You Can Tell You're at a REAL Auto Parts Store When...

the little family owned B&W auto parts store, mechanics for 20+ years then did the sales counter thing....always tell the wife i'm heading there, and she doesn't expect me back for a few hours, and it's 10 minutes from home, real store, with real parts, real knowledge

 

When there's an ashtray on the counter shaped like a little tire.........

 

Thats when you ask for a headlight bulb, and they want to know if it has a/c.

 

When you bring a dirty core in ahead of time & put it on the counter, they what it is, it's application & don't go running for a rag to pick it up & put it in the box.

When the urinal is next to the scrap iorn pile outside the back door.

Billy

 

When there are cool signs posted on the wall like:

"Meet Hellen Whaite, our credit manager. If you want credit, go to Helen Whaite."

and then the parts stores that hand out the dirty little calenders.

 

When they have a bin out back full of wheel cylinder cups for $.25 each.

Billy

 

I like the counter guys that tell you where there is the same make and model of the car you are working on sittin' in the field behind the old Gindt farm, and another one south of where ever in the woods, or a couple just like it off of a logging trail. And then you go to those places, and he wasn't bullshittin' ya.

 

When the wooden floor squeeks from years of work boots walking on it.
... like the one at the old "Western Auto" hardware store where I grew up.

 

Speaking of plug wires...

Last year I went to the locaL Autozone AND V.I.P. to get a set of plug wires for a sbc.

At both places they needed to look them up by year, make, model... Then after all that all they had was the type you crimp the ends on yourself. See the irony there?

Then both guys asked me "why are the things only on one end"! GEEZ

I now go to a local store where they have many of the things mentioned here and I haven't had a problem since.

 

You know your there when the daily regular guys come in to bullshit
When the parts store buys SBC valve cover gaskets in bulk
When the counterguy props the door open to shoot at a crow across the road.
The stools have duct tape on 'em from use
You can't find any chips or energy drinks on the shelves
Coffee is always a brewing
Stacks of freebie STP stickers on the counter.
Pictures of the local race car they sponser is on the wall
Guys wife delivers parts
Ashtrays are old pistons
They sell engine paint for tractors
Has the parts to rebuild generators and sell them often

 

The old auto parts stores had an aqua blueish counter,sawdust on the floor for the oil drips and a red boston bake bean and bublegum machine.I worked for Auto Zone for 10 yrs I started when it was Auto Shack at the time we had books.I used to do some the hiring and I would not hire kids that did not have some type of auto experience and changed a tire once did not qualify.Right before I quit in 1993 they started to hire any dumb ass off the street.I used to call the main store number from the back office and ask for a radiator and water pump for a VW bug,and watch the kids go back and look for one.What a blast.Now when I walk in the a parts store I ask for the books if they have one and look for my own parts because I know what they are going to say we don't have it.

 

Counter seats. They GOTTA be ripped or they ain't counter seats. I love counter seats.

Coffee. 'Sgotta have that burnt aftertaste - ain't shop coffee otherwise.

The smell. Stale cigs, hypoid gear oil...and body odor. The creak of the floor...Nice. Gambles General in Newberry, MI. Bought a case of Model A plugs there.

And if there's a better place to buy a specific part? Not only do they know - they tell ya who it is - and where they are.

Bomeone said it a few posts ago - something about parts being out back, and being able to go back there. I guess that's the key determinant for me...I knew I 'graduated' to the BIG leagues at the tender age of 14 when they let me behind the counter to pick my own parts at Jim Steadman & Son. A REAL parts store recognizes when someone ain't a tool, and lets them pick and pull their own parts...

'Hey, Chuck!'

'Jeff! - Howya doin?'

'business sucks. - whatcha want? Nevermind - here are the books - get it yerself.'

Don't hafta be polite - just hafta reconize that I'm capable of figuring this shit out on my own - and take pride in doing so. I'll do my part to make sure that biz doesn't suck.

 

You lucky bastards!!! I REMEMBER a few stores like that, but around here they are LONG GONE now.

But when I'm LUCKY I do run into a few of the OLD COUNTER GUYS at the NEW FANGLED stores - It's usually pretty funny - I look over to them and they just GRIN as some pimply faced kid drags himself over to help - old timer still grinning, but trying to hide it - he just sits back continues to do what he was doing while trying his best to not laugh while ease dropping on our conversation and then just when the kids about to say "duh" the old timer never misses a beat and tells the kid what the part number is and what shelf the part I need is on.

 

The reason the chains cannot call you by your name is that the turnover is so damned high. You are always having to rebuild your relationship with the counter kid.

