Auto Parts Store Rant

[1978 NYB]

I have also become pretty good friends with this guy at AAP and if I need a part that's not in the store and another neighbor store has it he will order it for me and then text me so I can order it online and save a little money. It's all about relationships. If you go into a store and act like an asshat I would expect you would get the same level of service in return. Being a little friendly and talking car stuff is a much more pleasant experience and I do 99% of my shopping at the same dang store.

 

[commando1]

I usually look up the store website and order the parts on line, save a little money, and pickup the parts 20 minutes later.

Yes, we ALL do that, Bob, because we know better.
My point is, it's WRONG. Dead wrong.

 

[1978 NYB]

Yes, we ALL do that, Bob, because we know better.
My point is, it's WRONG. Dead wrong.

What level of expertise do you expect from somebody making $9 an hour?

 

[commando1]

What level of expertise do you expect from somebody making $9 an hour?

None. I understand that.
This country is turning into a society where it's perfectly acceptable to have the IQ of a door knob.
Corporate retailers love it. I hate it.
If the moron thinks it's OK to give me **** service, he has to also learn that it's also OK to turn my wrath upon him.

 

[70bigblockdodge]

What level of expertise do you expect from somebody making $9 an hour?

None.

This is why if I can wait 2days for the part Rock Auto works.....I eliminate the door knob.
The corporate retailers should soon start thinking of that online shopping of some sites has become so good/ easy I'm going to eliminate both the door knob and touching the disgusting door handle at the store.

 

[300rag]

...

Now it's like "I need a vanillaroma tree." ... "year, make and model?"

Bull.

Add to that, dash mount or suspended?



That's the problem with how they have their searches set up. They need to have an option to go direct to a product, or if they have it already, then they need to teach it to their staff.

In Stan's example

their way step by step:
year
make
model
engine
AC or not
then choose heater subsection
then choose hoses

simplified approach:
hoses
heater
size

 

[1978 NYB]

My friend at AAP said there is only three or four guys in the store making a decent wage. The rest of them are making whatever the minimum is or not very much past that. Wall Street greed...

 

[GJS]

On a rare occasion you run against a fellow who started working when it was proper to take pride in your job... even to have passion for it. They were raised to not think of any job as disposable. These guys abandon the computer at a certain point if needed and thumb through newsprint cross references until the part is defined... they then turn to the computer for inventory info...

This isn't just at the part store. I'd be inclined to call it an epidemic of coddling induced self entitlement.

While trading my Challenger for a new car for the wife, our dumb assed little sales guy, who spent more time talking about his future job in HOMELAND SECURITY(!!!) messed up and entered us into the system 3 times... this overloaded .. uh .. something and we wound up at the dealership for 5 hours... I would have left after hour one but my Challenger had already been deplated and moved to another storage area. No one in the entire dealership had any ******* clue what was going on and most just pouted and sighed and giggled nervously at us.... again, for 5 hours. The main manager feller gave us 100 bucks in vouchers for the dealership.. which I'll never use.

I just don't get it. Why the hell does one bother to wake up in the AM if they just don't give a sh**?

 

[70bigblockdodge]

Add to that, dash mount or suspended?



That's the problem with how they have their searches set up. They need to have an option to go direct to a product, or if they have it already, then they need to teach it to their staff.

In Stan's example

their way step by step:
year
make
model
engine
AC or not
then choose heater subsection
then choose hoses

simplified approach:
hoses
heater
size

Rock auto has that as tabs on the top of the page you can search by vehicle , part/number, universal tool and parts
If I go on AAP or AZ it is very confusing to use I have to save my car or re enter it then it keeps trying to stick wipers, rain x, vanillaroma trees on me, it no wonder then counter jockey gets overwhelmed. That is where a lot of online sites go wrong the computer nerds do not understand KISS method and don't try to explain it on me you wasting your megabits. The advertising parts inside of your website is dumb and clutters up my experience much like as if they are throwing all the junk up by the counter and front of the store at my feet when I am walking in and I just want to go to the back corner for oil.

 

[Dobalovr]

If you do what you like you will like what you do...

I purposely searched for an automotive job at 16 because I was deeply interested in cars and mechanics. I started at the local Canadian Tire store part time $3.40hr. I soon became the expert at the counter because the other 2 pineapples had no passion about cars it was just the job they had while looking for the job they wanted usually at one of the big Oil Sand plants. To this day I can still rattle off SKU numbers for a mid 70's mopar for belts filters brakes plugs etc. The kids at the counter today are the result of minimum wage and small margins. Many are new Canadians with ESL so its even more frustrating. If I could afford to I would be back on the counter dishing out parts but I just can't bring myself to look up chrome vent visors for a Subaru ...

 

[Carmine]

Yes, we ALL do that, Bob, because we know better.
My point is, it's WRONG. Dead wrong.

Sir, would you care to make a donation to the Children's Hospital with your purchase?

 

[Dobalovr]

Sir, would you care to make a donation to the Children's Hospital with your purchase?

Would donations to the sperm bank count???

 

[Carmine]

Would donations to the sperm bank count???

If you've ever seen a woman behind the counter at Autozone who brought that thought to mind; you're either living in a town full of low-skilled hotties or you have pretty low standards!

I'm just sayin...

 

[commando1]

Nothing like a parts store post to get everybody's rage going.

 

[commando1]

Many are new Canadians with ESL so its even more frustrating

Just read this morning the flow of Somalis illegally entering Canada has skyrocketed since January.

 

[polarus]

Wow what kind of calipers? If they are Buds you have to have them sleeved does not matter how much magic you throw at them they are going to leak. Kelsey Hayes I always rebuild myself with new pistons if the caliper is not rotten on the outside(for appearance sake) a seal, a piston, a dust boot, and a good cleaning is all they ever need they really are one of the best disc brake calipers out there.

Just regular 73 style calipers, the problem seems to be the bleeder screws don't seal. Rock auto sent the wrong part but insisted it had to be right because the part # on the box was right. That's why I'm going local.

 

[stubs300]

God, you guys are really a sad commentary! I have never had a problem with any NAPA I have ever walked into in my life! I don't dick around with any of the other guys unless it's for filters, fluids, etc.
The folks at the last NAPA I did biz with got to know me, I always walked in knowing what I wanted as well as part #'s, even it was for some oddball part to make something work. They loved it that I would help them with #'s, they were in no way stupid parts-counter people either. These were older folk that had been doing it a while, even the gals had their **** together! Going to miss that store now that I've moved. I've never done biz with Rockauto so can't comment on them.

 

[Dobalovr]

Just read this morning the flow of Somalis illegally entering Canada has skyrocketed since January.

Prime Minister Turd-o is welcoming them with free healthcare and welfare cheques personally.

 

[70bigblockdodge]

I have never had a problem with any NAPA I have ever walked into in my life

Their quality has gone in the toilet also and why pay twice as much for the same crappy part, they have fallen victim to the same packaged oversell the others are guilty of "buy all 4 struts and we'll give you a hundred dollar gift card" keep your F...in card knock $50 of 2 struts and I'm still there play those games I'm at home on the computer. What dumbass is changing all 4 struts on a 15 yo 200,000 mi car in the rustbelt, hell I'm only changing the one that's leaking just to pass inspection. Know your market.

 

[commando1]