ranking of automotive parts places

[Wagoneerlover]

Hello again fellow jeepers.

I constantly see threads where newbies and experienced alike ask questions about the reliability of the automotive parts suppliers and stores. Well here is your opportunity to sound off and give your thoughts on the chain stores and local stores (If local list location, state if possible). Hopefully this will help out some fellow jeepers out there.


High qaulity parts (Best you can get)
BJ's offroad (in my experiences), napa

Good qaulity


average
pep boys

Below average
advanced auto parts, auto zone (if you are going to purchase things here, replace them shortly with good stuff or only get the non a/z or advanced parts) Might get cheap parts here just to get home but I would replace them asap.

purchase at your own risk!!
The junkyard

[fulsizjeep]

Not all NAPAs are the same because they are privately owned most cases. The NAPA in Montrose CO is owned by a guy I will not do business with. I think I would drive at least an extra 50 miles to buy parts from someone else.

The one in Cortez CO is primo though.

[OBX-AUTOMOTIVE]

DON'T FORGET ME!!! THE CONNAISSEUR OF FINER SHEET METAL PRODUCTS

[scantar]

BJ's is a gimme

All the rest...that will depend on the help at the counter. Around here, AZ mostly sucks, Checker is OK and CarQuest has all the old school guys at the counter so CarQuest is where I usually go.

Pep Boys is only good if you need fancy plastic fake spinner hubcaps or Tweety Bird spare tire covers.

[Wagoneerlover]

yeah,

I agree with you on pep boys but the flinstones tie cover and the porky pig seat covers I have a great lol. In my experiences autozone and advanced have nothing but junk behind the counter that is re-manned in china/hong kong. The stuff is made with the absolute cheapest of materials and if you plan on it lasting long you definitely will seek parts from a different place.

[FSJ Guy]

The problem with chain stores (almost any chain) is that your mileage may vary TREMENDOUSLY.

I have gone to the same store at different times and have received entirely different experiences each time.

When I went to get my pitman arm puller, the clerk actually ask me "What are you pulling?"

Needless to say, he couldn't "find" it and I went to the store down the street.

BJ's Offroad has always been a pleasure to deal with. What I can't find locally, I buy there. And they have a LOT of stuff that I can't get locally.

[sdf1968]

Great! Just when I thought I might settle on a parts store here in Montrose someone gives me reason to believe that is not a good idea. I would agree on the AZ stuff being junk. Checkers is still up in the air for me, not great but close to home. We have a Car Quest but every time I want something they have to order. Which leaves me with NAPA.

Not all NAPAs are the same because they are privately owned most cases. The NAPA in Montrose CO is owned by a guy I will not do business with. I think I would drive at least an extra 50 miles to buy parts from someone else.

The one in Cortez CO is primo though.

[Chrome]

One thing to remember when dealing with the chain stores Auto Zone, Advanced Auto, etc.. If you're not driving your Jeep then be sure to carry pics of the Jeep and a pic of the engine to prove to them that Full Size Jeeps and AMC engines are real.

[fulsizjeep]

Great! Just when I thought I might settle on a parts store here in Montrose someone gives me reason to believe that is not a good idea. I would agree on the AZ stuff being junk. Checkers is still up in the air for me, not great but close to home. We have a Car Quest but every time I want something they have to order. Which leaves me with NAPA.

It is totally up to you of course. This is just one man's experience and opinion. During the 2005 Ouray Invasion, I called NAPA and ordered a power steering high pressure hose for Krista's Wag because her's popped. I tried all the parts places and everyone was out (because some of our invasion members had already popped their hoses). They said it would be in at 8AM. Drove up the next morning with Paul (J10/J20 Project) and the hose that came in was not even close. We talked to the owner about a universal hose or some other option and he got really irratated with us. Before I knew what the heck was going on, he kicked us out of the store. So, he is on my $hit list. You'd think I would let go of this after 2.5 years but nope.

[misfittom138]

One thing to remember when dealing with the chain stores Auto Zone, Advanced Auto, etc.. If you're not driving your Jeep then be sure to carry pics of the Jeep and a pic of the engine to prove to them that Full Size Jeeps and AMC engines are real.

LMAO!

[FSJ Guy]

<snip> Before I knew what the heck was going on, he kicked us out of the store. So, he is on my $hit list. You'd think I would let go of this after 2.5 years but nope.

Some people in their wilder days got themselves kicked out of bars or strip joints.

Flint? Nope, he's STILL wild and instead gets himself kicked out of AUTO PARTS stores.

He's my hero!

[mdill]

yeah,

I agree with you on pep boys but the flinstones tie cover and the porky pig seat covers I have a great lol. In my experiences autozone and advanced have nothing but junk behind the counter that is re-manned in china/hong kong. The stuff is made with the absolute cheapest of materials and if you plan on it lasting long you definitely will seek parts from a different place.

All the places are that way now (NAPA , CarQuest, AutoZone ...)
The good old names BorgWarner Sorenson, Nieoff ... are all the same company, and they supply all the stores with pretty much the same stuff but have both a high end and a price leader line. (Wells is just crap single line).
As far as help goes, none should be expected to know what the heck a 197X Jeep had in it, heck Jeep hardly knew what parts were going in the next batch. So it is up to you to findout dig around and know what you want and need.
NAPA's books think all 2 door fsj cherokees are wide traks, so be careful when ordering brake lines, one example of many, forget trying to get good data on emishions stuff all the parts house books are wrong or mixed up.

Mike D.

[Charlie_B]

All we have in this small town is a Carquest, and a Napa. Every single time I go into Carquest, I have a bad experience. The guys are d**heads. I am lucky that one of the guys at Napa used to drive an early 80's Wag. But when he's not there, its like a deer in headlights behind the counter. Its the same story with my car. They all want to sell me regular lancer stuff. I start my part request off with "'05 Mitsu Lancer, then click on "Other," or "Dont Know." Yeah its the turbo one. Okay I need a...." Ive taken back several things that I found were not correct by the time I got said part off of the car.

I order online if I can wait.

[CustomWag]

Some people in their wilder days got themselves kicked out of bars or strip joints.

Flint? Nope, he's STILL wild and instead gets himself kicked out of AUTO PARTS stores.

He's my hero!

Thanks for the new sig line

[mdill]

So what are we beating today

DON'T FORGET ME!!! THE CONNAISSEUR OF FINER SHEET METAL PRODUCTS