Got Laughed at Today at the parts counter!

[Cowtown Speed Shop]

Originally Posted by 1971BB427

That's funny! Stopped at a Carquest last week to buy a clutch pivot ball for the side of the block on a BBC 454. A very common part that's the same for every V8 Chevy for many years. Three different counter people couldn't find it in their books, and one told me to go to a hardware store and they would have something!
I'm usually polite to the ignorant counter people, but I told him he was an idiot and walked out.

Gezz man....Cut me some slack, I posted that in july of last year......LOL

[Dooley]

i used to get a kick out of asking for parts for my motor, and then when they got to the part about what car it was in, i would say 36 Ford, and watch the look on their faces....then i realized that i was the stupid one, and if I wanted to get a part for my car i should be able to give them the info they need to help me, not be a jackass becase they did not know my 350 was in a 36 Ford....i know what cars had ther parts i need for repair/replaments, 69 chevelle for my trans, 79 truck for any engine part, 67 Ford master cylinder, etc....most parts guys here have been super helpfull and almost all have let me in the back areas to find pieces to fab stuff....

[Mike51Merc]

Originally Posted by Dooley

i used to get a kick out of asking for parts for my motor, and then when they got to the part about what car it was in, i would say 36 Ford, and watch the look on their faces....then i realized that i was the stupid one, and if I wanted to get a part for my car i should be able to give them the info they need to help me, not be a jackass becase they did not know my 350 was in a 36 Ford....i know what cars had ther parts i need for repair/replaments, 69 chevelle for my trans, 79 truck for any engine part, 67 Ford master cylinder, etc....most parts guys here have been super helpfull and almost all have let me in the back areas to find pieces to fab stuff....

Agreed. The time is gone to expect much from a parts store. They're pretty much warehouses with clerks today. My strategy is to walk in the door with the OEM part number and ask how soon they can get me one (and how much it is) after already knowing how much is is at Rockauto and how long shipping would take.

[37cevy4dr]

If you put on your application that you have any knowledge of or experience with automobiles they, Auto Zone or most chains, will not hire you. They want them, the counter guys, to HAVE to go to the computer to find the part. This is why they will ask you, when looking for a radiator cap, what size engine it has. It is on the screen and they have to check all the boxes.
They do not want you applicating any thing other than what is on the screen. They say they have less trouble this way.
We were working on a friends 49 Thames panel and I sent him to the new AZ for a 2500# aux trans cooler. He came back and said they did not have one. WE went back and when I told the counter guy I wanted a 2500# rated aux cooler he was lost.
The new manager stepped up and smiling told me to just tell him the make and model and he would look it up.
So I told him, 49 English Thames with a 66 Chevy 327 using a 350 Automatic. He got a real "deer in the headlight look" and said "let me show you what we have." So went in the back and I pulled a cooler out of a box and pointed out the lettering that said, 2500# Rating on the package.
There are very few parts men left in this day and age.

[willyslancs]

went for a 6v battery the other week for the 44Willys Jeep , they wanted to know the number plate ..... then was told they don't make 6v batteries .....

[49ratfink]

^^ had a guy at O'Reilys look at me strange when I asked about 6 volt batteries. he didn't even know there was such a thing. he asked my what they came in , when I told him every car before about 1954 had 6 volts I don't think he believed me.

[Iceberg460]

Went to autozone for a set of alternator brushes for a friends late model SUV (looked them up online first).

Counter person had never even heard of the part before then.

Luckily I printed the page w/ part number off their website first.

[fsae0607]

Wow I feel lucky that the NAPA I go to (Canoga Park) is pretty good. The one parts guy there always goes above and beyond to get me parts for my truck.

I only go to Autozone or O'Reilys for consumables (fluids, etc). Their part quality is mediocre. I only put NAPA parts on my cars ever since I bought a shitty coolant temp sensor for my wife's car and it screwed the ECM up.

[firingorder1]

Originally Posted by Dooley

i used to get a kick out of asking for parts for my motor, and then when they got to the part about what car it was in, i would say 36 Ford, and watch the look on their faces....then i realized that i was the stupid one, and if I wanted to get a part for my car i should be able to give them the info they need to help me, not be a jackass because they did not know my 350 was in a 36 Ford.

There's the winner. I'm amazed looking at the replies here how many are shocked that an 18 year old kid just starting out doesn't know that most cars had 6 volt systems up to 1954 or a generator is not the same as an alternator. Do you really expect the guy behind the counter to know every single thing on your 28A body on a '32 frame with an SBC and God knows what else you used to build your hot rod?

The guy behind the counter may not be a hot rodder of even a fan. The store attached to the NAPA warehouse where I worked for 15 years didn't have any hot rodders behind the counter. They were all pretty knowledgeable and very helpful. The knowledge came with experience. None of them started with an intimate knowledge of every car ever made.

[jesse1980]

Sad.

[54Mercruiser]

Guess I got lucky on this one...have an AutoZone and O'Reilly's that I have to pass to get to the little independent guy that has BOOKS with PART NUMBERS THAT CROSS REFERENCE!!!

[hoodprop]

I got laugh at the local autozone because i was rebuilding the front brakes on my F100. The kid asked why don't you convert it to a IFS. Told him it takes away from that old truck feel. So I go to Mazza now where the guys there get it.

[48FordFanatic]

I think a lot of old knowledgeable parts guys have been put out to pasture by the big-box type parts stores. Lucky for us their pasture is NAPA.

[Gary Reynolds]

Originally Posted by firingorder1

There's the winner. I'm amazed looking at the replies here how many are shocked that an 18 year old kid just starting out doesn't know that most cars had 6 volt systems up to 1954 or a generator is not the same as an alternator. Do you really expect the guy behind the counter to know every single thing on your 28A body on a '32 frame with an SBC and God knows what else you used to build your hot rod?

The guy behind the counter may not be a hot rodder of even a fan. The store attached to the NAPA warehouse where I worked for 15 years didn't have any hot rodders behind the counter. They were all pretty knowledgeable and very helpful. The knowledge came with experience. None of them started with an intimate knowledge of every car ever made.

I agree! This is the latest of about 40,000 similar threads here. Get over it people. Besides, I see a lot of, uh, not too swift questions and statements posted on the HAMB as truth. Put another way, a ton of bullshit!
Guys, try NOT being a dick to people and you just might get better results!

[Blades]

When I rebuilt the 200 for the Fairlane, I was amazed at how much of the stuff I needed was on the shelves in the store. One Autozone was good. Full of knowledgable employess always ready to help. The Autozone nearer to my house was full of douchbags and douchebagettes. Always ready to argue and quick to say "we dont carry it" with out even looking. I called their corporate and complained. I guess it was one too many complaints because the manager was gone and the remaining idiots were all of the sudden the most polite people I had ever met.

[Mac_55]

Buddys wife walked into Oriellys . She says " I need a Brake light for a 20?? dodge caliber" Counter guy says " Ok , Front or Rear" ............... Shit you not.

[Skeezix]

Originally Posted by Mac_55

Buddys wife walked into Oriellys . She says " I need a Brake light for a 20?? dodge caliber" Counter guy says " Ok , Front or Rear" ............... Shit you not.

Awkward


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[toychevytony]

I was surprised that autozone had parts for the 1953 3100 chevy truck