I have to admit that I am, I have been getting some parts for the nova, and there are a few part stores around here that employ people that I honestly believe don't even know how to change oil. I am all for people getting a job but dangit, at least know what some parts are if I take them there to you, or request them. Such as yesterday. I was looking for a cam locking plate and degree wheel, went to auto zone and advance auto parts, both times a woman behind the counter asks me what type of vehicle. I say no type, it is a mark IV big block chevy. She says she has to have a vehicle, so I tell her a 74 corvette. Well she can't find a locking plate for that year of car, I say I know that because it is an aftermarket part. Well without actually checking or letting me check the entire wall of performance parts they have in the back she says that they don't have it, because the computer says they dont. At Advance I just tell them a 1990 ss 454 truck, still no luck because the computer doesn't know what that part its, and again, an entire wall of performance parts in the back behind the counter.
As far as getting a degree wheel, I might as well have went to mars, I might have had better luck.

yeah, we've all been through something along those lines ;)

i think if you/we consider the chain stores such as you're referring as the "training grounds" for counterpeople then it might be viewed differently. in my day working the counter of a Part Store it was different... no computers in the beginning. you had to read the catalogs, but catalogs are only a part of it. knowing HOW to look up the part, reading the footnotes and knowing the actual product line & inventory are very important. i started in the machine shop, went to local pick up/delivery then to the warehouse pick up THEN to the counter.

the people in the chain stores are basically thrown on the counter with zero experience... the ones who take to the business grow, the ones who don't get weeded out.

there's a lot of parts i know to never ask an inexperienced chain store counterperson for as i know with their limited experience and supply that it'd just be a pita for them to assist me.

plus i already know they can't help me anyways... i'm beyond help :eek: ;) :D

This might be a little off topic but I noticed at the motorcycle shop I go to the guys only use catalogs and then look up the parts on the computer. It might be a policy but I think it has more to do with the guys that work at motorcycle shops are more into the products. I think everyone there rides. Once again this might just be a in store thing that they only hire riders. My experience shopping there is always 1000 times better than pep boys or auto zone. i think a lot of high school kids in my area just get jobs at those joints because it is easy. I definately think they should at least have an interest in auto mechanics if they are working there.

My local Napa is the same way, they get the catalogs out quick and look up the parts, then go to the computer to get price and availability. It is a pleasure working with them, as that is how we did it 15 years ago. Now AutoZone and Advanced are worried about selling 5" tachs, magazines, neon kits, and candy. Not my kind of parts store.

Tiny

Well I hate to say this but you get what you pay for. Basically minimum wage (with shift differential and they give employees a 20% discount on some things). Qualifications for employment are can you work weekends and evenings, pee in a bottle, and do you speak Spanish and English. The pee in a bottle requirement eliminates 60% of their applicants.

Big Dave

I have an Autozone near me that the people are great in. I shop there first. If they can't get me what I want or if the wait is too long to get it I'll look at Advanced but it's only two stores that I will use. There are 4 or more around me but I will only go to these two stores.

I'm somewhat lucky as 3 of the countermen at my local NAPA race. Believe me what a difference it makes. The manager at my Autozone races roundy rounds so he is also up on what stuff we need. Other than that I'm on my own.

I use the local NAPA store for most parts. They know me by name and know part numbers on common stuff by memory.
The pee in a bottle requirement eliminates 60% of their applicants.

Big Dave

Scary considering the 40% they actually hire :D

I think the NAPA stores are locally owned franchises and they usually have owners and help that know what they are doing and usually know cars. The Oreilly's and Autozones and Advances I believe are corporate run and all they have is managers not owners. I used to shop at Oreilly's explicitly because the folks at Autozone were idiots and yes if the computer could tell them what you were looking for then they were lost. I sent my wife to Autozone for some valve cover gaskets for a BBC when I was finishing up my 540 in my 68 Camaro. I told her to tell them they were for a 1974 chevy pickup with a 454 and they sent her back to me with a valve cover gasket for a 235 six cylinder......LOL Now the tides have turned though, the Oreilly's folks have changed and now they have the idiots and the Autozone guys have a pretty decent crew here where I'm at. + they give 10% military discount!!! Yeah!:hurray:

discount wins in my book. As long as I can get the part I need

One other factor not considered as yet is were the parts sold originated, Weatherhead, Rockwell, Moog, Eaton, and other similar parts sold at NAPA are made in North America (Some US, some Canadian, but mostly Hencho en Mexico). If you buy a grade eight bolt from Napa for four dollars and change it is a grade eight, the buck twenty bolt from the other guys was Fabrique en China, and who really knows what it is.

Big Dave

I like mail order parts stores, like Summit, Jegs, PAW and the like. you get better customer service with usally someone who at leat pretends to know what they are talking about, not some high school drop out reject looking for a minimum wage job who couldnt tell you the difference between a carberuator or fuel injection unit.:yes::yes::yes:

Very good point Dave. NAPA does carry good quality parts. Even PINKS thinks so!l:)

I use NAPA and KOI, a local parts house chain. I have a long relationship with KOI, over 28 years. I know them, they know me. I have known some of the people at the local NAPA store since 82. I rely on these stores for all the "stocker" parts. For performance stuff I use my WDs.
I have been offered a store managment position with Advance. I have to say I am actually considering it considering the way business has been lately. I figure if I take the job, I can do my best to staff it with the most knowledgeable people I can find. It might improve buisness since, as many of you have stated, haven't had a really positive experience at Advance and other stores like it. Many years ago I used to work at Nationwise when they were in business. Everyone of our people, even the cashier, was more knowledgeable than the couunter people are today. Sad, but true.

