Parts store stupidity.

[MrSony]

Ah, bout a month ago now I had a hell of a time finding a lower rad hose for my 1970 Thunderbird and an oring for the distributor. Had to go through hell and high water, three hoses, and go to the two stores about twice each. I got about neck deep in parts while I was tracking down an oil leak. At first, I thought it was puking out of the distributor hole due to a bad oring or out of the top of the timing cover. Turns out it as a bit of both. As soon as I got the dizzy out, that old brittle oring practically fell off. Thank got it was all in one piece. So, I had to go to two parts stores to find it, argue with the guy at the first store that distributors have o rings and had to wait a day because I got the the 2nd store that had it two minutes after they closed. Sidenote, how bullsh*t is it that they (at least in Iowa) close a 9pm? Sh*t should be 24 hour. Or at least 11pm or midnight during the warmer months when people are doing more outside stuff. After the dist oring debacle, I got cold feet about tearing the whole front of the motor apart when the car is seldom driven, and at that point wasn't even registered yet. I said screw it and buttoned it all back up except.... that damn hose. It has like two 90 bends in it 90 degrers apart and a 1 1/2 or 1 3/4 end for the rad and 2 inch end for the water pump side. Looks like a 3 dimensional S, if you can think of it. If I had a pic I'd put it in here. It needs the bends to clear the p/s pump and pulley. After dicking around at Autozone, more helpful than Advance by FAR, and having the guy at Advance tell me straight to my face (different guy than the one with the previous two hoses) "I won't go look back there, there's too many hoses" after I returned a flex hose (f*ck flex hoses!) and another hose to them (rad end too small) and just after the old guy at Autozone was back there in his store for 10 seconds and came with a hose that was almost perfect (later returned, 1.5 inches too short 🙁). After I returned everything, I recalled Oreilly's who originally said no store in the state had it, I had them take me back there, and I got a hose for a 1970 GALAXIE with a 429. Fits like a glove. My dad also had the same sh*t with the headlight bulbs for his Nissan he put smoked headlights on. Looks nice. Anyone else have this trouble? Sometimes I think they funnel all the "slow people" from around town into the parts houses to give em something to do.

 

[lilbowtie]

You need to find a good parts store or look up the parts w/# on line and tell them what you want.

 

[sportriderOK]

I work in parts at a dealer, and we won't call any chain store after 4pm. That's when the "night crew" gets out of high school and heads to their part time jobs. Not knocking the kids, at least they are working, but if the computer doesn't show it, they don't have the skills or experience to look on their own. (That's why they ask if your Suburban is 4 wheel drive when you need a headlight bulb, the computer asks them.) Most of them are driving their mother's beige Toynisda whatever deluxe and could care less about "old cars". Lilbowtie is right, look it up online and give them the number, or find a store that will let you go in the back and match stuff up. My gripe? They all carry the same Chinese crap in different boxes, and they only stock one of everything. God forbid you want to change all of your taillight bulbs at once, it may take 3 or 4 different stores!

 

[79 USA 1]

I've come to realize the A.S.E. certification patch many parts store attendants wear on their sleeves stands for Ask Someone Else.

 

[MrSony]

You need to find a good parts store or look up the parts w/# on line and tell them what you want.

I did that, and none of them had a hose that fit. All the hoses I bought had the "oem" part number or the "alternate part number" for a 1970 Thunderbird with A/C and a 429, the only motor option. I just got one from a 429 '70 Galaxie, same damn engine, engine compartment, radiator, water pump, everything. Different part number.

 

[MrSony]

I work in parts at a dealer, and we won't call any chain store after 4pm. That's when the "night crew" gets out of high school and heads to their part time jobs. Not knocking the kids, at least they are working, but if the computer doesn't show it, they don't have the skills or experience to look on their own. (That's why they ask if your Suburban is 4 wheel drive when you need a headlight bulb, the computer asks them.) Most of them are driving their mother's beige Toynisda whatever deluxe and could care less about "old cars". Lilbowtie is right, look it up online and give them the number, or find a store that will let you go in the back and match stuff up. My gripe? They all carry the same Chinese crap in different boxes, and they only stock one of everything. God forbid you want to change all of your taillight bulbs at once, it may take 3 or 4 different stores!

All the parts stores had full grown men in their 40s to 60s. The Oreilly's I went to and got the right hose had a few 18 year olds and an old guy. Guess my situation was different than the norm.

 

[81Regal]

There is a new O'Reilly's near me only open about a month or two. Went in to get a pair of front wheel bearings for a 2000 GP, they had two one cheaper and one more expensive. Knowing that it doesn't matter what side they fit, both fit front, I asked if they were side specific the three counter people that were working could only tell me they were for the front. These were not 18yr olds but middle aged guys.
I took the cheaper one since they wanted to order another in rather than offer to give me the more expensive one at a bit of a discount. Went to another parts store in town that had moog parts and got the other wheel bearing.

 

[565bbchevy]

Anytime I need a specialty part from a local auto parts store I always go online first, find the part and then print it out and bring it to the store with me and if the part is behind the counter I just hand them the paperwork and say I need this.
Luckily I also have an Autozone and Oreilly's that know me well enough that if I need to match something like a radiator hose(which I had to do for my Regal) they will let me behind the counter to find what I need.

 

[1evilregal]

I worked at Advance for 14 years, and yes, the younger guys are not always the ignorant ones, and the old guys aren't always the informative types... it isn't always just one brand store either, as I know alot of good and bad ones in the local stores. luckily I grew up around cars, and turned wrenches for a number of years before my back and knees made the decision for me to change careers, and I was the guy my co-workers and customers sought out if they need help or tech questions...

the problem really is, nowadays, corporate offices are more concerned with turning a profit for the shareholders, and less about who's manning the stores.... warm bodies behind the counters for much less than the knowledgeable folks.... the reason I'm no longer in it. and build truck bodies for a living now....

if you find a place with someone who knows their stuff, keep going there, and if they ever leave? follow them!😀

 

[Lazarus]

My uncle Ron owned a NAPA from 1951-2013. One thing was the ownership took pride in their store. When he died I heard countless stories of people broke down in the rain and him gimming a Ford part on a Dodge or vice versa to get people home. Had the right part on the counter next day waiting for them after work. Loyalty was another. People forget that guy behind the counter needs you and you need him. Things just gone to sh*t I guess.