I always like saying that i need valve cover gaskets for an 87 mazda rx-7. 
GhettoRacingKid said:
Auto Parts Store Rant
- Thread starter CHRIS.O
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While I admit that there are too many idiots working behind the counter, the percentage of idiots on the other side is much higher. Main thing is to find a place/person you can trust and stick with them.
Real simple...I use Oreilly and rock auto sites, pick which part I want, and go in with the part number. I gave up on counter guys in 1991 when I needed a set of Ford points, and was subjected to the 20 questions game...only to be told their computer didn't go back to 1967...WTF?
MOST counter jockeys were not yet alive when I began messing with cars. SOME know their stuff, most are more into fart cans and bumpin' audio than giving a damn about taking care of customers.
MOST counter jockeys were not yet alive when I began messing with cars. SOME know their stuff, most are more into fart cans and bumpin' audio than giving a damn about taking care of customers.
I just get alot of stuff I need from online anymore. It sucks to pay extra for shipping, but it's not cheap driving to different stores either. In my area, the non chain stores are just as ignorant as the chain stores. Plus they all are very poorly stocked. With Autozone I bought the last can of paint that matched my Regal's color. A month later they still didn't restock that color.
Try doing the job sometime if you think you can do a better job than them. It's not as easy as you think and it doesn't pay well so quit complaining. When you deal with as many *ssh*les that don't even know what kind of car they drove there in asking you for parts based on a description of what it looks like they don't even know what it is or what it's called... Or they're going by what a friend of their cousins' friend who used to be a mechanic said it probably but without looking at it over the phone. People asking you the difference between each one of the at least 10 different fuel injector/carb cleaner fuel additives... Like what the **** man do I look like a chemist to you? Pick whichever one has a label you like best or the best price they're pretty much all the same sh*t. And full grown men asking you to change their wiper blades or light bulbs for them or put on a steering wheel cover for them because they're such inept idiots they can't figure out a task that could be done by a 4 year old. And shop owners that make tons of money giving you sh*t about the prices went up... Oh well it's called inflation buddy and the corporate headquarters sets the prices not me so take your attitude and shove it up your *ss. Then people assuming counter guys at parts stores are all morons...
With all that you kind of stop giving a sh*t pretty quick.
With all that you kind of stop giving a sh*t pretty quick.
sh*t pay, jerks, and retail all go hand in hand. I worked at an autoparts store. Had plenty of *ssh*les that were regulars. Still not an excuse to not know some basics. Most counter guys are idiots. That is the same with just about any business really though. I can handle an inept counter guy as long as they are respectful which I rarely find is the case. Typically when I go to a nation wide retailer I get the same old if the computer doesnt have it we cant get it and nobody else can either attitude. Like I am the moron because they won't look in their books or make a phone call. Attitude is about 90 percent of the package for me. If it sucks that bad, find employment elsewhere. I did. I tell ya one thing I learned working at a parts store though. You really learn how "smart" a lot of mechanics are. 
It definitely reaffirms my belief that I should just do it myself and never take my car to a shop unless I know the people.
It definitely reaffirms my belief that I should just do it myself and never take my car to a shop unless I know the people.
ever gone to a dealer and asked for a part and have them give you the deer in headlights look? i asked for dash bulbs for my 94 saturn and the guy comes back with head light bulbs. i then had to tell him that there smaller with a plastic thing on the back, so he came back with signal bulbs. so i said ill be right back and proceeded to tear apart my dash right there in the paring lot in front of the dealership letting my parts take up the spot next to me and then take the bulbs out walk up to the counter and say "these ones". turned out to be 8 bucks a bulb, so i said nevermind and went and took them from the junk yard. thats right up there with nitrogen in yer tires. its a tire, not a potato chip bag.
CHRIS.O said:
The worst part of this statement, there is sooooooo much truth to it :shock: . I quickly learned who the botchers in my area were once I started delivering parts to some of the yahoos (got sick of the over the counter general public, and demanded driver status, lol). However, I did find out about a few that don't look like much on the outside, but, do great quality work, both body and mech wise.
I went to Advance Auto a few years ago because I needed pinion bearings for a "9-bolt" Borg Warner rear in an 85 F body. Totally different rear than the GM 10 bolt. I brought the old bearings and races with me and they couldn't help me because it was not on the computer. I went to a mom and pop shop auto store and they just took the old bearings in the back and matched the Timken numbers laser etched in the bearings. I was in and out in 5 minutes with the right parts.
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