Auto parts store

[Dayzedandkonfuzed]

That's a shame. The Napa I started my career in was privately owned. When the owner (who was an incredible partsperson) sold it to the franchise, the 2 other experienced parts guys left soon after. I was left with the guy that had zero interest in cars, or fixing anything for that matter, as my Manager. I lasted maybe another year, but couldn't stand working for a store that suddenly lost all of its great reputation, despite working 7 days a week for months trying to keep the store afloat. "Paper catalogs? We don't need those. Heavy duty and agricultural parts? Toss 'em. 3 runs to the industrial park per day? Nah we'll just go once a day at 3 o'clock."

Not sure why losing long standing customers' business is how you save money.

 

[303'505rollin]

I guess today's "fixing" up your ride consists of plastic doodads, circus lights and snake oils which chain stores have plenty of, cant even walk in for an intake because there just empty boxes behind the counter and need to be ordered anyway boooo to them

 

[ssn696]

RockAuto has been liquidating all the old stock from auto parts stores all across the country for the past 10 years. Notice that it’s getting harder to find bits for our Gs on their site. Soon Mikes Montes and the Parts Place are going to be the next LMC.

 

[Clone TIE Pilot]

The automotive industry has historically been unkind to older car models. The big tech generation gap from carbed to EFI has made it especially bad for old cars. Hate to think how things may be like if EVs become the new dominate tech and ICE falls to the wayside. Progress is a unforgiving b*tch.

 

[g0thiac]

You guys forget, we're the minority in these times.

How many other businesses survive servicing 40 year old goods? Seen a TV repair shop lately? Video rental store? Times change, the majority of people want the "newest" anything, whether it's worth a damn or not. See Iphone 13, pickups that are really just cars with a miniature bed, etc

I'm 27 and the last time I saw a TV repair shop was in our neighborhood, around 2004-2005, and Blockbuster when it closed around 2011-2012. I hate how things have changed tbh, it's shitty and depressing- but I can't do anything about it clearly.

 

[airboatgreg]

Went to a locally owned store yesterday and saw a guy that i bought parts from years ago. He recognized me when i walked in the door

 

[64nailhead]

I'm 27 and the last time I saw a TV repair shop was in our neighborhood, around 2004-2005, and Blockbuster when it closed around 2011-2012. I hate how things have changed tbh, it's shitty and depressing- but I can't do anything about it clearly.

We have one TV/Stereo/Electronics repair shop left. The owner is in his late 60's or 70's. Two weeks ago I dropped off my Sony amplifier/receiver that I purchased in 1987 because the speaker outputs were not working without a whack or two. We use this in the garage and for outdoor sound in the summer. The gentleman replaced all of the rear connections that were cracked cleaned it to the point of it looking and functioning like new - including the remote. All for $85, including tax.

Went to a locally owned store yesterday and saw a guy that i bought parts from years ago. He recognized me when i walked in the door

Hopefully you bought something you needed.

I buy everything possible locally, even if it means another 10-15%. Supporting those that pay taxes in my locality makes it worth it to me. I hate to say it though, but in another 10-15 years we aren't going to be able to get much of anything locally due to the Amazon's and Walmarts of the country that pay zero taxes.

I've watched the local politicians campaign for both Amazon and Walmart distribution centers offering no property taxes to get them here. We didn't get either, but someone else did - all in the name 'jobs'. At some point we have to start producing products other than boxes to ship products that screw everyone locally.

We'll see.


Again, support your local business that supports you (with their taxes.)

 

[axisg]

Guess I am lucky. Been using the same guy for 95% of what I buy for 20 or so years now. They know me by name, and what I drive. I order what I need and they text asking to pickup or deliver it to the shop if I am busy on a jobsite. I square up the next time I drop in to see them. He's also good enough to send me down the road to see someone else when he does not have what I need. Other places you have to pre-pay before they will even order the parts. Actually made me LOL when my business partner tried to buy a single Oil Filter for my van ( 4.3 ). Robert corrected him on the filter choice stating George prefers the tall V8 filter to the short V6 one. I'll order him in 3 and have them dropped off to the shop after lunch. He knows I wait for oil to go on sale at Wally or CTC and he has a tight margin on fluids so I just buy the filters from them. Yeah I "could" get better pricing but what is that kind of Customer Service worth when you have that level of trust ?

 

[g0thiac]

We have one TV/Stereo/Electronics repair shop left. The owner is in his late 60's or 70's. Two weeks ago I dropped off my Sony amplifier/receiver that I purchased in 1987 because the speaker outputs were not working without a whack or two. We use this in the garage and for outdoor sound in the summer. The gentleman replaced all of the rear connections that were cracked cleaned it to the point of it looking and functioning like new - including the remote. All for $85, including tax.

Seems like a solder joint that became oxidized over time, glad he was able to fix it for you.

I do know one repair person, who's the father of a friend I went to school with. Not sure if they still do the business, but they operated out of their home, and his son worked at a chain of stores called Active Electronics in Edmonton where I grew up.

 

[g0thiac]

Guess I am lucky. Been using the same guy for 95% of what I buy for 20 or so years now. They know me by name, and what I drive. I order what I need and they text asking to pickup or deliver it to the shop if I am busy on a jobsite. I square up the next time I drop in to see them. He's also good enough to send me down the road to see someone else when he does not have what I need. Other places you have to pre-pay before they will even order the parts. Actually made me LOL when my business partner tried to buy a single Oil Filter for my van ( 4.3 ). Robert corrected him on the filter choice stating George prefers the tall V8 filter to the short V6 one. I'll order him in 3 and have them dropped off to the shop after lunch. He knows I wait for oil to go on sale at Wally or CTC and he has a tight margin on fluids so I just buy the filters from them. Yeah I "could" get better pricing but what is that kind of Customer Service worth when you have that level of trust ?

You live in the GTA area tho right? If he wants extra business, I don't mind heading down there for some parts once the province deems travel ok.