Paint Rant

It's all about customer service. Period.
If I don't know the answer to a question, I'll either refer them to someone who does, or I'll jump on the phone myself. My old NAPA store closed about two weeks ago (6 months after I left) I don't want to sound like I'm "all that", but I'm sure it had something to do with the lack of customer service after I left.

 

I used to do a small amount of side work patronizing a local "Pro-type" auto paint supply. The owner ALWAYS went out of his way to treat me good even though I spent a tiny fraction of what his "real" customers spent there. One day after work I drove there as fast as I could to get there before closing time. I needed a couple quarts of paint to do a flame job. Nothing special - just fire engine red and school bus yellow and plain white. I made it there 15 minutes before closing and the owners kid REFUSED to sell me the paint. I was PISSED. I asked if he was kidding me or what??? He wasn't - I left pissed. A couple days later I was there for something else when as usual the owner started making small talk. So I asked him what time does one have to get there to actually buy paint. He said we close at 5 o'clock. I said, yeah I know when you close but I want to know when I have to get here to actually buy paint. Again he said 5 o'clock. Which I then corrected him and told him I was there at 4:45 a couple days earlier and the guys son refused to sell me paint. The owner was now the one who was pissed. He about wanted to give me the paint but I told him I had already bought it elsewhere.

This guy KNEW how to run a business - even treating a peon customer like me as if my business mattered. My point was made - and his reaction kept me going back there to this day.

Point is you cannot judge a store by one employee.

 

I told Pop about the story...

His response?

'Well son...if it isn't made anymore, ask the little goober if it won't hurt when you bounce a godamnn imaginary quart of seam sealer off his thick head?

I like Pop. He's direct.

 

That's pretty much what were all telling you. Some of us are being a little more direct then others and some of us want pix posted. Well actually we all want pix posted. Face it, THAT would be one funny photo!

Vance

 

It might be a LITTLE bit out of your way, but I've bought lots of paint and body supplies from the Sherwin-Williams store on Telegraph Road just north of 5 Mile in Redford, and those guys know what they're doing. They have books with the old paint chips in them if you want to look at them, and they custom mix anything you want right there in the store while you wait most times. Of course, they also carry all your basic body and paint supplies, too. It was a one-stop shop when I needed to get a car painted or touched up.

(I worked for a used car dealership a couple years ago and part of my job was to get any and all shop supplies, parts and equipment for the mechanics and our on-site body & paint guy. The dudes at that Sherwin-Williams store also helped us out with stuff for our personal projects, like touch up paint for 60s Mopars and a custom mixed metallic blue color I came up with for a Cutl*** we painted. Check 'em out next time ya need something!)

 

thanks, Fat! Just may check them out during lunch...

As a kid, I had an account at Jim Steadman and Son Auto Parts on Ten Mile in Farmington Hills. They had a counter a mile long, chip charts back to the 50's, never looked down on my skinny *** and had a full machine shop out back supervised by a grizzly bear of a guy named chuck. They went outta business in the 80's; really, really miss 'em.

 

Another thumbs up for RM Paint.
I quit paying the PPG prices. I use PPG's paint codes and take them to a local paint shop that sells five other brands including RM and they cut my paint prices in half compared to PPG and its as good as PPG.
The down side is they are farther than the local PPG store

 

I get it... I think the point here is that most of the paint and parts jobbers are hiring green horn young *** guys that 1/ don't know **** about the product, only what they see in the computer and 2/ don't really give a **** about customer service and don't have the work ethic to make the sale.

Went to go get a set of valve cover gaskets for my chevy( small block in a 37 chevy). Guy asked what kind of car ,i told him, my computer doesn't go back that far he says!!!! No **** dumb ****! So I try to explain what I got he still doesn't know. Went later to get some parts for a late model truck, a wiper motor. Get this, the guy wanted to know whether the truck was 4 wheel drive or not.

The moral of the story is that unless you know the part numbers for your old **** or you actually know the guys behind the counter at the parts or paint store, you probubly won't get much help. Even some of the managers don't know ****!!!!

 

Theres only one shop here in town that I always go to. Don's Hot Rod Shop. They always have what I need, or can atleast get it for me, and they know my name and what I drive. All of the peole that work there are very knowlegeable, and helpful. This is what has kept them in business for the better part of 40 years.

 

If you know what you wanted take to part # with you. I know it is not your job, but it might make the next trip a little better. I work as a paint salesman, and I know my products and my part #'s, but I work with people who have been selling paint for 20 years and they couldn't or should I say wouldn't have looked the sealer. To lazy and just don't care.