymore they will walk right out of your store after you have spent extra time helping them and then go to autozone,advance pep boys ect for the easy to find items!

 

I have to agree. I was a part store manager for 8 years but it just doesn't pay the bills and leave money for toys.

 

I'm lucky I've got two guys at two different shops that know their shit. The one guy is good enough he got me a radiator hose for a hot rod with a sbc and I didn't have to hunt for it. He told me to wait a minute and he would get one he thought would work....sure as shit it did.

I'll sit and wait till he is availble and it pisses off the other counter people.
Clark

 

I heard it plenty in 1988 as a teenager working a parts counter. Usually from some toothless retard insisting his granada had a "brain box" other than the blue grommet ignition module.

Sometimes they taught me, sometimes I taught them. But it still didn't pay shit. Some things never change.

 

I'd gladly buy parts at the local Napa, Station and Carquest... but they're never open when I need them... Those chain places are open Saturdays and Sundays until 9 or 10 PM.. When most of us are working on our cars... I buy what I need at NAPA but when in a pinch...that's how it goes...

 

a good parts guy is worth his or her weght in gold! i worked at napa for a while but 35 hours a week at 6$ wasnt going to feed my kids and the manager was a dick about giving us deals for our own cars i thought 10% over cost was ok he ws like 10% under list. thats like 40% over cost!!! no good from that shit hole they did have some good guys in there i was a loyal customer for years before and after i worked there.

 

O'reilley's is just about the only place I can go to and not get pissed off. And yes, that's over NAPA, Carquest, and the little stores. The guys there will tell you if they don't know, and let you look in the database/racks for yourself. I've been in enough lately they let me just hop on a free computer and find my own shit.

The carquest here I swear is open maybe 2 hours a day, everytime I try and go there they are closed, and have been for a few hours. Maybe because I go a little later in the day, but god it just gets to me how NOONE stays open in this little town.

 

There is an autozone about 1 mile from my house, yet I go accross town to the small guys store. Sometimes I go in there just for conversation and bring in a few cups of coffee. They are not open on sundays, but usually I am at a meet on sunday. This is a big problem here in america! Its another reason why I dont go to walmart (aka: the evil empire). All these big stores are pushing out the little guy....Next time think of this post before buying your header paint or whatever at autozone......my last time at autozone went something like this, "I'm looking for some 1/4 20's do you have a small little package hanging up somewhere? ----oh yeah....and thinking of header paint, they had yellow, orange and green header paint, but no black or white.....believe me fellas ---- it wasnt like they sold out either, this was on lincoln street in worcester mass ----- just terrible.

 

the issue around J-ville is Advanced auto parts...holy shitake batman, you can go in there and pick up a can of oil from the shelf and it will still take you 45 minutes....heaven help you if you have to get something from behind the counter....
Like clark I'm lucky, I've got one great bloke at auto zoo that I'll wait on (same story bout the rad hose actually for my 49 chevy) I still like the carquest up the road...those folks know me well enough to let me behind the counter and go look for what I need (and use all their books and ladders) hell sometimes I stop in just to dig through their shit....

 

I still think the NAPA'S have the best parts guys and still Have or can get the old stuff They

 

I still think the NAPA'S have the best parts guys and still Have or can get the old stuff They still have the catalogs and most will let you look through them if you ask.

 

Your right Advanced you will be there for 25 min IF the guy has only one item to buy and has it in his hand when he walks to the counter!

 

If you are relying on your local auto parts person to help you figure out your build, here are my thoughts:

A lot of "kids" in the 40's 50's, 60',s 70's and early 80's started out in life playing with cars...because they had to. The cars sucked. They broke down. They needed constant maintenance, regular tune-ups, etc., and you could save money replacing a part yourself- so you were forced to learn, and you probably didn't mind doing it yourself. America has shifted to a completely different mindset. "Take it to a mechanic (who will screw you)."

Today's cars are a whole other ballgame. If it doesn't start when you turn the key, most 35 year-olds don't know what to check first. (I know, I am the resident mechanic at my office.) If a 12 year old car breaks down, most people get pissed, because for 11 years they put gas in it, changed the oil and hit the key, never wondering what all was really going on under that hood.

Those same kids from back in the day eventually got parts jockey jobs, and at least had some idea of what WAS going on under the hood. They were helpful, knew what worked with what, and could provide advice.

