I just got home from Napa.. I went in there to buy some new breaker points for my '54 Ford.. I slapped down the credit card and had the girl also look up the price on 1/2" drive torque wrenches (since mine is missing in action) The torque wrenches were 200 bucks at the cheapest, so I told her no thanks. I paid for my breaker points and took off.. I opened up the receipt and noticed they cost 15 bucks. So I drove up to O'Reilly Auto Parts, where I typically don't do any business, and they sold me a set of identical points for $1.95. The ONLY difference was that the Napa points came with a little capsule of red lubricant for the distributor cam.. So I went back to Napa claiming I wanted to return the seemingly overpriced part, and the girl said "Well do theirs have a lifetime warranty?" I told her I didn't know, and didn't really care. Aside from that capsule conataining the blood of the Virgin Mary herself, I wasn't going to keep the things.. Sheesh.. All these old dudes are constantly hanging out at Napa buying stuff, and I feel like telling them to check out some of the other stores, because they're probably getting bent over.
yeah NAPA can be overpriced on things, and stuff I can find elseware I do. But somestuff I can't NAPA will have it there the next day. I don't ever thing of asking questions or ***uming the parts counter guy at any of the other stores know what you are asking about. Most of the time the NAPA people know their ****.
[ QUOTE ] yeah NAPA can be overpriced on things, and stuff I can find elseware I do. But somestuff I can't NAPA will have it there the next day. I don't ever thing of asking questions or ***uming the parts counter guy at any of the other stores know what you are asking about. Most of the time the NAPA people know their ****. [/ QUOTE ] What's sad is that Napa seems like the place to get parts for old cars, but in this city I get the best service at the other two shops I go to. And 75% of the time, nobody is manning the register at Napa, and I have to stand there for 15 minutes before anyone comes in from doing whatever and notices I'm there. The nice thing about Napa is that I can look up the part # online (they have the only database that goes back that far) and then flip them part # and be on my way.. I didn't bother looking up the points, but I think I'll double check the price online now.. I just can't buy stuff if it's nearly 10x the price of the other guys.
Here in ca napa will give you 7% off when you show em your AAA membership card.... thats almost sales tax!
yeah, NAPA always has good stuff though, I bought some motor mounts for my Jeep from Autozone and they were ****tastic, the holes didn't even line up, then I went to NAPA and yeah it cost more but it was a quality part. Cheaper stuff, fluids, spark plugs, distributor parts, etc. I usually get from Autozone, O'reilly or Pepboys. But bigger stuff, alternators, startors, etc. I get from NAPA usually with the lifetome warranty. On my jeep I bought a new started from NAPA, and got the lifetime warranty, went back to install it and sheared off one of those gay copper studs, took it back to NAPA about 30 min. after I bought it and they replaced it no questions asked. And all the guys at the counter know their ****.
That's messed up, man. I've NEVER had to pay that much for points at NAPA, at least I don't think I did. Besides, with a lifetime warranty, you could bring them back in 6 months when they need adjustment and say they are worn out! If you want a good online part number locator, check out autozone.com. As ****ty as their counter help IN STORE usually is, is as great as their online parts finder is. Whenever I use the online NAPA one, they can never find anything I'm looking for, Autozone's site will almost always have a part number, which I can take to my NAPA (a good NAPA) and have them cross reference. If your NAPA is that bad, you might just want to reserve them for the hard to find stuff, or call them for price checks beforehand. Good luck.
If you want to go low buck on most stuff auto related (in the midwest) hit up your local fleet farm. They got all of the parts that are just fine that are made for a budget.
