Rant about "parts stores"

[Steve St.Laurent]

Unforetunately we don't have any real auto parts stores around any more - they all want to know make & model, etc. I had to adjust to the times, now I just play their game and know a make, model, etc and give them that info for what I'm looking for. The one that really kills me is when you are asking for something like spark plugs and they ask you if it has A/C or not, 2wd or 4wd, etc. I used to argue with them, now I just tell them something and get out faster.

 

[Jumbo Jet]

Friday afternoon - 5PM - traffic is a killer in front of the O'Really parts store. I stop to buy brakes for my wife's car.



Pimpled face kid behind the counter is eager to help - I distinctly say - I need front brake pads and rotors for a 1998 Oldsmobile 88. I drive through the terrible Friday afternoon traffic and get home. What did I have? Brake pads and rotors for a 1988 Oldsmobile 98.



I make my way back through the horrible Friday evening traffic to the O'Really parts store, the pimpled face kid is busy, but the Hispanic parts person is eager to help. I tell him that first I wanted to kick the kids *** and then we will talk about the parts. I explain to him that I asked for parts for a 1998 Oldsmobile 88 ... ... ... ... . He looks the parts up, checks what I have, gets me the right parts, and asks for more money. I told him I wasn't paying any difference today. He said he couldn't accomodate me. I told him to call the manager and tell him what happened. The manager took care of me.



They are lost without the computer. I was in there one day when a fellow drove up in a 1954 Ford Crown Vic. When he walked in the door, I told him he was screwed!

 

[EMD Diesel Power]

About the only good parts store anymore is NAPA or BIG A.



Hell... I dont even know if the BIG A chain is still in business. Have been to all NAPAs in the past 10 years. (We did have a Big A in my hometown at one time)



As for the chain ones... (autozone, pepboys, advance auto) Forget it. Most hire incompetent nincompoops that cant even run the computer. Oh yeah, as pointed out before, the cross-reference books are gone too... . or they dont know how to read and correctly use em.



I used to walk in and do the Dodge Ram 2500 4x4 Cummins B5. 9 :-laf :-laf :-laf Got most of the responses as listed already..... and I've even been given parts for the gas 5. 9.



I go to Cummins dealers, Genos, and a couple other places (independent truck-repair) for my stuff. Lots faster and they know what Im talking about and what I want and Im gone.



Things are no better for a common Ram either... . Dad has gone through the run-arounds for parts on his '97 1500 318. He has told many chain stores to shove it where the sun dont shine.

 

[scootergmc]

You guys should know not to expect much at regular auto parts stores. I can't believe you need to rant. You should know better.

 

[J Shocik]

If you guys think these stories are bad, try working the other side of the counter. I did a few yrs. ago. One guy is looking for a set of brake pads for a "homemade" dirt bike. I asked him what bike did the brake system come off of, Honda, Yamaha?? He says angrily "I said it's a homemade bike!!" I let him come around the counter to look in the book & tell him" Look here, there's no listing for homemade, there's Honda, Hodaka, no homemade!" He comes around to look, then leaves in a huff, no pads.

The best one I've heard so far is the lady goes into an auto parts store and tells the clerk " I'm looking for a 710 cap. Mine is missing" The clerk is puzzled, asks a few questions, and finally goes out to the car to see where the cap goes. They open the hood and she points to the valve cover. "That's where it goes, on that" It turns out she was missing her "OIL" cap. True stories.

 

[budctdca]

do you get paid to test it too???



:-laf:-laf:-laf

Well, since it is not done yet, we will see, but I hope so!!

 

[DennyDay]

It gets Worse!

Dodge Dealer in Canton,OHIO doesn't have a parts department any more,

they have a "PARTS BOUTIQUE" finally found it and a skinny little guy in Mazda golf shirt asked if he colud help - - - I should have just left! - - but I asked for a part. He informed me that it wasn't a Dodge part it must be an aftermarket part, I asked for someone that knew something about Dodge parts, he told me he had been a dodge parts man for 30 years, I told him I still wanted to talk to some one who knew Dodge parts, and I didn't care how long he had been selling them, because he hadn't learned any thing yet.



Nobody else available - I showed him how to look the part up - - found the DODGE Number - - said he'd be right back - - I said after all this you probably don't have it - - - guess what - - - he didn't. The part was the plastic holder for the DOT lights on the tailgate of a 3500.



They did have a nice selection of car and truck models, Chrysler pen and pencil sets and Dodge racing Jackets in stock!



Denny

 

[budctdca]

Anyone ever ran into the parts guy not knowing the difference between GVW's? ours are 8800lb, ya need the extra weight for the behemoth under the hood... .

Luke

 

[bmoeller]

We have a great NAPA and Carquest parts stores here locally. They don't usually have to special order many parts, unless they happen to have run out, or isn't a commonly sold part. As in the BHAF, for instance.



Hit the Quad Cities, that is different story. Particularly AutoZone. Sometimes you'll find someone who knows something. Most don't.

 

[AMink]

I hate it when you look for the "BOOK", if they have it, and it is 3 years old. Not too big a deal now that my truck is 8 years old, but my wife's ride is newer. You'd think they would update to at least last year.