 

My wife (the Peebmonster) refers to them as BP's - barely poopers. They're soo damned youn they're barely poopin' on their own...

 

tell me about, i worked at Oreillys in palmyra,mo (the smallest of all the stores in the oreillys chain). we kept alot of old parts and farm related things and TONS of Dorman products. it didnt take long for the big wigs from the corporate offices to put an end to that. seems they think that nobody drives old cars anymore. when i left (quit) the computer only went as far back as '65 so thats as far back as they trained people to look up parts for. i guess that giant rack of books some starting @1908 were just for looks. dont get me wrong some of the guys in there have been in parts for 30+ years and they know their shit! but for the most part the only people that they hired where a bunch of wannabe tuner fruits that have no idea how anything that isnt fuel injected works. upsetting to say the least

 

They sell parts and not Chinese pocket bikes and OCC stools.

 

If I have to tell you, then I recommend that you take the bus.

 

-When you walk in you sit on a counter seat five feet from the guy sitting on his counter seat just bull shiting smokeing a cig.

-You get asked "how's the Model A coming along?" as your waiting for the invoice to be printed up.

-You get an invoice and not a receipt

 

There is an old pop machine in the corner that stands all of 5 foot tall and only has 6 buttons on it. Oh, and the pepsi logo is 30 years old.

 

Ah ha! When your old fart parts guy has FINALLY given in to his home computer just so he can lurk on the HAMB to see the World I call home.

 

Think how frustrated an old parts guy like me gets when he has to deal with these idiots.You give them the part numbers off the top of your head and they still cock their head to the side with that dumb dog look...huh? This is followed by a trek to the back for an eternity only to return with "we don't have it,but I can special order it for you" And this is on chevy parts! UHG!

Doc

 

You Can Tell You're at a REAL Auto Parts Store When...

it should be obvious

Hagen's

 

- when the parking lot is filled with half rusted trucks and there isn't a wing or fairly colored 5.0 in sight.

- when you can say "put it on the farm tab"

those were good days....

 

1:Theres a fresh coffe pot for all customers2:There wax and polish display is so small it is almost non exisitent.There HELP section of odd parts is huge3: They actually turn drums and rotors4: They can resurface a flywheel5:They sell alternator and starter parts,not just rebuilts,brush holders,diode trios rectifier bridges etc.6: they can make hydraulic hoses!

 

When you walk in and tell em you need a small block thermostat, or some gm drum brake shoes, or a rebuild kit for a 2gc Rochester and they dont have to ask what year.

When was a kid (with Dad) it was Virgil at Big A.

Then it was Larry at A&L.

Then it was Mike Cook aka El Rusto at uh...Parts Plus?

They are all gone now....long live the independents.

 

The counterhelp get frusterated with me so they let me go behind the counter! If it's not in their goddamn computer it won't fit or it doesn't exist!

 

You Can Tell You're at a REAL Auto Parts Store When...

You ask the new guy (who's only been there ten years) for something for a black plymouth, and he know's it's the '49 that you've been parking on the corner for the last few years.

The guy at the counter knows his carb kits come with the little soft aluminum plugs so you can really clean out all the circuits in the carb. And he doesn't have to open the box to see.

You can get bulk plug wire and ends.

The guy behind the counter isn't bragging about his car make you think he knows his trade. He doesn't have to.

They stock non-detergent motor oil.

And, you Can Tell You're at the WRONG Auto Parts Store When...

The 22 year old kid starts telling you about his car with 490 HP that gets 30+ MPG. But, he can't find a listing for points for a '49 Plymouth (does that have manual or auto?).

Some asshole laughs when you say the make and model you're looking for some part for.

Rap, hip-hop, house, techno, easy listening, top 40, or smooth jazz is playing. These are not genres of music listened to by most people who have ever pulled a part for a Studebaker.

Fog lights and pedal covers have an entire aisle.

At 38, you're old enough to be the manager's dad.

It's a chain store.

They sell their calanders, which feature high-dollar restored '50's and '60's cars that certainly won't have any parts on them which came from the chain store you're standing in.

You have to fill something out to make a return or get a refund.

 

You can flip a quarter for a Coke..odd man buys for everyone...
They sell magnetos.....for 100 year old hit and miss engines...
They deliver to your shop and put the parts on the bench...even when you aren't home...
They rebuild Hydro-Vacs...
When you say Flathead, they ask what make...
They know what POINTS are...
They know your dogs name....
They have a squeaky wood floor...
They let you CHARGE IT...and they don't take plastic...

 

When you drive 400 miles one way,and you pull up HERE!! you have arrived.....Sparky