Author Topic: PARTS STORES *&^%$##@#@#$%%^&^ (Read 1321 times)

WD45 · « **on:** September 12, 2003, 04:08:37 AM »

Am I the only person left that wants parts for a 1980 F250 4x4 ??
You would think I was since the standard answer seems to be ....
UHHH we dont stock that part for something THAT OLD ..... And thats after it takes me 20 min to explain what the part is !!!! I even have The explaining what the part is problem with my newer stuff :x
The most frustrating thing about working on your own stuff is going to the parts store :roll:

Redhawk1 · « **Reply #1 on:** September 14, 2003, 04:36:43 AM »

I had the same problem with my 77 Dodge Powerwagon, I found out some times it pay to have someone else do the work. I have just about quit working on my own trucks. The people doing the repair are responsible if the part did not work and you almost always get a guarantee. My question to myself is what is your time worth. Just like an oil change. Go get the oil, filter, them do oil change, bump head or cut finger.

. Now find a place to dump oil in recycle bin. Man that is time consuming. Pull into one of those oil change places, they lube your grease fittings, check all your fluids do the oil change and vacuums out your truck under $30.00. Some dealerships do it for under $20.00.

I have 4 trucks to worry about, I say let a professional due it.

Dogshooter · « **Reply #2 on:** September 14, 2003, 07:15:49 AM »

Jeeez. what kind of parts house do you have to deal with? I guess out here where I live, we's all poor boys so we all got old stuff. But, in my small town we have 4 parts stores and there are a couple that kinda act like that. I'd give someone else my business if you have any option.

WD45 · « **Reply #3 on:** September 14, 2003, 08:41:41 AM »

For the most part I like working on my own stuff depending on what the task is. I pretty much draw the line when I have to start buying special tools to do the job that may cost more than paying someone to do it. I work on aircraft for a living so I am already fairly well stocked in the tool department.
I have had problems with about every chain store parts wharehouse around. Auto zone , Advance auto parts , Pepboys, KOI...........
For all I know they may actually have the part I need but the person behind the counter couldnt find it if they had to move it out of the way to check the infamous computer :roll: It is just very frustrating dealing with people that have no knowledge of parts. I broke a drivers side manual lock hub a couple of weeks ago and had a devil of a time finding a store that had one. The person behind the counter at pepboys kept asking me " are you sure it's not some kind of bushing ? "

Dogshooter · « **Reply #4 on:** September 14, 2003, 09:38:26 AM »

If we would all frequent Burger King and McDonalds more often maybe all the burger flippers would stay put and not end up behind the parts counters, huh? :wink:

urika20 · « **Reply #5 on:** October 01, 2003, 03:58:28 PM »

... and they say, " The dumbing down of America is another conspiracy theory".

urika20

INresponse · « **Reply #6 on:** January 08, 2004, 06:52:26 PM »

The worst part is the darn computer on the counter. Walk in, say I need a Fram PH13 oil filter, the counter rat says:

What year car?
What make and model?
What size engine?
Does it have A/C?
Electric horn or manual finger?

Then you usually get answers like:

It doesn't show a 350. It lists 4.3, 5.0, or 5.7.

The last time I rebuilt an engine, on a '64 Chevelle, I tried to get the right size fan belt. I went in with one the right size, just wanted a new one. I had to go through all the stupid questions so I started with telling them it is a rebuilt engine I am swapping into the old car and that the computer probably wont list it. He insisted on trying because he was just that ignorant. Sooooooo, I told him it was a '73 Fiat with a 454. The computer did not list that option either.

What happended to the good old days when the guy behind the counter knew all the part number by heart and knew what part you needed by the sound of the engine when you parked in front of the store?

Computers s--k!

BlkHawk73 · « **Reply #7 on:** January 10, 2004, 05:54:29 AM »

Just how many parts do you expect these places to carry? Every part for every car ever built? I don't see that they'd carry parts for models older than a particulr date. The exception may be if the particular part is a commonly replaced part or one that is still a part used on new production models. Or they could carry all these aniquated parts and raise all thier prices so they can build a new warehouse that they'll need to keep them all in.

WD45 · « **Reply #8 on:** January 15, 2004, 02:11:44 AM »

I do understand that a parts store can and will not stock every part under the sun for everything made the last 40 years. I am talking about parts that are used on more than one model car or truck in my case sometimes by more than one truck manufacturer AND some of these parts are still being used on new trucks after 30 years. I needed a manual lockout hub for my truck which is the same hub still being put on new trucks today. Not some obscure part that was only put on one model for a couple of years. Now, at every place but one I had to explain to the person what a manual lock hub was even though I had the broken part in my hand and one place insisted that it really must be some kind of bushing. 2 places stated that they didnt carry ANY parts for 4x4's. I have had this experience on newer cars also and it is not limited to older vehicles.
The fella posted above about a problem getting a belt... Why didnt the person take the belt and just match it up ? or get the # off the belt and match / cross ref #'s ? It is not that dificult. I used to get my tractor belts from an auto parts store. I just gave it to the person behind the counter and they matched it up and only asked what it was off of if it was some odd size and in some cases they told me what tractor it was from without asking. Those days are LOOOOOONG gone.

BlkHawk73 · « **Reply #9 on:** January 15, 2004, 11:05:36 AM »

Ahhh, given it was a common part, yes, one would think they'd have it. Myself, if I can, I order it directly through my work (I have access to all that automotive fun stuff one way or another.) When I do this, I'll call and talk to someone that deals in that area. If I want Jeep parts, I call someone in the know - so to speak. These yahoos at Napa and PepBoys for the most part are there just to collect a paycheck an see no need to have any knowledge because the computer has it all. :roll: There's always a 4x4 shop nearby somewhere where you can get help.

Shorty · « **Reply #10 on:** January 24, 2004, 10:58:48 AM »

:roll: If I need a part for my '59 F100, they might not have it. If I ask for the same part for a '72, they DO have it! Yeah, that part didn't change in all those years, but the counter guy doesn't know that. :wink:

BIGBOREFAN · « **Reply #11 on:** August 30, 2004, 11:35:15 AM »

Guys I got one thing to say. Do there job for a week. I been in the parts business for 15 years. 8 of those years I worked a Napa store. Did by best to help everyone. Went way out of my way to help people time and time again and the people kept coming back. Because they were satisfied, but it did not matter to the owner of the store (he owned 18 stores) and he would not give raises or pay commision so I moved on. Let me tell you it's hard to find anyone with parts experience for 5.50 an hour. Ya I know the guy behind the counter should know a carburator from a throttle body and a coil from a ignition module but when the cheap a** owner will not pay for experienced help then your going to get burger flippers behind your local parts counter.

BBF

hillbill · « **Reply #12 on:** November 04, 2004, 01:09:41 PM »

wd45, do what i dun, find the best parts guy in yur town and jus buy yur stuff wherever he werks at the time. yu may have to wait in line but it shuld eventually save yu a lot of time. some places pay their guys on a incentive or bonus depending on how much cash runs thru their personal register. once yu are recognized as being a regular they will go all out for ya. do a little research before yu go after yur part or at least have the old part with ya. ive had yur same experience at autozone and oreillys, yu basically got to walk them thru the process of finding the part and make abosolutely sure they dont give yu the wrong thing. good luk!!