You can tell times are changing

thats not true, if they were educated they may still be working there. i am educated a bit when it comes to the subject and im not workign in a shop. CAUSE THEY ARENT HIRING almost anywere.

any dumbass should know what a wheel stuf is come on its FLAT on one side! if their shop class closed then they should think of a new career path.

 

O'Reilly didn't have any pressure plate bolts today, just standard GM manual trans stuff from 60's-up. Don't stock them anymore or what? They have this cheesey little display that seems to be shrinking every year that has all of the "old stuff" which is really just cheap chrome and ugly gauges. But I have to say after 4 years of frequenting the same store (since the day it opened) one guy finally calls be my name. I told him he's getting all my sales from now on : )

Around here if you want real help you have to go to Carquest which is really a family place run by car guys and has a machine shop, just happen to be a franchise. It's just not convenient to get there for me.

 

I love how everyone jumps on the "this generation has no work ethic, there lazy", well whose fucking fault is that? The last generation for not showing them! Kids learn from example, if they have bust ass parents that have pride in there work like I did, guess what happens? I'm not saying these kids are completly off the hook, but neither is the last generation of over coddling parents. And now I believe we're off topic.

 

Went in Autozone for a 9" ford gasket. Woman manager helped me. I said I need the gasket for a ford 9" third member. I even explained its the rear end gasket for the 9" they are the same.
She comes out with a ford 3 speed transmision tailshaft seal. They didnt have it I had to go down the street to another computer.. what year etc....

 

I have worked at O'rielly's/Checkers and currently at Autozone. I have people ask for me because I know most of the cars 50-up. Its a double edge sword on the information the clerks need to know- The companies want you to know the MOST REVELENT to thier needs (Sales), and the customers want you to know nearly EVERYTHING.

I can tell you if the person behing the counter hasn't studied up on the various cars, OR HAS AN INTEREST IN OLDER CARS, the won't be able to help you-period.

Autozone and Checkers don't carry oil/fuel resistant hose larger than 3/8", and the fuel line they do carry may NOT be for submersion. We are not supplied with that info FROM THE MANUFACTURERS (Dayco, Kelly, Goodyear).

 

I have worked at O'rielly's/Checkers and currently at Autozone. I have people ask for me because I know most of the cars 50-up. Its a double edge sword on the information the clerks need to know- The companies want you to know the MOST REVELENT to thier needs (Sales), and the customers want you to know nearly EVERYTHING.

I can tell you if the person behing the counter hasn't studied up on the various cars, OR HAS AN INTEREST IN OLDER CARS, the won't be able to help you-period.

Autozone and Checkers don't carry oil/fuel resistant hose larger than 3/8", and the fuel line they do carry may NOT be for submersion. We are not supplied with that info FROM THE MANUFACTURERS (Dayco, Kelly, Goodyear).

 

So what you are in fact doing here is not only condoning incompetence but in fact propagating it!
Regardless of wage, social status or schooling once one takes a job they are instructed in the position they are in. To then continually fail in said position is unacceptable incompetence regardless of how you look at it.
What you are doing with your theory is enabling these people to remain employed while being incompetent in there position and therefor ensure that it becomes a part of 'normal' society.
Had you demanded that they maintain some level of ability in the position that they were instructed in would be the reverse. If enough people protest the current level of competence in the automotive parts departments then they would be forced to ensure that these 'Unschooled teens' at least assimilate the simple task that they are charged with.

Why help society's demise with simple acceptance?

Doc.

 

The O'Reilly's close to my house had a few good car guys that would go out of their way to help you get what you want, as soon as the store manager found out that they knew something about cars he would let them go. The store manager didn't know shit about cars unless it was in the computer and he would tell that he knew it all. I don't shop any O'Reillys now.

 

i go to a store thats pretty good, i went in with a tie rod off my 45 GMC, not made anymore as far as i can tell, they measure it, look it up in a one of there old books and a mid 70's ford pickup is the same, and $15, i allways go there first.

but i think back 30 years and there were lots of counter guys didnt know anything

 

I've had good luck with NAPA so far. *knock on wood*

 

Get real. When I was a youngster I had a part time job at an auto parts store. Whenever a customer asked me a question I couldn't answer I just did my best, and when the store was slow my nose was in the books LEARNING. I learned a lot because I wanted to, at $1.90 an hour.
Some of the kids I've seen working the counters nowadays do try, but others are clueless because the choose to be. Its about initiative, not the "dead end job" excuse.

