Yeh I didn’t know there would be such emotion involved with auto parts stores. I’m a little sentimental about the old mom and pop speed shops and parts houses but it is what is. I just hate to see a loss of compe***ion! The sky isn’t falling, we as a group are pretty damn resourceful and will survive. Way back if the boys couldn’t buy it they built it. Dan
Looking stuff up IS the job. Knowing how a modern CAN BUS works and it's speed compared to the sub-systems isn't going to help ID the part the customer needs. If you have talked to an automated phone system or tried to sign up for something on a computer, you know there isn't a SKIP or DOES NOT APPLY ****on. The person is asking because that is how the program works. They are the interface between the store's catalog and inventory system and you the customer, who if you have internet service could have looked it up and even checked inventory before you left the house.
My industry uses the vin for parts. We generate our own parts order with the part numbers. The parts guy didn’t need to know anything about the car itself or what those parts did. Only needed numbers showing up to a parts counter without that information seems weird. as far as a merger. I don’t waste energy on **** I can’t control. Not much anyway the questions asked by the counter person are the questions needed to open up that electronic pile of catalogues when the customer doesn’t have their vin or part numbers. No different than ordering online. Easier than filling out the PAW or JC Whitney order form. We got it made and too stubborn to realize it
I spent enough time behind a parts counter to know that even in the old catalog days, there were what seemed like stupid questions. The worst one I ran across was needing the paint code for a set of brake pads. I showed it to the factory rep and he had to call to see why. This was a GM car, some pos econo box. Turns out GM built them in two factories, one of which was in California. The two plants used different brake systems and the only way to know which brakes was to know where the car was built. Since Cal had introduced stricter emissions standards, they used different paint. So the easiest way to know where the car was built was by the paint code. True story. NAPA United brake parts in the 80s. Later, the catalog changed to ask if it was Delco or some Asian made brakes.
Strangest question I was involved with was when I was trying to get the part. Used car lot, so we had to find and install some strange stuff at times to refurbish a car. Needed a driver's side sun visor and for some reason this wasn't a junk yard deal, nobody had one so had to go new. Car was an 80s corolla. YMM, sure. Interior color, okay, on the door tag. But they needed the VIN and where it was imported. What? Turns out, at the time the brand was imported to Los Angeles OR somewhere in the gulf, it might have been New Orleans. This went back to the very first days of their entry to the US market and those importer agreements had continued up thru that point. The sun visor was different for western cars and eastern cars.
I also have a NAPA warehouse about 4 miles away. Counter people are pretty young but they do work hard at finding what you need.
I used to feel cool when I asked for a master cylinder or other for my car and then when they asked what vehicle it was I'd smirk and say 1936 Ford...... what a dumb*** Know your part #s and make life easy
I would like to support local, as in NAPA, HOWEVER; recently I needed a speedi sleeve for my Ford rear pinion shaft. I took it to NAPA, they measured it, ordered sleeve. Nice that it would be there the next day. The $54 price, not so nice. Anywho, I pick it up, take it home, and it is nowhere near the right size. I measured the shaft, looked the sleeve up on Rock Auto, $16 shipped. nAPA got the wrong sleeve back. I use NAPA for sealants and free calendars. I can’t afford to overpay for all my bearings, seals, sleeves etc.
Certainly not really riveting stuff or totally cool vintage films and photos of the formative years of our celebration of all things traditional......but in my opinion it is an honest reflection of the trials and tribulations of regular real guys who build stuff....modify stuff....keep stuff running....improve stuff.....and need to make a trek to the store to get the myriad parts to do so. Have fun
Essentially all the parts sold by Autozone, O'Reilly, NAPA, or Amazon are cheap junk made in China. Even buying OEM parts from the dealer will get you parts made in China. Americans love cheap and buying made in USA parts is just impossible today. The only difference that I can see is that when you buy a part on Amazon you can see they are made in China. Buying Standard Motor Products or NAPA stuff is just buying the same parts in a higher priced box.
The cost for rear brake drums for my 62 Bel Air last week at NAPA were such that I could buy both drums, shoes, wheel cylinders, and all the hardware to make it self adjusting as well as shipping from the US (RockAuto) for significantly less than the price of the drums. I use NAPA when I need the part quick, if I can wait I go a cheaper route for as good or better product.
I'm in Europe so would gladly jump through the hoops to get the parts that I need locally, taking my chances with any younger goofballs thinking a 1964 Mercury Comet is a coffee brand or whatever. Am trying to source out a simple camshaft dowell pin for a Ford 289 which (a) won't take 4 weeks to get here or (b) cost almost €100 landed (am not makeing this up. US suppliers seem to only use two international shipping methods nowadays: DHL/similar or carrier snail (USPS, which in the EU works with the... French post))... Well that's my rant before Ryan closes the thread
All of the major players, have on-line catalogs. Look up your own part numbers and buy/order them at the store. While accessing their catalogs, you'll know what information has to be entered prior to clicking onto the category for the part you're after. It will become clear, why the seemingly stupid questions are asked for parts look up. The counter person, in a lot of cases have no intention of making it a career, the pay is minimal, and no actual knowledge of the mechanics/multi-fit parts are necessary. The job is a steppingstone for what will eventually become their career, He/she are going through the steps necessary to click onto the part you ask for. It is our own knowledge of our own cars to know what a certain part came off of, or the years it was used. How much do you know about your own car/s?
Yep, our ability to buy parts for a 70 year old car is probably better now than it ever has been. All the info and part numbers is pretty darn easy to look up online.
I couldn't even buy points for my SBC at the local Autozone just 5 blocks from my house! The kid at the counter told me they didn't carry them because "nobody ever asks for points for their car these days". I had to go to the NAPA store and they had them in stock.
According to my calculations, Chevrolet stopped producing ignition points 52 years ago. Your average consumer is not driving a 52 year old car.
They are not even good for oil filters anymore. I stopped at AZ to get a filter and the book was gone, had to wait in line so they could look up what filter SWMBO's Miata took.
Just to add a little salt to the parts store wound, this is sad commentary on the future of the kids that want to work at a parts store! But its not the kids fault now is it?
A trick I learned this spring looking for an expensive part from NAPA for my wifes off topic driver was. Check different stores online for the part. I saved over $100 by buying the part from a store over 125 mi away. It was shipped to my door from the same warehouse as it would've if I'd bought local and just as fast .
The reason paper catalogs are gone is liability. Too many have used wrong parts and looked up parts themselves and had issues. This is why they ask you all the questions and all is do***ented. When I worked at NAPA we had to take away all catalogs from counter people and destroy. Telling them only use computer. Boy I lost lots of good counter people. NAPA used to be the gold standard of Parts houses and once compe***ion from AZ and ADVANCE stepped up their game, they all **** now.
Ya know what else sux? A new Ford Tudor. A new GM pickup. Any new Mopar. Ok fine, I know Ford doesn't offer a Tudor any more (and it picks a scab when people that should know better call em "tudors" vs 2 doors). But anyways, one of the comments above mentioned how resourceful we can be. Life hack, look up what you want on Rockauto. Jot down the part # and make the call or go in. Is it worth it for our ****? I got 41 Packard master cyl and wheel cyl kits brand new from my O'really's for cheap. Mail order from the spe******ts was twice the dough plus shipping. Works on your modern **** too. Is this post stupid? Nah, its ****in hot outside and it's just beer or coffee talk. We're in because it beats talking about current events 6 ways to Sunday.
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