U Pick Parts search upon leaving......

I went to U Pick Parts in Sun Valley, Ca. today for the first time in a few months. Upon entering there was 2 pieces of paper to sign, the usual release form and than 1 that said metal detector. I didn't read the fine print, just signed it and went in. Upon leaving, the guard asked me to empty my pockets and stand on these 2 footprints painted on the ground. He than waved a metal detector over my body. Now I know what I was signing. I have been going there for over 20yrs, and today unfortunately will be my last time. I think this is way over the top for a wrecking yard, however it is their business and they can do as they wish, just as I have the right to go elsewhere. I just hate to think this is where we are headed in society.

 

Ive been there. That U Pick Parts is getting really strict. Ive been going there for about 10 years before i moved and my dad has been gong there for 30+. Its getting bad.

 

Can't blame the yard owner if he is getting robbed all the time.

Many people seem to think stealing from "a business" is not the same as stealing from a person.

You guys are lucky to get in; some yards here do not allow anyone in.

 

Late model cars have a lot of high dollar small parts. Just like a lot of thing a few losers screw it up for everyone

 

I am just curious how much stuff one could fit in their clothing. We have always had our tools boxes, wagons, etc, checked upon leaving.

 

At the few yards around here that still allow people in you are supposed to open your tool box up for inspection when you enter and leave. I've never heard of them using a metal detector anywhere near here though.

Personally, I don't have a problem with it. When I was in Vo-tec we would often go down to the salvage yard and I couldn't believe how many people I knew that thought it was ok to steal things from salvage yards.

It always struck me as so stupid to compromise ones ethics to steal a four dollar (or any dollar amount part for that matter) item. In my experience with the smaller stuff most of the time the employees at the yard didn't even charge me for it anyway.

Regardless of the value of the item stealing is wrong. Period.

I guess I don't have anything to hide so I don't have a problem with it. It's their business that they are allowing us into. If they experience less theft maybe they can keep their prices lower. I wouldn't have a problem with it.

Jay

 

That seems a bit over the top but perhaps the owner has been ripped enough. I know , I ran a Pic-A-Part operation for a few months while the manager was Ill. Most customers were pretty good but some would into carbs and electrcal stuff for small parts, destroying even the core value. We had a large floor mat at the entrance and exit and used to tell customers to step on the scales that were under the mats so were could weigh their booty. No there were no scales but you would be surprised at how many suddenly found some "forgotten" merchandise in their pockets or tool boxes.

 

Easy solution: Don't steal stuff and you won't have a thing to get upset about.

Theft raises prices for everyone!

 

What's next a strip search ?

 

A tweeker will steal any little piece of copper or aluminum....
Just go to a local recycling center and see what kind of stuff they bring in to get a few bucks for.....it'll open yer eyes as to why wrecking yards are doing these searches...

 

Unless you went through the metal detector when entering how can they verify that you stole something? " I have a pin in my leg" would be a good excuse. It's not like they would have the right to strip search you. Might be a good enough deterent for the stupid pocket thief, but not for someone who knows their rights.

This is what I can't stand. How often have I come across a carb that has been ripped apart for a simple E clip. Or a nice set of gauges with broken glass and missing gauge needles. Dissected parts annoy me to no end. I would really like to see what kind of small minded fool wastes their time ripping off half the induction of a car to get to a single valve keeper. Or the shithead who thinks they can make money off the yard by destroying starters/alternators/generators to just get the copper windings. BAH!

 

Did you get a cavity search? Imagin if you did and some one found a shifter that would be funny????

 

Who cares, if they got good stuff. MY $.02......lighten-up & enjoy , someday it won't be happening.
B.B.

 

I can't blame them, I am in the parts buisness and we constantly have a theft problem, packages laying empty in the isles, inventory off and these result in missed sales and higher prices for all.
And I took a guy whom I thought had morales with me to a private yard with 2500 cars and the owner trusted me enough over our 25 years of buisness to let me drive in with my pickup and tools and when done I would show him what I got, real simple, right? Well on the way down the road my "buddy" starts pulling emblems out of his army jacket showing me proudly of his conquest! He had 20-30 of them stuffed in there and was proud! I told of my disappointment and then he was pissed at me! What!? Oh yeah he says, they will never miss this stuff! But, it's not yours till you buy it or he gives it to you! That was the end of our "friendship" for me! The next day I called the owner and told him and apoligized and offered to make it right, he just asked me not to bring anyone else that he did not know. That will always be an issue with me everytime I see that guy, a thief by any other word.
Scanning, weighing? I don't have a problem with it, why would I in this world.....

 

In our local yard, I have ALWAYS (hell yeah I'm bragging!) set my small trim, screws, brackets, etc. on the counter whenever I get ready to leave. EVERY TIME I'm told "no charge". If you ain't honest, start now. It pays.

