RANT: parts stores

[Josh]

Let me start this off by saying that I know counter guys have it difficult, I try to be nice to them. Actually, I try to be nice to all service people, unless they go out of their way to piss me off... then, it's game time. I will also state that, I hate AutoZone, but, it is only a few blocks from my house, and, all the other stores are either not open all the time, or farther away. we have a local place called Menzers that is AWESOME, but, they are only open 9-5 M-F.

so, on to story:

I have of course been building the Power Wagon and, I decided to do a 4 wire stepper motor for idle control with the Megasquirt so that the fast idle circuit I can use for my fan control.

To do the stepper motor thing, I need a 1992 Pontiac Grand Prix 3.1L IAC valve.

I go to VatoZone, and this dumbarsed kid is there... Dealt with him before, hate dealing with him, try to avoid him if at all possible, but, it was busy, and he was the only one available. He seriously looks and acts like th main character from full metal jacket.

I step up and say "I need an Idle control valve for a 1992 Pontiac Grand Prix with the 3.1L in it."

Him: "You mean an idler pulley"

Me: "No, I want the idle control valve."

He proceeds to roll his eyes like Im a retard, and types in "idler pulley"

Me: "No! I want the little stepper motor that fits on the intake manifold that makes the freakin motor run at idle!"

Him: "I don't appreciate the attitude"

Me: "Yeah, well, I don't appreciate you looking at me like I'm retarded. Now type in EXACTLY what I tell you to. Don't add anything; don't take anything away, EXACTLY as I say."

At this point, the whole store had come to a screeching halt and was all focused on our little debate. He types it in, and lo and behold, there it is. At this point, I was, needless to say, a bit ticked off.

Me: "Wow, look at that, they do exist! Listen here, smartass, I'm an engineer at a company that designs and builds EFI engines from the ground up. I've forgotten more about EFI already than you'll ever know, so, now that we're done with our little dick measuring session, stop giving me that nasty look, go in the back, get my part, and stop wasting my time."



He was very, very pissed when I left.

[HingsingM37]

Great story
I am fortunate enough to have a NAPA staffed with 50 and 60 year guys just down the road. It has that machine shop smell like a real parts store. Sadly I think it will probably close when the owner retires. However they are not open on Sundays and I am left with Advanced Auto Parts or Auto Zone if I need something on a Sunday. They can't pull anything without the computer to tell them what it is. I doubt if most of the young staff in those places have even picked up a wrench..I have had simlilar encounters but not the show stopper you did

[m-37Bruce]

Good Rant Josh!
They are everywhere, lucky for 4 me, my NAPA is 7 days a week w/ several vg counter folks.

[Sal]

I think the Napa store by me has the Auto zone graduates... If its not something off the shelves I don't go. I do as much on line as I can. Helps keep the blood pressure down...
Sal

[Josh]

I assumed since this was an off the shelf part, I would be safe from the idiocracy, but, apparently not.

I love Menzers, the place is awesome. Walked in with the master cylinder for the truck, and the guy behind the counter and I hunted down the correct fittings I needed for it, asked him if he had ever heard of CuNiFer brake line (copper Nickel iron), and he goes in the back and gets a roll... Ask him if he has any of those little hydraulic pressure brakeline switches that thread into an 1/8" NPT block.. same story, goes in the back and gets one. Guys are AWESOME. Sadly, they aren't open on the weekends. if they were, my blood pressure would be lower as well!

[Master Yota]

We have the same issues here in the north, the smaller local shops are great, the guys behind the counters are gear heads, and can usually offer up a good suggestion or option when Bs'ing and problem solving. I've played the "challenge the parts guy" game with both the younger and older generations, and usually come up with a winning game plan. Plus, as I know most of them from the thousands of dollars and time spent with them, generally get the "good guy" pricing as well!

As for the local Napa, Lordco, or Canadian tire, I never shop there, and cringe if I even consider it. These guys are a single employment step above a walmart greeter IMO, and are often the dumbest people to talk to in my experience dealing with them; at least the ones here are. The HR people for these companies seem to go out of their way to find the least suitable employee's for the counter position. They seem to hire based on who will work for peanuts rather than who is capable of doing the job.

I'm with you Josh, we can stand united in our quest for good parts store customer service!

