Losing faith in local parts store

For years I've been support the local advanced auto parts store by me. But, it seems to be dropping quality at an alarming place.

Tonight I walk in a place this on the counter, saying I need 5 new ones, 1 3/16"

The two employees in the store didn't know what it was even after I told them.

Common, it's a maintenance item here in the frozen states.

(for the rest of you wondering still, it's an expansion (aka freeze) plug )

For any projects (like brakes) that I can anticipate needing parts ahead of when I plan to do the job, I gave up on local stores years ago. I always order online from Rockauto or (depending on the make) a more specialized company like Pelican Parts. On those rare instances when I venture into an Advance or NAPA, I generally walk out muttering something like "never again!"

Remember that most the guys there are minimum wage warm bodies. Not much different from the kids at McDonalds, they're not exactly chefs you know. Ask to talk to the guy that deals with the commercial accounts and you'll get much better results.

The local portions of national parts chains are virtually interchangeable and equally useless if you have anything other than a recent civic, corolla, or Ford/chebby pickemup truck. If it ain't in the computer, they can't help you.

Most every chain parts store has online parts lookup on their website. Find the part numbers before you go to the store, it makes life easier for all involved.

stuart in mn wrote: Most every chain parts store has online parts lookup on their website. Find the part numbers before you go to the store, it makes life easier for all involved.

So do their job for them and stand in line to wait to pay them money? No thanks! I'd rather have the stuff delivered to my door.

I have no problem going to one of the Autozones here, but then again a long time friend of mine is the commercial account guy at that store.

1988RedT2 wrote:

stuart in mn wrote: Most every chain parts store has online parts lookup on their website. Find the part numbers before you go to the store, it makes life easier for all involved.

So do their job for them and stand in line to wait to pay them money? No thanks! I'd rather have the stuff delivered to my door.

You can go to the store and have the part you need in 20 minutes, or you can have it delivered in several days. Your choice.

stuart in mn wrote:

1988RedT2 wrote:

stuart in mn wrote: Most every chain parts store has online parts lookup on their website. Find the part numbers before you go to the store, it makes life easier for all involved.

So do their job for them and stand in line to wait to pay them money? No thanks! I'd rather have the stuff delivered to my door.

You can go to the store and have the part you need in 20 minutes, or you can have it delivered in several days. Your choice.

Further, especially with Advanced Auto, you can order online, utilize the multitude of online coupons, have it pulled at the local store and just go pick it up. All the advantage of DIY with no of the wait for the mail.

-Rob

For the reason you stated is why I stopped going to Advance or AutoZone. Now staffed by folks that are mainly shelf stockers, not hired for automotive knowledge. The local O'rielly's has knowledgeable people, even the young women that work there know some about cars. May be just a fluke that this store is set up that way, luck of the draw. I go there or NAPA, depending on what I need since NAPA is across town.

wlkelley3 wrote: The local O'rielly's has knowledgeable people, even the young women that work there know some about cars.

QFT. My local O'Reilley's is literally a 6 minute walk from my place, and they seem to have a clue.

I needed 6V turn signal bulbs for my Honda C70. Not in their computer. I told the guy to look up a turn signal bulb for a 1960 VW Beetle.

He looked at me and said, "Oh sure! That makes sense!"

I tend to walk in with part numbers for such things unless I'm at NAPA or a speed shop. I can look it up at home much faster than they can pull up a part without year/make/model/motor/trim.

Even online, certain parts are impossible to find. Try finding bulk 3/4" heater hose.

I've given up on everyone except the local Advance Commerical, errrrr CarQuest, and the one Napa 30 miles away. I still goto Advance but only if I order online with a discount code.

Yeah, hose you pretty much just have to hope you get somebody who either knows what's up or will let you browse in back, preferably both, same on brake line fittings.

If you have any foresight order parts online and have them delivered. I spent $25 on a set of cheapo pads from o'realys and they were the same cost as good parts online. Oh well just need car back on the road. I'm sick of the local parts store, too expensive for too little and the staff is borderline retarded. I used to know the guys working there but it is a popular thing to change the whole staff nowadays. On of my favorite places to order is from ebay.

Love your picture in the pillory, pretty sure my neighbors would like to see me in one and give me a little "talk."