son....ya got bent hard, i can sell ya a set on N A P A points fer about 2.25...ya just gotta know ther right people to talk to in the stores. My (I manage a corprate owned store in Texas) store is understaffed, and i don't have the sharpest pencils in the box behind the counter, but i have O'reilly, auto zone, and a pep boys within three miles of the house, and God help me if i need anything on a sunday... Point is....get to know one of us old farts behind the counter..we've been there...and actually enjoy helping other gearheads out
The auto parts industry is DEAD for the most part...largely because national chain stores have forced the local chains or Mom & Pop shops out of business...but also because the larger chains expressly DO NOT WANT employees who know anything about cars working behind the counter! Sound silly? Tis TRUE! A fellow HAMBer worked at an Autozone store for a whole three days...they told him the minute he showed up for work "You are not a technician, a buddy or a car guy...you are a PARTS SALESMAN!"! He didn't jive with that...he's one of US...a born backyard mechanic who knows cars inside and out and wants to help others FIX their ****...not just hit 'em with a predetermined sales pitch and sell them a bunch of stuff they don't actually NEED! I recently thought to try re-entering the retail parts biz on a tip that a local Napa store was hiring. As I was standing off to the side filling out my application, a customer walked in with a cooling system problem and began to describe it to the guy behind the counter. Now, the customer spoke very broken English, and the Parts Salesman was less than patient with him. He zeroed in on talking the guy into buying some coolant and flush! I briefly tried to intervene...and should have just left the application on the counter and gone out to look at the truck (didn't realize he had driven it there at the time) and isolate the customer's problem for him. I finished filling out the app as another customer patiently waited for the Parts Salesman to figure out how to look up brake parts for his stake truck (F-450 Super Duty...the Parts Salesman was baffled...finally announcing that "They don't make rear brakes for that!"). I knew it wasn't my kind of place, and I'm glad they DIDN'T call me back to work there...I was under the impression that I'd be working as an auto parts guy...like I USED to...where you LISTENED to the customer, helped him or her figure out what they needed, then did your best to locate it for them if you did not have it right there in the store! (I was always the "special needs guy" at the stores I worked at...and always the YOUNGEST employee behind the counter...so the "look for the old guy" rule isn't ALWAYS the case! I was the only one who would take the time to look up, cross reference, and match up oddball parts for obscure vehicles, or for rodders doing swaps. The old guys I worked with directed all such "hard" requests to me!) As I left the Napa store, I saw the guy with the "overheating" truck doing a flush in the parking lot. I walked up to have a look, and talked to him in detail. Yes, he spoke very poor English...and he apologized for that several times, though I ***ured him it was all right! But really, a car guy can understand what someone is saying about a problem if they give it any EFFORT at all. He said it "overheated but wasn't that hot". I had him run the vehicle for about five minutes while I looked over everything...the radiator was in good shape, the fan was turning normally...and wrapping an experienced hand around the upper radiator hose told me it was right in the 190-210 degree ballpark (you can develop a feel for things like that if you mess with cars long enough.) A peek at his temp gauge showed the thing burried! I tried not to laugh, but after feeling to be sure that all the hoses were a uniform temperature...I ***ured him that the sending unit for his gauge was bad...or the gauge itself was on the fritz...and he had NO cooling system issues! (I give him kudos for being alert enough to LOOK at the gauge!) He asked if they sold the sending units in the store...I said that they might...but that I'd try the Chevy dealer myself...and probably just have them do the repair if he didn't have the tools or the skills to change the sending unit himself. After a brief explanation and pointing out where the unit was on his particular vehicle, he said he could do it...but would buy the part elsewhere! Now...locally...one of our big chain auto parts stores recently went to being open 24 hours, 7 days a week. I noticed that their prices snuck up a little, and the service is a little less efficient than it used to be...but it's cool that at least SOMEONE thought that "Hey...maybe we oughtta be open at times when someone who needs their car for work may actually have the time to GET here!". Nice to know you can go there at 3am on a Sunday if you're thrashing to get your ride running! I dunno...it sure ain't like it used to be...we never made our customers wait in ONE line to get their part, and then wait in ANOTHER line to pay for it...we handled everything ourselves...but hey...I surely don't live in the modern world!
I get most of my stuff at our local NAPA. I've never had any problems with any of it. The counter help is good there too. They will actually dig things up in the book - not just look on the computer and say they don't have it. Plus being from a small town, usually if I need something after hours, I can call the owner and they will meet me at the store. If they don't have something on the shelf they will have it there the next day. Plus I have a charge account there.(Not always a good thing though) Sometimes things might be a little more expensive but the extra help is worth it. Besides when I go to O' Really, I tell them what I need and all they say is " Oh Really - we don't have that but I think ypu can make this work.
The breaker points in my 55 Safari cost that back about 5 years ago.I went to a 56 and up distributor(with the window adjustment and for the price of the 55 points,I can buy a cap,rotor,and condenser for the later distributor and have enough left over to buy coffee and doughnuts. My youngest son works for NAPA(in the warehouse though;he gave up being a counterman)in M***achusetts and I have had good luck dealing with stores not only in Michigan but on the road as well.People seem to be pretty knowledgeable and availability is good. Having been a counterman and parts manager for a good part of my life I can usually spot someone who is out of their element.I try to be patient but it can be difficult. One of the best places I've ever dealt with(strictly over the phone;they're 100 miles away)is Northwestern Auto Supply in Grand Rapids Michigan.They specialize in older vehicles and I have yet to call them and talk with someone who isn't totally knowledgeable about old cars.Their prices aren't the cheapest by any stretch but they supply the product and I haven't been disappointed yet and I've dealt with them for years.They do mail order but do not ship C.O.D.anymore.Give em a try for old parts sometime.Unsolicited testimonial.