 

I've lucked out for the most part so far. There are about five stores in the area (Lakes Region of NH to Concord) that I call. One usually has it. AutoZone actually came through on a voltage regulator and an exhaust gasket for my '55 Olds. I try to search on-line for some stuff to try to get numbers to see if they can cross-reference. Robbins and Sanel are pretty decent (lots of books to look through).

 

Whew, thanks for the save, at least they reminded us it's time to change the calanders again and now I need to reset my watch so it shows the right day.

Guess we need to get them a block of cheese to go with all the whine.

Guys, if you haven't learned by now that you have to out think Autozone's computers if you do go there it's time to let it sink in. Their employees aren't ever going to get any wiser about old cars anytime soon.
Or spend the time and look the part up on line, check to see if they have it in stock and then go get it.

 

Oreilly, autozone, and advance auto parts...or whatever name they have changed their name to this week,.....All recrut their help from mcdonalds.....If you want to deal with real people who actually know their job, and can count change without the computer.....Go to NAPA or Carquest

 

Geez, guys...John said nothing about imcompetent Autozone workers. He only said the 4 stores he went to didn't even have a 1" fan spacer.

 

try going to the BMW dealership for parts for a 28 Willys....

 

That's about an understatement!
Most of the guys in the parts store are not even qualified to serve burgers.
I had a 67 Buick GS 340 and the local parts store told me there was no such car.
Told them to look outside, then I bought my parts either out of town or from the internet.

 

I would never expect a counter person to have instant recall of every part for every car ever made. But, a reasonable working knowledge of vehicles in general would be nice:

Me: "I need front axle universal joints for a 1996 F150"

Counterperson: "Is that two or four wheel drive?"

Counterperson got pissy when I started laughing.

 

there are only two parts stores that make me happy. Both are locally owned. one where I grew up and one in my wife's hometown. They are both known to STOCK short blocks! I have yet to find anything like that around here. those guys collectively have all the knowledge in the world. you cant go to an Autozone and walk out with a holley double-pumper and the adaptor plate for a quadra-funk.

 

I started going to the local Autozone a couple of years ago (we don't have a NAPA close). Anyway, after my first couple of trips (looking for an oil filter for a '51 Ford and then the fuel filter for as Holley four barrel), the manager noticed that I was not an "ordinary customer". Now, when I walk in, he tells the person at the counter, "I'll handle this guy". He generally knows what I want and if they have it and where it is. If you have a manager of this quality, I guess you can get away with no-talents on the counter to take car of the ordinary stuff.

 

lol i hate when you go in to get a set of sparkplugs for your 53 chevy pickup but the motor is out of a chevy blazer(even though you told them the exact plug you need) and they want to know if its 2 wheel drive or 4 wheel drive...MAAAAN i feel ya fbama73

 

I dont believe you can expect good old fashioned service from these corporate places for the simple reason that, apart from us masochistic idiots, no-one works on their cars anymore.... they cant, new cars are too complicated and seldom break down anyway. The corporate stores are mainly geared toward selling car polish, chrome fart cans and seatcovers with Playboy rabbit-ears embossed on them. To sell those items requires absolutely no knowledge or technical know-how, and they probably move 10,000 of those items for every distributor cap for a 1947 Henway, or left-hand threaded muffler bearing for a 1953 Nerny.

 

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Napa has them. Thats where I get them for my Falcon and my Fairlane.

 

In California Autozone is call ed VatoZone for obvious reasons

 

I'll second that---

 

The companies themselves are to blame.. A few years ago I applied at autozone for part-time counter sales. I was able to answer every question they threw at me granted anyone with a little common sense should been able to. Didn't get the job guess I knew too much the only thing I can figure.

 

The guys that work at Advance here in town look like they came from an old star wars movie. Red & blue hair with most of their body full of jewelery. Tryed to get a trans filter for a 85 C4 trans. Nope don't got dat one = pierced tonque.

 

The only thing that is constant is change. Sorry!

 

All I got to say is try wearing the shoes of the guy behind the counter for a couple days and you will change your attitude towards them. I know I have.

 

I worked parts for 20 years at the last large Canadian chain I worked for wanted the fast cash. They dont want there people taking to much time between customers so if its not on the computer for fast look up they arnt making $$$$$. They can sell 10 newer car parts to your 1 this maximises their profit and drives their stocks. Get over it we are not their bread and butter we are more of an inconvenience.