Don't know why you'd bother to "have faith" in the first place. Almost without exception the counter people are minimally paid and minimally trained.

This one used to have a bunch of old semi-retired guys that actually knew their E36 M3.

I managed an Autozone store 15 years ago. When I was hired, there was an actual push to get guys from dealerships, other parts stores or even hardcore DIY guys. Car knowledge was what they were looking for and while they didn't pay well, it was certainly well above minimum wage.

A few years into my tenure, the company made no secret of the fact that they were going to start hiring people with little knowledge for little money. They claimed that the seasoned people would teach them on the job and things would be fine. Turns out, they hired ANYBODY with a pulse. I was a hiring manager and they constantly ignored my suggestions in favor of the cheapest person. These new hired didn't even know who made certain car models much less anything about parts or troubleshooting. My experienced people spent so much time helping the new people that they couldn't wait on other customers. It was a mess.

Yes, the company saved on wages but our customer service suffered, we had more returns from people just throwing parts at cars and not properly diagnosing them, and the experienced people started to leave because we turned into babysitters.

OP, you sound like what I car a Saturday guy. Without fail, every Saturday I get guys coming in looking for stuff that, while once common, aren't exactly in high demand anymore. Take for instance this one gentleman who came in looking for a starter for his '51 Flathead-equipped Ford. He looked exhausted, having already been to the other parts stores with no luck. After a bit of sleuthing using our extensive collection of paper catalogs (NAPA,) we finally found the part number. Guess what? It was obsolete. NLA. The guy then proclaims his utter confusion. "It was used in all sorts of applications!" Well, yeah, fifty years ago, buddy. Even stuff for cars that were once commonplace are getting a little tougher to find.

Also, don't be "that guy" who just comes in like a stale-cigarette smelling wrecking ball and throws the part on the counter. I feel I know a bit about cars, but if you set freeze plugs on the counter without any context, I am not exactly going to know right away what it is. And if you get sassy with my lack of Rain Man skills, I am less inclined to go that extra mile or give you a break on price.

Sounds like the key to success is to have a brick and morter parts store staffed with highly skilled employees* selling inventory for under rockauto/internet prices.

*bonus points if employees will install parts for free in the parking lot or can diagnose any issue over the phone with incomplete information.

Spoolpigeon wrote: Remember that most the guys there are minimum wage warm bodies. Not much different from the kids at McDonalds, they're not exactly chefs you know. Ask to talk to the guy that deals with the commercial accounts and you'll get much better results.

Extremely true. I worked for a chain during my college years (only a few years ago). During my 3 years of service my peak pay was around 8.50 per hour. That was after a massive .10 raise. They aren't expecting mechanics at this rate, just people who can click around on a computer, stock shelves, and show up on a somewhat regular basis.

-John

In reply to Esoteric Nixon:

Bingo.

In reply to Esoteric Nixon:

Then why not go the extra customer service mile and suggest the local starter shop for a Monday drop off repair? No reason to be hateful to a guy who is already pissed off that their part is broke and not available anymore.

Nobody gets price breaks anymore around here. Even though I know there is still huge profit for selling parts for pennies on the dollar.

Ranger50 wrote: In reply to Esoteric Nixon: Then why not go the extra customer service mile and suggest the local starter shop for a Monday drop off repair? No reason to be hateful to a guy who is already pissed off that their part is broke and not available anymore. Nobody gets price breaks anymore around here. Even though I know there is still huge profit for selling parts for pennies on the dollar.

Oh no, he wasn't the sassy guy, sorry for the confusion. We pointed him in the direction of the sole machine shop, but he wanted one THAT day, and of course the shop is closed on Saturdays. Don't know if he ever found one. I highly doubt it.

The local O'Reillys and Napa are still decent to get parts at, not so much for AA or AZ. One time I went into Advance, needing some spark plugs for my Camaro. It's my CP autox car so nothing is stock about it. Told the counter guy I need this number Champion plug or equivalent. He asks what car it is going on so he can look it up. So, being in a mood to mess with him, I said: It's an 81 Camaro with a 72 400 sbc, destroked to 377, Edelbrock Vic Jr heads, crossram intake... He looked at me all confused, then said "What number plug was that again?" Sometimes it's just too easy.