Got Laughed at Today at the parts counter!

the best way is to come in with P/N's already. Second best is you figure out what donor car you can use to get what you want. That way they can plug the info into the computer.[/QUOTE]

Ditto to that.

And never point to the car your working on lest you want to explain everything you've done to the parts guy. Been there, done that. It sucked! Parts guy still couldn't follow directions. Had to get the manager.

 

my local CarQuest store has all young girls who don't know a thing about cars. what's points? they are always over priced

 

"it's the bumbling, iPhone in the face, txting while driving generation amongst us now.. "
Yep. I'm turning into more of a curmudgeon every day....

 

Went to Advanced and ask for a ( set of valve cover gaskets for a 302 ford) They ask what for I said a ford 302. But what car I said car or truck didn't matter .I had to give a year finally getting some where? He said is that a 6 or a v8. I walked out. carquest is the best just one town over

 

Hehe... here's my recent auto parts story.

I went to work trying to pull my 1950 Binder truck out and get it moved to a new location. Except, years ago when I started working on it I disassembled the front end. I figured it would be substantially easier to get it moved if it were rolling, so I was working on putting the whole thing back together--but I was missing a few parts. I needed a notched washer/bearing retainer for one side drum, a pair of spindle nuts, some lug nuts and some bolts for the drum backing plates/steering parts.

I took a drum, backing plate (with shoes still installed), and one of the bearing retainers I had. I figured this couldn't be too hard.

The first stop was a little independent shop. The guy behind the counter looked like he wasn't quite sure what he was looking at. He didn't even bother looking at the book, just said they had nothing and showed me their cobweb-covered bolt selection.

I left, and went to a Car Quest. The gray-haired guy (probably in his '50's) had no problem with the parts, but said they can't look anything up. He told me a brake place to go that would "definitely" have the parts I wanted--though he did try a few parts.

Since it was on the way, I stopped at an O'Reilly's. I put the old parts on the counter, and the kid (probably about 20 or so) literally LOCKED UP. He just stood there staring at the parts on the counter. Another guy there, maybe 25 looked over and asked what was up. He walked over and saw the parts on the counter, and he locked up. They just stood there staring at the parts for a minute or two (and the first guy never said a word). To his credit, the 25-yr-old tried looking around in the back, but didn't find anything. I'm 31, so not THAT much older than them, so I guess I was just shocked that they didn't even seem to know what this stuff is.

The brake place was a good help. They couldn't look it up, but got me the bolts, nuts, washer, and one spindle nut that was his "best guess" as they couldn't look it up either (and they are specialists in brake/clutch/oddball). I went back to the Car Quest and got another one, though it looked different. Thankfully, the spindle nuts worked great!

I think I stopped at a NAPA, and they weren't much help either--but at least the guy (younger) was of some help. He just kept giving me metric spindle nuts, though.

 

Last time I needed a part for my driver truck, I just went on a favorite Studebaker site and asked if anybody had one and within an hour someone said they would send it to me in the mail, got it a couple days later, on within half hour and was exactly what I needed.

The only kind of parts I even bother to get at those crap stores is oil, filters, etc. Complete waste of time otherwise. Especially if you get the whole make, model, year BS computer question, you know they are just going to say they don't have it and be dead in the water. Other parts I just stick to Studebaker vendors and they at least know what they are talking about and even usually refer to someone else who likely has it if they don't.

 

He was an older guy...I would say late 40's early 50's

 

I use Rock Auto most of the time. Carquest and Napa are losers here. Their computers don't go back far enough for what i need. You have to go in and wait in line only to have them hunt for a book they can't read. At least at Autozone, i can look up numbers online, get prices and have them shipped or take the numbers to my local store. Free shipping to store. Parts quality is so-so....jack

 

From the OP on down, most of you guys are crazy-and have no idea of how to run a business. These store are "AUTO PARTS" stores-look out side-how many cars running any of the parts mentioned in this thread do you see? One, maybe two? These stores need to turn their inventory over every 3-6 months and you can't do that stocking parts for 20+. You can bet they've got the parts for the last five years though.