[ QUOTE ] being a shop owner (not car related) i always try to do business with the little guy. nic [/ QUOTE ] This is my philosophy too. All the stores in town are now chains though. The more local place recently became a Carquest.. We don't have any farm stores in town anymore (closed) Luckily, the 'help' at all these stores are generally great with finding parts. O'Reilly and Carquest both whoop up on Napa as far as genuine concern with your problem, and parts finding capabilities.. Like I said, the nice thing about Napa is I can get the part number before I go in That saves me about 15 minutes of them digging through 4 thick manuals. The Napa part DOES look better built than the O'Reilly, admittedly.. They are both made in the USA, but the Napa one is more durable.. I don't know if it's worth 5x as much though... The carquest guy told me that 1 year warranty **** is softer (the points) and wear out much more quickly.. Admittedly, the borg warner O'Reilly points were 10 bucks, and the Carquest lifetime ones were 13.. So maybe Napa wasn't THAT far off. Either way, my damn car still runs with a miss, and I've replaced every item involved with the ignition.. Now i'm rewiring the coil and distributor.
yeah i guess i am lucky my buddy owns 2 stores one is calleda cl*** c , which doesnyt even stoc ka chevy starter or pump but the other big sotre does now one town is 25 thous, and the other is around 9 thous population ,and been going there for 25 yrs, i ogt buddies rodding and they work there , he has been real goog to the area and peopel know that,he has hired some of the dimmest bulbs in the drawer ,at times but some have learned and gone on to be real good at parts and building and know how, ,yeah i miss the old guys that were there in the 70.s wasnt anything they didnt know, so for expierence you gotta try and find the peopel that will make it ,but you are also running a business,i am glad i dont have to run the business , but with time, you do find the places that work with you and for you
I sell to many a chain store. Most of the managers make it known that their counter guys should not look up the part numbers... let the warehouse do it. That cut down on their returns by 60%. So now, 20 times a day, I get to look up headlight covers, ventshades, and bug shields... I just love it. There are many, many good speed shops out there that can still give you the service you deserve. Just have some patience with them! Mike
The NAPA by my old house was always more than helpful, always had what I needed (or could get it) and always got me out of a jam, whenever I was in one. Hell, I had to fix my brothers steering box on his 84 Dodge pickup this winter, and didn't have a puller to pull off the pitman arm. I bought the "cheap" one (it wasn't pricewise, but qualitywise, yeah it was) and proceeded to break it in 2 1/2 seconds. Went back to NAPA (it was about a block away, about 10 minutes after I bought it) and showed it to them. They gave me the "upgrade" puller, with a discount for the broken one, and loaned me some other stuff I'd need for the job cause they were closing and knew I would need it, and they wouldn't be there. And, even though I wasn't able to have a core to them that day, they gave me the part without charging the core charge. They are alright guys in my book. The only good thing about the local "chain" store is the younger girls they have working there. Harmonie, if you're reading this, you rock! My little bro was a manager for a local "chain" store. He genuinely tried to help customers, knew how to look **** up in books, and helped in any way, shape or form he could. I wish there was still someone like him there, when I need the wheel cylinder for a 64 Impala SS, and their books only go back to 69 (same part, but if the computer doesn't list it, it doesn't exist. ) Don't even get me started on the spark plugs for a Quad 4 story... NAPA is still the best bet for "old car" ****... round here anyway! Jay
Living in a small town we are very limited,we have a napa and a parts plus thier prices are about the same and so is quality,and they both have one person who know what the hell is going on,if that person isn't there your screwed!! I'll go up to the other store if I have to. They both go out of thier way to help find goofy stuff,like a water pump for a WW2 half track.NOT CHEAP but napa could get it. I hate to try to get stuff from the cheaper chain stores.I've heard it said that 99% of the public can't think for themselves,they are usually working at the discount parts stores.
