why places like autozone scare me

[Hutcho]

my aunt said I shoulda held a rag over his mouth and asked if air matters now! LOL! at least I didn't ask him from spark plugs for it too....

[billyj7175]

I used to be a parts guy...so I'm probably a little saltier than most.

It took me 3 stops to actually find a parts store attendant that knew what plastigauge even was. They were out, so she called their other stores to see if they had any...and promptly had to explain to the person on the phone what plastiguage was.

Anymore, if I can, I research the part and walk in there with a part number...

And I'm completely okay with them not being a walking encyclopedia of automotive knowledge...what really gets in my craw, is the resulting attitude of they almost seem disgusted that they actually have to look something up...or research...or learn. I guess I'm just too old-skool to actually expect them to do their job...and at least provide the slightest amount of customer service...

[the original Honcho]

Originally Posted by slukev

...But by far, my favorite was when I bought an alternator for and car I used to have. Mine was toast- bought a new one (from Advanced) installed it, but still had and issue. I tested it was putting out just below 12V. I pulled it an ran up to Advanced to swap it with a good one. The guy tests it- show almost 12V so he tells me it it fine as cars run on 12V and it was close enough. I tried to explain output should be somewhere around 14- and I was called an "idiot" and that I don't understand car stuff (which is true on many things, but...). At which point I demand a manager- who still didn't get it saying he never heard this before- he had to call another store who explained what I was saying. At this point I tell them to return the thing and got one from a competitor...

Something like this happened to me. I have a '68 Satellite, my dad had a '76 Fury, both 318s. his starter went out, went to Checkers to buy a new one and it wouldnt turn the engine. took it back to the store, they put it on the tester, and it spun about as slow as a drunk mouse in a wheel. the worker said it obviously works because its turning, and maybe i didnt instal it correctly. I took it back home, tried it, and nothing. i tried it on my Satellite, nothing. I tried my Satellites starter on my dads Fury, worked fine. we drove back to the store in the Fury with the new crappy starter and I explained that it would not turn the engine and my old starter worked just fine in the car. the manager looked outside at the Fury (which was cherry, by the way) and said "That POS? No wonder why it wont start" I lunged at him and jumped the counter but my dad pulled me back and dragged me out of the store. i got banned for life from all CSK stores. that same manager now works at Oreallys... i love asking him for crazy parts for cars i dont have

[Suddendeath]

I only ever go to the small local mom and pop parts store or the locally owned/run Napa. Autozone/Advance are only ever good for oil change specials or the occsasional rare part that my Napa doesn't have. The guys at the Napa know me by first name, know my truck, and I have spent many months tutoring them and instructing them in the arts of the FSJ.

I had a new guy at this Napa (I know the whole crew, he was a new hire within ~10 days) insist that I was mistaken and that the "Grand" Wagoneer was simply a trim model for the XJ Wagoneer and that he's a "Jeep Guy" so he knows. I then insisted that he follow me outside, where I promptly showed him my truck and popped the hood so he could see that this was not an XJ Wagoneer with a "Grand" Trim model. Now whenever I see this guy I always say "I need X part for a 1989 Jeep Grand Wagoner. GRAND. Wagoneer. Not Wagoneer. It's a different vehicle."

[joe]

Yeah the days are long gone when the parts guys were car guys building or racing their own stuff and most worked there cause of a familiar environment and the discount on parts. Guys I really feel bad for are the local garages. Imagine how much frustration and time lost (theirs and their customers) they're dealing with returning the wrong part.

[sXeMike]

Anyone use Fisher/Federated auto? Most of their employees actually know what they're doing.

[jeeper54]

Yep, Jeep experts at the counter seem to think all Jeeps are only XJ when the word "wagoneer" comes into the conversation. Had to replace front wheel bearings once. Guy brought out a pressed in set with hub for an XJ. Tried to explain to him mine was a FSJ. He called over another counter guy who looked it up and agreed with the first, and said if mine is different it must have been modified. I grabbed the screen and key board and showed them the correct part numbers. Both just looked at me. Then I looked up the qty. and it was 0 in stock. Bear in mind, this was a hub store. Previous manager there, who knew me & would always wait on me when she was there, wanted me to come work for her because she was so fed up. I started off at the 4th busiest in the state, was transferred to one of thr worst because of high loss/theft ( because of my security background. My cherokee w/t was vandalized my first day there and I think it was my co-workers. ) then to the 2nd busiest as senior counterman. She reminded me that I would get a 20% discount and other specials if I accepted. I said NO THANKS! She quit soon after anyway. But I have to point out that there were some kids I worked with that did their best and when they weren't sure or didn't know, would ask questions. They wanted to learn and do a good job.
Sorry for the long post....too much idle time and morphine.LOL

[letank]

Grand is not on the choice for wagoneer....at oreillyauto, but the 5.9, V8 is the choice... not the 360, metric, metric.... but the gal knew about part 121F!
As for metric, the newer drills are labelled 3/8" (10mm), time to buy old tools, so they match their label.... not something in between....

[Captain Obvious]

I've found a couple old school guys who are great.

And like messing with the others who are more stockers and part look uppers. Should have seen their faces when I asked if they had wipers for my headlights.... They were for my Volvo and I still need them.

[REDONE]

Originally Posted by sXeMike

Anyone use Fisher/Federated auto? Most of their employees actually know what they're doing.

I think they are part of the AutoValue/Parts Pro network. They don't do massive same-name-cross-country chains, but more like they are a distribution network for independent parts houses/small chains (Baxter Auto Parts in this neck of the woods).

[GWDriver]

Interesting thread here. After my second retirement, I worked at O'Reilly's for awhile and must agree with ALL of the posts I've just read. The only thing consistent has been the inconsistency of staff at various auto parts stores. What I found at my particular store was that the smartest guys there were two part time delivery drivers who were retired 'wrenchers' who still built their own vehicles their way. Seems that O'Reilly's gave some pretty good discounts for employees.................. . Don't mess with 'old' guys!

Oh and for you really 'young' guys, some of the smartest 'young' people I've run across in the automotive game were young people who grew up around cars and trucks, tractors and power units, parented by parents with a strong belief in self sufficiency, pretty good ethics and moral responsibility. Most of these kids were good techs because they HAD to be good if they expected their vehicles to be reliable.

There were a few stinkers in the lot to be sure, but they didn't last long.

Old enough to know better but too young to let it bother me............

Semper Fi!

[FSJunkie]

My local Napa is really good. Maily because the service manager is an older guy who knows AMC, Kaiser, Nash, all the independants and actually owned a garage of his own once. He is in charge of all the new guys who are hired, so everyone else working the counter there knows their stuff.


...and they know how to use the books now, mostly because I come in asking for parts for vehicles that aren't in the computer.

They really want me to work for them, but it has to wait untill I'm 18.

[Bill Moore]

My experience is about 50 50. Half the time I get someone that has a measurable IQ, and the other half no. I good parts guy can be a life saver.