Don't like the computer? Look at how many brands, models and parts there are-cars are way more complicated today than your '41 Ford, so there need to be a lot more parts in stock and lots of variations. Plus they have to track that inventory for automatic re-ordering, ordering trends, sales records,recalls and other bit of doing business today. You guys want a 1950's parts guy to sell you 1950 parts. Ain't going to happen.

You want a successful trip to the autoparts store? Set them up to succeed. Have the parts number, YOM, the exact variety you need, what kind of car it came from-all the crap details you're complaining that the counter person didn't know. You're the expert and you're the grown-up. Try being helpful for a change, don't expect the sales clerk to know what it took you years to learn.

These threads are just so wearisome.

 

I wouldn't go to autozone if they were the last place on earth, what a bunch of dipships, don't know a jack hammer from a lug wrench!!!!!!!!!!!

 

i had a good laugh at the auto parts store today too...

guy comes in and asks for a carb kit for his boat. it has an inboard motor. what model boat? what motor? 2 or 4 barrel? what carb? give me something to work with please

i was told it didn't make any difference and they are all the same

so i put a random one on the counter and said it must fit since they are all the same. i'm sure he will be mad tomorrow when he returns it..i won't be there

 

I get laughed at every time I walk into the parts store!

They see me coming and run for the break room. hahah

 

I thought that Auto Zone people were dumb up North...until I moved down to Florida!
Even the NAPA people aren't worthy. I ordered a part for my Napa jack, (I wanted the part of the jack that touches the car to be rubberized), so my cars don't get their paint scrapped off..never got a call back! I called 2 weeks later and the guy says, we're still looking...WTF!

 

Yeah right. Try to open a real parts store today. You'll die lonely and broke. It's not the stores, not the employees even that fucked it all up. It's the generic customer and the 'replace it' mentality. Do your own work and save some time. If ya find a real store, do your best to keep em buisness. And no, I don't eat fast food either...

 

Unfortunately some of us who work in the parts stores have to listen to all of you bitch.

 

There's two sides to every counter, I seen clueless on both.

 

Not all Auto Zones are useless. I have a '64 Chevy pickup with a crate motor in it. When the alternator went out, I took it into the store with mne. When the guy asked what it was out of,l I told him my situation and he jumped on the computer and did a search based on what mine looked like. After a few minutes of comparison he found it. Another time I went in to get spark plugs for my '40 pickup when it had the flathead in it. The counter guy wanted to know what they were for. I said a '40 Ford and his immediate reply was we don't carry anything that old. I told him to look up the plug number and to his amazement, they had it in stock.

 

The local O'Reilly's I deal with is good to deal with. Mostly younger [mid 20's]. If they dont understand it, they usally have come behind the counter and look for it. They seem to enjoy it when I show up since its usally odd ball requests.
There are dumb ass's but they can be worked around.

 

I've got news for you! Its not the store that at fault. Look around you at your job. It's the younger workers that have no work ethic. They don't engage their brain and try to do the job before they tell you it can't be done!

 

there's nothing more frustrating than waiting in line for fifteen minutes at autozone after calling ahead to make sure the part's in stock, finally getting up to the counter with the good part number that you looked up yourself beforehand, and being told either that they can't look things up without the year, make, model, engine size, carburetor size, a/c option on a part they just told you they had, or that they're waiting for a shipment and that's why they don't have the part they told you they had. this has happened to me at least five times, and i'm always willing/expecting to play the imaginary car game to get suitable parts. unfortunately, when your only driver is down and az is the only parts store within remotely walkable distance, you have to keep going back. i have always thought it was strange that these places aren't more accommodating to old car people--new cars are increasingly designed not to be owner-serviceable, and if they don't get their shit together and start catering to the people that do fix their cars, i foresee their market completely drying up.

that said, i have had numerous good experiences with some of the people they employ. i usually just gravitate toward the older folks, not just because they understand old cars a little better, but because they're willing to actually hunt for something a little bit. the weirdest thing (for me) is when you ask somebody who's basically your same age for old car parts, and they treat you're grandpa fussing over his relics.