I've had good results with NAPA, have had to use them on several occasions since the old time parts stores here have been gobbled up by the national chains. They carry (not always stock) a lot of the old obsolete stuff and I've never waited more than overnight to get what I've been looking for. Its still like it was in the old days, you HAVE to find out who knows their ****, make friends with them, and wait if necessary to get them at the counter. Frank
i used to use the autozones and things like that, until i got sick of hearing "we cant get it" or "it will be a week or so." now i usually use napa. if they dont have it, i can usually get it that day if im early enough. and you are right, you gotta get to know the counter guys. the dude i usually deal with is always grumpy as hell. i think he hates me actually, but he knows his ****. we have a small town parts store here, and the guy has a lot of parts. but i think he has a disability? if i go in there, im usually there for 45 minutes, hearing the exact same stories that i heard the last time. i can only take so much of that, and dont go in too often now. trey
Around here the owner of the local NAPA store is both knwledgable and high.The O'reilly's here does fairly well on old stuff.As far as parts go NAPA seems to keep more frontline (name brand) on hand where O'reaaly has begun to trend towards stock of second line stuff like brake best instead of Wagoner and ignition stuff of some brand i never heard of, but can typically get the good **** Aka Standard o-nite.NAPA is pretty good on overnite but prices overall substantialy higher than O'really and personel not quite as nice.
I live in a small burg with an auto part store. (Handy) Went there to get a dist cap, roter, and points for a sbc in my Henry-J. What I got was BLUE and CHEAP! $24.00 and change. Drove 10 miles to town, to NAPA and got GOOD stuff, same parts, different manufacturer for $16.00 and they were quality and black. I know both owners,so that should count for something?? I like NAPA. The blue ones will ride for emergencies. Thanks, McCray
Stuck in Aurora, NE with a bad water pump on my 1970 Caddy in 1995. Limped to the Aurora NAPA around 7 am. Guy was in the back doin' inventory, store was closed yet. He looked for the part in stock, but it wasn't. Then he called around and found one in Grand Island. Had to wait for his driver to get there, then he sent him to grab the pump. Loaned me all the tools I needed, and I got it changed in a half hour (Caddy pumps are easy). It wasn't 'til later that I noticed he had gone to his compe***or to get a pump for me, then didn't charge any extra for all that. NAPA gets my vote. ANd FWIW, my NAPA near me, who I've had an account with for the last ten years or so, has always been more than helpful to me and anyone else who has come in, even to the point of getting parts for me over the phone and handing the parts to the person I sent in when I was broke down on the road. Gave me a ride home after I walked ten miles to get a part because my Chevy II broke (it was only about five blocks to home, but the manager insisted I had walked enough that day!). When building a project, they will hand me the relevant parts book and let me look up what I need by length, specification, or whatever. My NAPA rocks, even without cute chicks (though they do have one of those, too!) Every time I go to Autozone, (or TracAuto, years past) I am always reminded why some animals eat their young. YMMV, Cosmo
The good news about my local NAPA is that they usually have--or can get--the parts I need. The bad news is that the last time I was there I had to explain to the counter guys what a Ford 9" rear was. (Even though they had the gasket I needed in stock!) An hour away at my dad's house, there's a small shop that belongs to one of the franchise auto parts networks (I forget which one). There's a guy there that rocks, and I buy all my stuff from him when I'm in that area. It may cost a little more, but it saves time and aggravation. Plus, there's a certain satisfaction in dealing with someone competent that counts for something in my book.
Went to the place by me that is now open 24 hours today...asked the guy at the counter for a thermostat housing gasket for a small block Chevy... ...he asks what year and vehicle...says he NEEDS to know. **** him...I'm up for some fun, so I play... Me: "49 Chevrolet" Him: "What?" Me: "A ninety-forty-nine Chev-ro-let!" Him: "Oh, with a 350 in it?" Me: "No, a V6 from a Citation." Him: (Long pause) "What year Citation?" Me: "Who knows...the thermostat housing is from a Monte Carlo!" Him: "What year Monte Carlo?" Me: "I give up." Him: "You don't know then?" Me: "No, but it's the really special one...the year that they had 350 engines in them." Him: "I don't know what year that would be?" Me: "Does your COMPUTER know?" Him: "I don't know...I can't look it up without a year, make and model." Me: "A 1949 Citation with a Monte Carlo 307 in it!" Him: "I thought it was a 350?" Me: "No, it's a V6." Him: "From a Monte Carlo?" Me: "No...you're not paying attention!" Him: "I'm sorry...I can't look it up without an application!" Me: "I already gave you one...several in fact." Him: "You did?" Me: "Okay...have you ever sold a thermostat housing gasket for a 49 Chevy 216, a 1975 Monte Carlo 350 or a 1982 Citation 2.8?" Him: "Well...maybe one of those? Me: "Guess what?" Him: "What>" Me: "They're all the same." Him: "How do you know?" Me: "Because by some wild twist of fate, I own thermostat housings for a 216 Chevy, a 350 Chevy, and a 2.8 Chevy...and they all take the same thermostat and gasket!" Him: "So what do I look it up for?" Me: "Ummm...a 1981 Camaro with a 305." Him: "Where did THAT come from?" Me: "General Motors about the time the Go-Gos released their first album." Him: "That was 1981?" Me: "Sure was...but before they were the...OH HELL...JUST GIVE ME A SMALL BLOCK CHEVY THERMOSTAT HOUSING GASKET...LIKE THE MOST COMMON ONE YOU HAVE!!!" Finally, a kid walks by, hears the conversation, reaches up and pulls the gasket off the peg and says "He wants this one." At least ONE genius works there...and he couldn't have been 20 years old...hope for the future?