[Brett]

I live about 40 miles from nashvile where I work. I never get to go to the napa in the town where I live because they are only open M-F, 7-5. I've had decent luck with the napa in nashville though they don't keep a ton of stuff in stock. I've had very good luck with O'reily. their regional dist. center is 3 minutes from my shop and has a sales counter with plenty of parts books close at hand. They even had M37 spark plugs and oil filters in stock. The guys at my local store are great as well, and will let me behind the counter with them to find what I need.

Brett

[m-37Bruce]

My napa is 7 days a week, has a machine shop.

[m15256]

I live on an island and get most M37 things from the internet and shipped. We have one small NAPA and an independent. I used to work on boat engines a lot and needed a starter for a very old flat head Universal. Took it off and went to NAPA and explained as much about the engine as possible including the part number on the starter. Very smart kid starts looking for part # in the computer. I look over his shoulder and he's looking at a listing for transmission parts. I point out that it is not a trans. He says "I'm trying to find a number that looks the same" I say "So if that doesn't work for, you got any other bright ideas?" "We'll look on the shelf" he says. In the end he told me that if that didn't work he'd start sending starters over from the mainland. Randomly I guess until as if my magic the correct one would arrive. I said that didn't seem like such a bright plan because I needed the starter this year and went to the other place. Put the starter on the counter and got ready to go through the same scene. Guy says what do you want? I say starter. He goes to the back and drops an identical one on the counter. I ask how he knew what it was. He looks at me because now I'm the idiot. "It's a jeep starter" They have had my business ever since.

[MikeOneSix]

Although my town has it's share of Autozones, Advance and carquest parts stores there were two very good parts houses that I have used for years. One is NAPA which was my "fall back" shop if my primary "Parts Inc" didn't have what I was looking for.

Both shops seemed to be crewed by older guys who have turned a wrench or two in their time. Well today, I feel as if I'm loosing and old friend as I just found out that after 46 years in the same location, Parts inc is closing it's doors for good in two weeks. So with this post, I'd like to bid a fond farewell to parts Inc. of Harrisonburg, VA You will be sorely missed.
Matt

[98taco3]

I feel your pain! Weve got a bunch of parts stores around but only one napa in our small little town. Every time i have gone in there i get the old "we cant get that" or "they never made anything like that." Usually only go in there now for a quart of oil if i need it or something stupid. Not to mention their 110% markup on EVERYTHING. Ive got a buddy that owns a napa a few towns away and i usually go out of my way to go out there. His employees with put an effort into finding what you need. Couple of years back i bought a rear axle out of a 73 chrysler imperial fleet code car. Thing of it is its a 9 1/4" disc brake rear axle. From the factory. Every dang parts store in northern colorado told me i was crazy and chrysler never built anything like it until the 2000s. Even after taking them out to the parking lot and showing them the axle in the back of the truck. My buddy finally found a napa parts book from 1980 that had the thing listed in there! Youd think somewhere along the line someone would have had a clue about the thing but nope.

[hbb]

Josh;
This seems to be the problem in any type of parts situation! I was on my way to Sturgis and started to have some drivability concerns with my bike,I stopped in the Harley Dealer in Cheyenne Wy and go to the counter and ask the parts man for a cylinder head temp sensor he looks in the computer and then proceeds to advise me that the part has to be an aftermarket part and they don't exist.Let me backup 5 years prior I was the parts manager in that same store and the bike was bought new from this store! so you can only imagine how the blood pressure was rising,I then asked Skippy if he knew anything about Harley's and he then advised me that he was a top of the class graduate from MMI(Motor Cycle Mechanics Institute) and I promptly told him to demand his money back and at that time the parts manager came out after hiding behind the door opening and we then got in a pissing match which brought the owner of the store out whom I used to work for at that point he advised Gommer and Skippy that I knew what I was talking about and get the parts book out for that year and gee wiz there it was! I really enjoyed sticking it up there buts. Why argue with the customer when you know your just a dumb ass!I have had many other outings with parts men before and after that.
Wow that was my rant for the day! I feel your pain brother.
hb

[Lifer]

...I've forgotten more about EFI already than you'll ever know, so, now that we're done with our little dick measuring session, stop giving me that nasty look, go in the back, get my part, and stop wasting my time."



He was very, very pissed when I left.

If I had been the store manager he would also have been unemployed. Businesses don't need people like that working for them.