 

Oh that would have pissed me off

 

Let's see low pay, shitty Joe Public at large attitudes, and somehow it's suppose to change? Computers help eliminate this kind of snags. CALL ahead with your needs. Save time and frustration from BOTH sides of the counter. Lot's of dip-stick grease monkeys and back yard hack's out there to ensure that the road indeed goes in both directions.

 

I called Auto Zone yesterday asking about Timken bearings for a 1950 Ford F1. The guys never heard of Timken and said they wouldn't have them, even though they had everything but the inner bearings. I went to the Ma and Pa place without a website and they picked the parts I needed right off the shelf.

These places are AMAZED when you bring them part numbers.

 

I don't usually respond to these threads, but I'll chime in on this one...'cause I get fkn tired of the excuses, and those that wanna justify the crappy service:

"Blubber...sniff...we can't afford to hire good counter help 'cause they cost so much, and we can't provide good service 'cause we have so much other stuff to do! And if we try to run a service-oriented business, we'll have to close down, lonely and broke!"

What a bunch of crap. Then how is it that some are great, and some just plain suck? Typical acceptance of mediocrity, and more concern with the bottom line than customer service...that's how. It's the owner's and the management's choice which is more important.

One more thing. I can understand some ignorance on the old stuff, and I agree that we can all do our best to help. But...what I can NOT abide, is someone who is not only ignorant, but a cocky smartass too. Somebody said it here..."You can afford to be stupid...or you can afford to be an asshole...but you CAN'T afford to be a STUPID ASSHOLE!"

AutoZ
Big fat turd-brain "Sup?"
Me "Sup?...Are you asking me if I want help?"
Big fat turd-brain "Sure...why not.

The manager and I had a talk.

I do business with NAPA here in Capac, and in Imlay City, a few miles away. Both are nothin' but awesome. Happy, friendly, and funny...respectful...on the ball...and always willing to help and find the answer, regardless of the application. The one in Imlay City always has at least 4, and often up to 6 guys working. And all of them are grown family men, who sure ain't makin' no minimum wage. So that discounts the "We can't afford it" BS.

Over and out.

 

Great point. These vehicles are antiques, not typical.
Having worked at the parts counter before though, I can tell you that they do hire dummies, I was one but the computer systems they use are not friendly towards looking up anything except make first, then year, then model,etc...otherwise it will not let you go any further.If they had a system whereby you could look up the part TYPE first, then search the make and model, that would be good.....oh wait, thats called a parts catalogue, something the stores frown upon.

 

Im 20 but when I go to autojoke and any of the parts guys (old and young) dont understand I explain and try to teach them somethin. But you do get the dumb ass people at the counters that just wait until its quitting time and dont care to learn anything. I saw this guy askin what trans fluid goes in a th400 trans and he was yellin at the top of his lungs at this young girl cause she couldent find it on the computer. I grabbed a bottle of Ford type F fluid and handed it to him. He bought 6 quarts of Ford type F fluid and a trans filter!! One thing I cant tolerate is people actin like a dumbfuck in public. I wonder how well that th400 trans is workin with that type F fluid LMAO

 

But what ya have to remember is most of the people that work for the part stores are born on or after 1992 ! They weren't around any of our car era ! Most don't even know what a cassette tape is !!!

 

Two sides to this one,as usual... I own a bicycle shop,and enjoy the shrill,pissy guys who get upset when I don't have some little thing for their 80's POS. And it has to match the original,a working replacement won't do. And even though nobody on the planet has needed that little thing for 20 years,it's my fault I don't have it on the shelf,never mind that I can't even buy it anymore.
The worst ones are "engineers".... code word for self centered prick

 

I was born in 1992 and I have an 8 track player in my Ford!