Found this amusing...

Blkvoodoo said:
I have a few certain stores I will frequent anymore.

The CQ in Clayton has taken a dump since it went corporate last fall, even for my work stuff it's difficult to deal with some of the help. The CQ on Automotive Way In Raleigh is pretty good, Jim is pretty helpful, if not over run at times. NAPA store in Fuquay has been pretty helpful as well.

I don't even bother with AZ or AA for work stuff most times, it's too much of a hassle and to time consuming, I'm on the clock and billing the customer, I don't have time to play games.

Last time I went to AA, I needed a fan belt, was the closest parts place to where I was, I brought belt with me, ( what was left of it ) was asked application.... Um, ok, I'll play, Hyster S50 XM, 3.0L GM engine running LP, need the water pump /alt belt...... blank stare........

OR, you could measure it and match it up to something close, I ended up going to NAPA
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The AA in Clayton was pretty good up until about a year ago, then nearly everyone left and went somewhere else. One of the guys went to Smithfield so if I need something a little bit odd Ill go see him. If Im in Garner or have the time to go, Loop Road Auto gets my business. It seems like they have EVERYTHING in stock, and people who know WTF theyre doing.

Duane
 
if this thread keeps on we could send it to the corps over AA,AZ,CQ and anyothers so they know how SH*&ty there stores are.
 
FUNrunner87 said:
if this thread keeps on we could send it to the corps over AA,AZ,CQ and anyothers so they know how SH*&ty there stores are.
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don't think for a second that they don't know. They do.

To do something about it would require actually paying a real wage for real talent ( and it is talent ) that cuts into the bottom line, and the managers don't want that, because it effects their own personal bottom line ( and it flows up the food chain from there )
 
hey true.. and when you comp sucks just as bad as you do.. there is no reason to change... it like voting for the pres. choose the lesser of 2 evils when you go to buy parts..:shaking:
 
In the last few months my buddy started working at Napa, he knows his shit and will give me parts on his discount most of the time, fortunately Ive not needed anything other than an idler pulley for a XJ so far. Yeah though, they know, Oreilly has offered my buddy a job already and hes only been at napa 3 months I think, they are apparently outpaying Napa and trying to steal actually knowledgable people.

I advised Mike to stick with napa, only for the reason of if everyone else is quitting, he will move up very quickly.
 
Indy Will said:
I preface everything when I walk in the store with "This is for a race car." They don't try to question much after that...
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So you walk into Wal-Mart, pick up some condoms...walk to the cash register and promptly tell the woman..."this is for a race car"
 
All I know is the Advance in Garner does pretty good with me and if they do not have it Loop road auto pars does or can get it quicker.I live with in a mile of all the major parts stores. So if they can't find it There is all ways LKQ :popcorn:
 
There is a new Auto Zone up here in Granite Falls, near the new walmart.

Anyways, my dad and I went in there a few weeks back for some random stuff, and he ended up finding new gas shocks for my sisters car. When he was asked what application it was for and told the employee the car was a 98 Sebring Convertible, the guy actually had the audacity to tell my dad that the car was crap and he made a mistake buying it.....

As we were leaving this same employee came out to get into his car...drum roll please....

it was a Ford Mustang, the 1998 type body style, with chrome crap EVERYWHERE, and it was most clearly the 6 cylinder girls model. We laughed for a long time, and then told his manager what he said to us. Hope that ass got fired.
 
bowtieman55 said:
And THAT is what makes all parts people look bad. The lack of training and lack of "enthusiasm" from the employees. I'm sure your BIL got hired as a manager because he had experience in "management". :rolleyes:
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This is true... When I worked in Charlotte the DM there liked to hire ppl from the grocery stores... It was the easiest way to become a store manager...


Indy Will said:
I preface everything when I walk in the store with "This is for a race car." They don't try to question much after that...
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I have found this to be the easiest thing to do...

Macdaddy4738 said:
There is a new Auto Zone up here in Granite Falls, near the new walmart.
Anyways, my dad and I went in there a few weeks back for some random stuff, and he ended up finding new gas shocks for my sisters car. When he was asked what application it was for and told the employee the car was a 98 Sebring Convertible, the guy actually had the audacity to tell my dad that the car was crap and he made a mistake buying it.....
As we were leaving this same employee came out to get into his car...drum roll please....
it was a Ford Mustang, the 1998 type body style, with chrome crap EVERYWHERE, and it was most clearly the 6 cylinder girls model. We laughed for a long time, and then told his manager what he said to us. Hope that ass got fired.
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Goto Advance in Conover... I used to work there, and most the guys there are pretty good... esp the managers, most the ppl there have been doing it a while, and atleast know their way around a car...


Having worked for a parts store, I know all about the idiots they hire, and also have learned how to approach these guys... Also, I drive across town to the Advance mostly, because I worked there, and they let me have roam of the store...

Also when I worked there, i would make sure they always had the catalogs updated and organized, because I used them any chance I got... I loved it when guys came in with old car/truck/tractor stuff, because it made life interesting...

One time I even opened all the rotors on the shelf to measure the hats, so I could find that exact one for my project...
 
paradisePWoffrd said:
This is true... When I worked in Charlotte the DM there liked to hire ppl from the grocery stores... It was the easiest way to become a store manager...
I have found this to be the easiest thing to do...
Goto Advance in Conover... I used to work there, and most the guys there are pretty good... esp the managers, most the ppl there have been doing it a while, and atleast know their way around a car...
Having worked for a parts store, I know all about the idiots they hire, and also have learned how to approach these guys... Also, I drive across town to the Advance mostly, because I worked there, and they let me have roam of the store...
Also when I worked there, i would make sure they always had the catalogs updated and organized, because I used them any chance I got... I loved it when guys came in with old car/truck/tractor stuff, because it made life interesting...
One time I even opened all the rotors on the shelf to measure the hats, so I could find that exact one for my project...
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That's the way I was when I worked at Advance. I knew all the catalogs inside and out and if I couldn't get it through the company I had to authorization to Second Source whatever the customer wanted as long as we could make money on it.
 