 

I have taken the screws and bolts and things like that for the part I removed . I am sure there are many stealing parts to sell on the outside . A thief is a thief no matter who you steal anything from , it's still stealing !
You can take the computers and parts like that very easily and put them in your paints and places like that so yes that can be a huge loss to a salvage yard !
I guess it's really bad that things have gotten so bad that you are made to go throw all that bullshit just to bust your ass pulling parts for your car . NO I wouldn't buy from a place like that either ever again ! The ball has to stop someplace . That is just out and out accusing you of STEALING from them when they have to frisk you down like that when you leave .
There is always someone else to buy from and when they start loosing customers for the little bit that is stolen from the wrecked cars , they will learn that in the end it wasn't worth paying for a guy to stand their with a wand frisking you to see if you took something from them ! I am sure those machines aren't cheap either .

Retro Jim


MERRY CHRISTMAS TO EVERYONE !

 

these places are not, your mom and pop yards. (i dont like the thefts) i work for my stuff and respect others and theres. but these pick your parts yards, are some of the bigest thefts out there.corporate bottom line business,that treats workes like dogs.(you have been hear 9 years as casher and want to move up,sorry your fired.or complete work force, some 10 or more years want $2.00 increase from the $12.00 that thay get, fuck it hire all new workforce) small owned business these places are not.

 

its either that or pay extra to have them remove the parts ,which takes the fun right out of the word junkyard.

 

I say search them on the way in.

You wouldn't believe how many times I've snuck in a pocketful of 1157 bulbs.

 

Metal detector I wouldn't be offended by, but the cavity search by Bubba in the yard scares the crap out of me!

 

Have you never seen the guy walking out with a stiff leg. That was not no blue pill doing it's job.

 

In the few yards that you can walk through in eastern PA, you can not carry in a tool box. Most people use 5 gallon plastic buckets. (What I want to know is what great stuff you are all finding, other than crap for your 90's junk daily drivers. Sorry, I guess that's another subject.) I guess that the golden era for a lot of things like presumed honesty is gone.

 

shit at pick your parts down the street they have had people throw stuff over the fence! fucken cheap asshole who would rather steal stuff then pay for it. just drive down that side street and you'll see! i dont blame them, you should not be offended because YOU forgot to read the fine print!

 

Having owned a salvage yard for several years , i came to the conclusion that most people viewed everything inside my fence as junk and nearly worthless. But in reality it was all inventory and my means to support my family.i didn't have the manpower to pull every little part so i would allow some customers to go in and strip their own parts. I know alot of stuff left the yard in tool boxes and pockets but i didn't feel it was worth embarassing a customer that hopefully would become a return customer.one exception was when i caught a guy throwing parts over the fence to his wife. I live in a small town and occasionally run into the guy. He still can't look me in the eye. Guess he's still paying for those parts. So i guess i can understand why this yard is using near extreme measures to prevent theft. I know its unconfortable for you, but just remember it wasn' you that caused this..... It was the slimeball thieves. So i say- don't boycott the yard. They are just trying to make a living by minimizing their loses.

 

It makes sense to me, things like injectors or sensors are easily pocketable, especially in the cold months when people wear bulky clothes. I actually walked out with an IAC valve from one yard a couple years ago, didn't realize I'd put it in my pocket until I got home. No, it was an accident, a few weeks later I forgot my crowbar out there under another van and got lucky in that a week later I look under the same van and realized "hey, that's my crowbar" ... when I'm in my 70s I'm going to have to take notes to remember if I took a crap or not.

 

the place is huge and they get a high volume of traffic, not a small town setting. im sure they have regulars but on the weekend, it becomes a mad house full of people buying parts! remember we are in the land of many cars, and people go buy used part instead of new to save a few bucks!

 

You do have options: don't work there and don't shop there!
Do you have a grasp of 'supply and demand' economics? Based on your English composition skills I'll guess not.

You come across as 'one of those 99% types' that like to bash corporations just because the business is a corporation. Just how did you come into possession of your computer, i-phone, the shirt on your back and food in your gut? Oh yeah, some corporation designed, made, delivered and sold it to you... the greedy bastards actually expect to make a profit and give it to...wait for the drum roll...the simple folks who own the operation and offer jobs to others.

.

 

I wouldn't think anything of the metal detector...since I'm not a thief. What's the big deal?

 

To make this clear, this is the one that used to have cows inside the yard near Penrose Ave? (Yes, I said cows)

IMO that is just going too far. I think they're stealing from us when we have to pay just to get in there and there is no inventory of what they have to the public so you don't know what to expect sometimes. Yes, I'm aware I don't have to go, it is what it is.

I remember going to DIY salvage yards in the 90's and it was still free to get in.

I guarantee this will make them lose business, I hate theives just as much as anybody, but it's the principal here.

 

I've got 2 "you pull" yards in my town. one with a cover charge one without. If I NEED something I'll look at their online inventory and hit the one with the cover, just because its organized better. I'f I'm looking for ideas, wasting time or not positive what I need (trans cooler, what size etc) I'll hit the free one and wander about.
Both check your box on the way in and onthe way out. I've got no troubles with it, not even a metal detector. I understand the reasoning for it.
Not a thief and not wanting to be searched, but go ahead, I'm hiding nothing.