Art & Inspiration Chrome polish. Really?

Today I went to SIX auto pars stores to buy a bottle of Turtle Wax chrome polish like I have done a million times before. Nada. Not one damn store had chrome polish. Some of the know nothings tried to sell me metal polish. Nope. Ordered it from Amazon. What else are we losing?

 

The stores may be out of stock, but it's still available. https://www.turtlewax.com/products/chrome-polish-rust-remover-12fl-oz

 

The adults and kids working in the auto part stores know nothing.
I wanted to buy a battery for my T-Coupe at Auto Zone. When I told the "adult" that the battery was going into a Model T Coupe with a 51 flathead, he almost threw-up.
He told me that he had never heard of such a thing and that they don't carry batteries for a Model T Flathead... Well, No Shit, STOOPID!
I want a 12v battery and this is what I want.
The idiot went to their book and pointed out to me that they don't carry the battery that I want for a Model T Flathead and that it is for other cars.
I looked at the battery rack and pointed to the one that I wanted. He then proceeded to tell me that those batteries will not work for a Model T Flathead and they are for the newer cars.
I left and went to NAPA.

 

"what else are we losing"...the highest impact is veteran knowledgeable countermen/women, who are/were passionate about cars/parts, who likely had their own Hot Rod projects at home.
I don't want to just pile on the same old song and dance, but parts people (a very few exceptions) today, are merely key board operators, who would rather be doing something else (and we all kind of wish they would).
We can't go back, we just have to do our own research, fortunately most all of these parts stores today have online cataloging.

 

C'mon man, if the guy behind the counter at the parts store was smart enough to be a HAMB'er, he'd be overqualified to work there, and would soon find a better job elsewhere. My MO is to look up the part online, screenshot the image of their page with their part number and show it to the guy. Then, they usually can get it right.

 

Did the counter Bozo ask for make, model, engine, year of car, the polish was for?

 

Plus did it have air con and was it an automatic?

 

How many time are we gonna resurrect this pointless snivel?

 

When was the last chrome bumper sold on a production car? They are all painted now. Trucks still have them or at least I think they do. I haven’t bought a new truck since 2002.

 

Do yourself a favor and order up some Quick Glow, best chrome polish EVER

 

i was a bit surprised when i was reading about a chrome shop that was busted for dumping a large amount of chemicals down a river, this shop is still currently supplying Hex chrome to Detroit. what really surprised me, was they are using the hex chrome on chromed plastic.

 

Their website is dead.

 

My grandpa polished chrome with peanut butter. I've never tried it.

 

Complaining about the help being 'know nothings' when you knew going in that the supply chains are screwed royally (*new normal) going on 2 years & that the companies that employ said 'know nothings' have been the standard for quite some time. Next time search on line or Contact the store of your choice to see if it in Hand/in stock before leaving your keyboard. Now, order extra on damned near anything while you still can afford to w/the skyrocketing inflation.

 

So….the auto parts guys are stoopid because they don’t know what battery your 1 off custom car takes? But you own your car, know what battery it takes but choose to call them stoopid, and idiots and take your business elsewhere even though you located said battery in that store?

Then you went to NAPA and gave them the same car description and they knew what battery to give you? Wow. That is some NAPA auto parts store.

 

Your painting polishing compounds work as well or better.
Frustrating, but the stores likely stopped stocking it with so little chrome on cars now.

Closest walmart to you has it in stock

 

I ordered two bottles from Amazon.

 

The chrome on this Holden ute was 14 years old when this photo was taken. It was an everyday driver, sat it dusty worksite carparks and towed my racecar hundred of miles to meets and that chrome was never polished, just washed when the rest was done. The place that did the chrome told me to never use polish and especially never use steel wool.

 

OOPS, pushed the wrong button.

 

Thats why my dog keeps licking my bumpers!

 

Do not ever go into a chain auto parts store, including NAPA, without knowing exactly what you are there to buy.

Have the part number ready.

If they ask what it is for, tell them that it does not matter. If you have to, make something up.

I just say "...diesel generator, that's what's in it now. I just need another one."

 

Is that chrome, or is that stainless steel?

 

I order it thru Amazon, the company changed hands years ago, this was just a random image I grabbed

 

The chrome on plastic is still real chrome. You can stick chrome to anything that conducts electricity.

Bust a chunk at a self-service yard and you will find that it is indeed metal.

And yes, you can make plastic that is conductive.

 

My standard answer in 1970 Chevy pickup with a 307

 

I like the "not car or truck" approach, because they cannot follow up with any questions.

Stops them cold.

 

I know, but you are right, go in with your numbers AND prices printed out ahead of time.

 

Yup.

 

I call ahead to make sure they have what I want and sometimes order extra..........

 

I haven't been in a chain parts store in a while. About all I buy from them is an occasional battery or aluminum brightener acid for my truck. I've got to where I just order from Rock Auto and wait on the mail. The chain parts houses usually have to order from their warehouse, so why not cut out the middle man and save some money to boot?