Fat Hacks a ****, we hashed this over previously. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/showflat.php?Cat=&Board=UBB1&Number=467664&Forum=UBB1&Words=Experiment&Match=Entire%20Phrase&Searchpage=0&Limit=25&Old=3months&Main=462368&Search=true#Post467664
That's why I stay away from Advance, Auto Zone, and Pep Boys. It was really fun when I had my Henry J, with the camaro subframe, 350 from another car, 200r4 from an 84 Buick Wagon, and rear from another camaro. I think I made tehm dizzy with it all.
That sounds like something that goes on in bigger cities... Due to the shortage of jobs here, and the overabundance of college kids, compe***ion for low paying jobs is high, so typically, everyone knows how to help you at each store here. A lot of times I even get the kid behind the register to spit out cross reference ideas so I can get cheaper parts. I guess I'm lucky that way. living somewhere small enough full of edumacated people that the help isn't totally helpless. I was in Cicinatti one weekend trying to revive a Volvo that hadn't run in 2 years (to drive back to Iowa) and we ended up at an Autozone (or Pepboys??) and it was like I was in a different world.. the help didn't speak english, they weren't willing to help us in throwing together a temporary solution (the car was missing its proportioning valve) and would only look up REAL parts for that particular car.. Totally ******* me off because the guys here in town would go dig through the parts bins and thread together all kinds of pieces until we had something redneck engineered together.. I guess I need to start appreciating that
Kinda the same thing happens to me. Counter chickie=Good morning welcome to xyz auto parts. Me= It's 12 below zero and it's blowing snow how can it be a good morning? Chickie=I'm sorry sir Me =Why are you sorry,can you control the weather? Chickie =What can I get for you sir? Me = I've got a 91 Chevy Silverado , 4.3, 5 speed, and I need a clutch disc ,no pressure plate and a throwout bearing. Chickie= Is this a pickup sir? Me = Yes it is. Chickie = Which motor sir ? Me = It's a 4.3 v6. Chickie = Is it a manual or automatic transmission? Me =It is a manual trans, oh by the way ,do those bolts in your face freeze when your outside? Chickie =No they don't sir ,is this a 4 wheel drive sir? Me = No it is a 91 chevrolet ,4.3 , 5 speed manual ,2 wheel drive ,pickup truck. Chickie = Is that a crew cab truck sir? Me = No it is a regular cab. Chickie=I don't have one in stock sir but I could get it on special order. Me= Were you born in New York City/ Chickie = No I wasn't sir why do you ask? Me = Well with that purple and green hair I just was curious,you see in 1969 I got real Drunk in Grenwich Village and some friends dared me into sleeping with a Circus Parrot. I was afraid you may be my daughter!
I will make an adjustment to my original statement: Comparing the two sets of points, you can tell the Napa ones will stay lined up longer, and are of better quality. The Napa ones have more metal on them. The Napa ones also have copper plating on the spring. The reason I bought new o'reilly points was I bent the old ones installing them because I didn' thave the guide pin planted in the distributor base correctly when I tightened down the screws. Here's a couple comparison pics:
My local NAPA use to be great. Since they closed the warehouse in St. Louis, it ****s. I just ordered some parts for my other Chevy 265 and they said it'd be in Tuesday night.. will I stoped by and they have to order it from another warehouse and it maybe in by friday. I'm about ready to tell them forget it.....
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