That is, for all intents and purposes, GONE. Even here in the "Motor City".

That same would-be "crop" of kids are seeing their auto shops in school "phased out"...and counselors are stressing college courses instead. You can't play with newer cars much anyways, so the kids of today aren't playing around with them anymore- save for the Tuner crowd, and I would venture to say that's largely and internet/mail order-driven industry anyways. They don't go to Autozone for advice.

Cars now a days have few (if any) "serviceable parts"...you can't expect a 16 year old to know jack about a 350 Chevy- (no matter how basic WE deem it to be), if they have never actually seen one--unless he/she likes reading, because face it, they are in the history section now...we need to educate ourselves and not depend on the parts people anymore for the most part. The internet provides sufficient information avenues for most any semi-mainstream and mainstream "old car", so armed with a part number, you should be able to find what you need or have it ordered.

*Most* parts counter guys are basically 1 notch above baggers at grocery stores, from what I have seen. I worked for NAPA at one time as well...so it's not like I am pulling this outta my ass. I am speaking from personal experience here.

My question is this- how long before you can't get simple things anymore from an auto parts store- i.e. a rotor and cap/wires for a small block? That is more scary to me than the lack of knowledge behind the register.

If you are lucky enough to have an "older" person working in your local auto parts store, he/she is really the only one that can probably help most of us on here.

That said- the general consensus is that NAPA rules...and I would agree. BTW, when I left NAPA, I had bought so many parts on discount, I actually had to pay THEM more than my last paycheck was worth.

Just my .02

 

It all depends on who owns the franchise in the area.

For instance, the Canastota and Oneida NY NAPA stores are pretty bad. Except for one guy who worked at Canastota - not sure if he is still there or not. But several accounts wouldn't be there if he wasn't, and the stories I've heard I don't know how the store stays open. I went in there once and asked for him just for the hell of it, heard later that the other people were pissed about it.

I do okay at Advanced Auto, again depending on who's working. But you have to outsmart the computer and know either the part number, or just what vehicle you need to look up to get a part number to show in their computer.

 

Unfortunatly my local mom and pop shut down. I went there all the time but one guy cant save them from the mega stores.
I cant stand the kids at the auto zones and such, hell the local napa wasnt much better the guy told me I had a 425 in my Rivi but its a 401. Then he told me they never made a 401 cause there computer said a 400. Even though I politley told him this was 5th Buick and I think I know whats in it. He continued to tell me the part I made him order would never work.
Man I hate the world.

 

you know, a 51r battery isn't that common anymore while the 75 or 78 for your eldo is still very common. clutch kit huh...there are kits for the a/c clutches to rebuild them too you know. if you'd have said clutch set, it might have been different. did you know there are 2 different master cylinders in a standard trans car? might be nice if the customer can specify brake or clutch. maybe it's a case of the counter guys not being able to read your minds. i go through it all day every day. still though, there are very few parts guys anymore that know anything or give a shit...maybe that's why i have all the repeat customers. just understand that there are quite a few similarly names items that can be a little confusing if the person behind the counter doesn't know which you are referring to. of course, i'd think most of you on here might have known that already...you wouldn't be going in with a chip on your shoulder and possibly missing out on a guy who knows what you're talking about because you're being an ass. that never happens.

 

Our town is lucky to have a HAMBer (FergenBoysInc) run the local Pronto store. Most of the guys in his place bust their butt to help with all the oddball 235 stuff I ask for. Chad finds all the crap everyone else is too busy to find. I buy everyhting there with only one or 2 exceptions in the past few years. It probably isnt much, but its all I can do and I appreciate their service. I feel sorry for all you dudes that are stuck with the "parts boy" described in the old Rodders Digest article. We have the "parts man" in Brookings

 

but the computer says...but, the computer says...
yeah, but thats what does the trick for most peoples needs...
I can't even remember the last time I bought something at one of the chains.

 

BTW, lots of the older established stores treated me like shit when I was a teenager.

Then I quit going there cause Vatozone etc treated me just as badly and had lower prices.

Now that I'm older and considered a desireable customer, already have a supply chain in place that bypasses them for all large purchases via the internet.

Funny how that worked out. We've screwed each other.