After OBA was added, I went in the AA in Albemarle (24/27), got a new hire with 2 weeks on payroll. Asked for a 58.5" v-groove belt, got the 'year, make, model?' thing, played along for a while and finally got fed up and asked for the manager. Had two in my hand 30 seconds later. Now every time I go in, I make sure the manager or a guy I went to high-school with are working. Both are gear heads and will find me anything once you get to know them a bit and BS about your project cars.
 
Something I did one time is go into Autozone and needed some metal brake lines. They ask me how long of ones I needed so I went out to the truck threw the 8.8 over my shoulder carried it in and placed it on the counter and said measure them.
 
I just play the game. Don't tell them that you need brakes for the dodge ram outers that you swapped onto the ford dana 44 that you have under your Jeep Wrangler. I just go in there they ask what year, "I say 85, Dodge, Ramcharger, brake pads." Ok, now I need some rotors, they are going to be 79, Ford, F150.

I don't tell them what I am trying to do. I just tell them the application that they want to hear and that makes it alot simplier.

No in the case of the Dana 300 seal, that would be a bit more difficult, but I do about the same.

It it retail sales, just like JC Penny, Sears, or even Belk. They are there to sell parts, the amount of turn over they have is un real it would be hard to find someone with real automotive knowledge. They look up parts and give them to the customers. So if you play the game, your good. Don't tell them what it is for, just know the orginal application and go from there.
 
BigBody79 said:
I just play the game. Don't tell them that you need brakes for the dodge ram outers that you swapped onto the ford dana 44 that you have under your Jeep Wrangler. I just go in there they ask what year, "I say 85, Dodge, Ramcharger, brake pads." Ok, now I need some rotors, they are going to be 79, Ford, F150.
I don't tell them what I am trying to do.
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Exactly. no need to confuse them.
 
awspence said:
Exactly. no need to confuse them.
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Where's the fun in that? Wouldn't be able to see the confused face when you tell them you have a D44 from a' 89 Grand Waggy, with '73 Blazer knuckles under a '97 Nissan Pickup. Or that you need rear calipers for a truck that only came with drums. I have to admit though, the 2-3 people that have actually seen my Frankenstein of a rig just let walk in the back.
 
I myself use the same local mom/pop store to do my shopping at.I pretty much get the same price as the chains.Now when I walk through the door tho,I see them cringe and start picking up phones to look busy.Oh and don't glance at the pc if the owner is there by himself...
 
Lurch830 said:
Where's the fun in that? Wouldn't be able to see the confused face when you tell them you have a D44 from a' 89 Grand Waggy, with '73 Blazer knuckles under a '97 Nissan Pickup.
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I can guarantee you it's only humorous for 1/2 of the parties involved. I'll freely admit (and have tons of people here who will vouch) that I'm an asshole, but when you lose the attitude and treat them as equals, you will ALWAYS come out better in the end. You can still get the confused look if you want, but let them be the one to ask the questions after you order brakes parts for 3 different vehicles.. just say "it's all on the same vehicle" and you can get it.

Maybe I'm more aware of this, being married to a psycho-babbleist and all, but it works.

I wear a shirt & tie at my current job, but I still get the hey-look-at-this-guy-I-bet-he-doesn't-know-what-end-of-a-screwdriver-to-use "look" from the old farts at the local Carquest hole-in-the-wall when I walk in right from work. But, they're coming around..slowly. Those crusty old guys are hard eggs to crack! :)
 
Rich

Ok, I'll agree with you. You are an asshole and don't know crap about cars.:flipoff2:
 
Pulled into the advanced auto parking lot one day in my 4runner with the top off. Go in to buy some parts
Parts guy asks me "what year" I say "85 toyota 4runner non turbo" because I know that they will ask if its a turbo, even though it wasn't offered that year.
Guy says "you mean pickup"
I say "no.. it's a 4runner"
Guy says "4runners are SUV's"
I am of course dumb founded...
Even though it didn't really matter, all the parts are the same, I felt like playing a little game.
so I said "Oh, is that what I have? I didn't realize that the toyota pickups had rear seats, a roll bar, and that the back half of the cab was cut out. The factory and DMV must have messed up when they put "4runner" on my title and registration. Thanks for the help though, I'll be sure to tell Napa that I'm driving a pickup when I get there to spend my money"
 
when i go to the parts store they just let me look up my own stuff and pull my own parts. i have a few friends that work there and i guess they have spread stories about some of my ventures so nobody questions my actions or request. lucky i guess.

but a different parts stores it a similar story to all of yours
 
Bought a set of E3 plugs for my Suburban two months ago, started skipping and hard to crank about a month later. Pulled a couple out and guess what....wronge plug! Carried them back and had him to pull up the plug and he went and got them and were 3/8ths longer than the ones they sold me 2 months earlier! Tip wasn't into the head deep enough for a good burn. Advance Auto on Country Club Rd. Winston-Salem,N.C.
 
Since I have 4 parts houses within blocks (AZ-AA-OR are side by side w/ NAPA down a bit), I started going to O'R's when they opened because it was 200' closer... and to use Carvers shop discount! :lol:

One kid (couldn't find his ass with a map & a flashing neon sign) would always zero in on me when I walked thru the door. After numerous encounters with ineptitude, I'd had enough...
Him: "What can I do for you today Dave?"
Me: "Go in the back and fetch somebody else to help me!... YES, I'm serious!" :flipoff2:
 
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