Pinks?

NAPA guarantees every part they sell to meets or exceeds the manufactures OEM part's quality. That is saying a lot, whether you are aware of it or not. That means their parts are good for the same 50,000 miles that the dealer warrants their part for. I have no stock in NAPA or any other financial interest, so this is an unreimbursed, totally free endorsement based solely on me having worked in the NAPA machine shop at Slade's Auto parts in Brandon Florida for a few years as a 16-17 year old high school kid (many decades ago). Well I do still occasionally get a calendar from them for free.

Big Dave

Son of a gun Dave, my Dad (rest his soul) was born in Bushnell and went to Brandon High School in Florida. I think he graduated some time around '54. There are a few Ellerbe's floating around Florida all the way from Naples, Tampa Bay area and even near Pensacola now. Small world.

Oh yeah, and you know PINKS that drag racing show where they race for titles on the Speed Channel. NAPA always gives the winner a nice toolbox and $8,000.00 worth of tools. If you haven't seen Pinks you should check it out sometime. Sometimes they get some pretty good racing there and it's not the million dollar guys, it's real people. Oh and of course then you'll have to watch that other show uhhhh Oh Yea, PASS TIME where you guess the pass times for the guest drivers they bring out, I like that one.

Don't get the speed channel, I have only basic cable. I graduated in 1964 from Brandon, High so I am a few years behind your dad. I teach there every day as a sub because I like trying to educate the kids (don't get through to many of them, but I have turned a few away from the dark side, gotten them to read and learn to think).

Big Dave

When I go to autozone or the like I know right off the bat that I will have to give year,make,model etc. to get what I want so it doesn't bother me.

Come on guys we know how most these places are and yet we still go in for parts:confused: if it bothers you that much go spend twice as much at napa or the other indapendantly owned stores. by the way my napa isn't much help since iam just a do it yourselfer he wants the big sell otherwise you get the cold shoulder...

Dave I found my local NAPA stores prices to be close to the same as discount stores. They even have a sign on the front door that they will beat any other price. I do not buy a lot compared to some of the pro shops, but I get treated the same. First thing I did when I moved here was to go in and introduce myself. I opened up a cash account, which just keeps track of my purchases and adjusts the price I pay on the amount of past purchases made. Most of the items I consider important like brake and suspension parts are marked as Made in the USA and at a price comparable to the China parts sold by CSK and Autozone. There gaskets are all made by FelPro and cheaper then the Summit prices. Anything I can buy from the mail order performace sites they can get for the same or better price and have it quicker.

Go in and talk to the owner or a senior counterman at your local NAPA it may make a difference and since you have a business tax account with the state of California opening an account with them will get you better pricing right away.

me, i just use the "Midnite Auto Supply" :eek:

i get the five finger discount on EVERYTHING !!! :eek:





"honest Officer, i was just INSTALLING these parts for the guy" :rolleyes:


yuk yuk yuk :D

All the major parts stores (Napa, Oreillys, Autozone, and Advanced) have online catalogs. I usually just go online and look up the part that I am looking for (expecially if it is not a common part) you can even see if your local store has the part in stock, then just go to the store with the part #. I started doing this one day when I needed a balast resistor for an old Jeep that I was working on and the high school student/counter person told me that it was a dealer only part, I asked him to check his Bourg Warner catalog because I knew that they supply them and after about a minute of looking he told me that it wasn't in there. I got a little frustrated and went home got online and then went back to the same store 20 minutes later to pickup the part that they had in stock (in fact they had a couple of them) When the HS student/counter person asked where I got the part # from I told him that I found it in their online catalog in about 5 minutes and I am no computer wiz.

I have 3 parts guys that are very good at their job. I go wher they are, so I don't even worry about what chain name I use.

They started at Champion then they were at Advanced, then went to Auto Zone when it opened, now they are at the New Orielies (sp?).

A good parts guy is hard to find, so when they move, I move.

That is really great Dave. When I actually retired from the workforce for good, I might consider doing something like that myself too. A shop class would be fun!!! LOL If you can turn even one away from the dark side and show them that being a mature/responsible adult and to think, then it is worth it!!!

Johnny, You old coot you! LOL You crack me up!l:)

That's right David, that's what I do too. Just check it online get the part number yourself and then go get it if they have it in stock. Most of them have this feature now and it does save a lot of headaches. The down side is that sometimes you can't always tell the quality of what they have but for the stuff you already know, Borg/Warner, FelPro, Federal Mogul you pretty much know what you're getting. I bought a stock flywheel from Autozone and took it home and opened the box and took one look at it and it had excess flashing all over the casting and it was a really, really poor quality piece and I took it right back to them and told them I'm not putting that on my car and got my money back, but you're right you need to be prepared to either go in there with a car make, model and year that you know had what you are looking for even if it's not the car your working on now or look it up yourself and just go get it. When I get those clerks that tell me they don't have something and I know for a fact that they do, I don't let them push me away and go home, I make them get me a manager or somebody else that has a clue.......LOL I'm a stubborn old cuss!!! And I am a stickler for customer service too. If the clerks are out of line or snooty or rude, I let 'em have it and have been known on several occasions to report it to the manager. Like many of you I've been around the block too many times to let some snot nosed lazy kid cop an attitude with me...............LOL Maybe I'm just gettin' old and grumpy!! But I also praise the good ones too and will go out of my way to report to a manager for a good employee just the same!