 

most of who bitch expect the counter person to be as passionate about their parts as they are about their cars. Why should he? Does he drive your car? Does he even like your car? Most go in with a chip on their shoulders knowing that they will stump the goober behind the counter by stating in a clear voice "I need a water pump for a 31 ford coupe." Knowing full well they have a sbc in the 31. Then they stand back and bitch to whoever will listen about the poor service. These same customers always utter that classic phrase "It's for a sbc, everything fits the same."
Bottom line...... Go in prepared, and 90% of the time you'll leave with the right part.

 

Well...I wasn't relying on them to help me with my build, simply wanted a GD part..I wasn't asking the counter person to read my mind, really trying to be helpful and show him how to read the computer, asking for a clutch kit for a car with a standard transmission..I've always had pretty good luck with NAPA, I bought a set of brake shoes for a 72 Porsche 911, in stock, I was outta there in ten minutes!..and an older store around here called Vans, bought out by Carquest but they kinda keeping quiet about it..Autozone is pretty worthless except for the simplest stuff..

 

THE CORPORATE MACHINE STRIKES AGAIN!!!!!

muHAHAHAHHAHAHAHA!

 

i had a girl working at autozone as me the customer if they sold timing lights they where right behind her

 

parts stores do not pay crap...so unless the person really wants to be a parts person they only do it till they find something better.

The only qualifications for the local autozone are being able to use a computer and if you are bi-lingual you are golden.

A buddy of mine is a parts runner at another local shop because he wants too...not for the pay. They are teaching him the computer part so in a while we will have a great counter guy in Taft.

I was at pep boys in bakersfield and wanted a water neck for a sbc...one that goes up and straight. I asked that and or anything else at autozone and they reply what make/model/year. I reply who knows...pick one that has a sbc in it and go for it. they do not get it...but back to my point. The pep boys guy just said I will be right back and came back with it. He wanted to know what kind of hot rod I was using it on.

I was like does this guy have ESP. then it dawned on me I had my VLV shirt on and it has hot rods on the front. I told him it is for the engine I have for my 55 chevy truck. He proceeded to tell me he had a 58 chevy truck. I ended up buying a couple cherry bombs too. It was a pleasant experience.

 

Here's a completely whacked-out thing that happened at my local Autozone.

I walked in, needing intake manifold gaskets. I went up to the counter, where 3 guys with red shirts and nametags were all helping people. I stood near them, being next in line.
Some guy says something to me from over by the front door. I couldn't hear him and didn't think he was talking to me anyway. I kept waiting in line for the counter. This guy says something again.
Finally, I said "are you talking to me? he walks over all agitated and says "Yeah, whatchoo need?" I said "Nothing".

It was my turn and I told the parts guy what I needed.
The other guy, wearing no uniform and no name tag says "What's the matter? I'm not good enough to help you?"
I finally said "who are you and what do you want?"
He said "I'm the boss, what's the matter you're too racist to let a black man get your parts?"
I asked why he wasn't wearing a name tag, uniform or standing behind the counter.
He explained he can do whatever he wants, he's the store manager.

I said "for a manager, you're a real asshole."
The guy helping me started laughing. The manager shouted "don't help him, don't help him" and telling me to get out.
The other employees were laughing too, and looked up my stuff anyway while "the boss" was yelling at them not to look up my parts.

He ran in the back and came out putting his "Store Manager" nametag on and asked "Am I good enough to help you now?"

I said "I feel really sorry for you" and left.

I go to NAPA now.

 

I'd just like to say that i'm 17 and have been working at some parts stores for two years now and I know a pretty good amount about older cars. I drive a 62 ford wagon to work and help people find oddball stuff all the time. And i love helping people find parts for their rod. Granted, we don't stock a water pump for a 64 riv, but i can get it in a day. And i'd rather have the book over a computer any day. I work at a smaller chain with five stores and I work at the main store/warehouse, and it gets hopping in there. I get people telling we that that part is wrong and that it won't work, so i call one of the older guys over and he tells them the exact same thing i said and then they shutup. It just really gets me going sometimes hearing people talk about counter people, I know there are alot of bad countermen, but there are some good guys still around.

P.S. I hope to open up my own store eventually with a service area too. I would like to have my own speed shop because there are none left around here. Thats just my $.02