Auto Zone aarrrrggghhh

BigTim · Post by **BigTim** » March 8, 2007, 8:58 pm

So I need 2, 3/8 male pipe thread to 3/8 hose barb fittings for my electric fuel pump install. Auto Zone is a few blocks from the house and NAPA is several miles and a bunch of stoplights away.

He asks what it is going in, I tell him half expecting that he might show a glimmer of acknowledgement. Nope, but at least he does not go to the computer. He goes to the back looking. Hmm last time I was in I saw them over by the Spectra Throttle Cables. Maybe they moved them. About 5 minutes he emerges from the shrugging his shoulders

Those idiots can't even find a simple fitting, ended up walking over by the Spectra stuff and finding them myself. Then I ask for 2 foot of 3/8s fuel line. Stood and waited for about 5 minutes waiting for this knuckle head to bring my fuel line out. He finally shows up and asks if itis for a fuel injected motor.

I left the fittings on the counter walked out and went to NAPA. NAPA still has the skinny parts guy with the Vitalis hairdo, and big Adams apple. Walking parts book I tell ya.

I am starting to understand why people go postal.

ripsnorter · Post by **ripsnorter** » March 8, 2007, 9:24 pm

I dont like NAPA, or schucks to be honest.

Theres a small local parts shop round here that recently expanded and now has a whopping 3 stores I believe.

Small, locally owned and operated, the people there have been there a while and dont give you stupid looks when you ask for things. I much prefer the local places like that than the big NAPA/Schucks that just give you blank looks and a 2x price markup.

66fordtrucknut · Post by **66fordtrucknut** » March 8, 2007, 9:34 pm

Around here I get the same thing big chain stores or not, I had to order spark plugs for my 62' 223, and 2 trips to 2 different stores to find windshield wiper refills for my 78'.
Charlie

Model_T_46804 · Post by **Model_T_46804** » March 8, 2007, 10:47 pm

We've got all the big name auto parts stores around my area, but when it comes to quality parts and counter people with a brain you can't beat NAPA. The other stores hire kids that wouldn't know a cam shaft from a drive shaft if the computer went down.

Max · Post by **Max** » March 8, 2007, 11:10 pm

There's an Autozone near my house with a goofy looking Swede running the parts counter. Smart as hell, opinionated and stubborn. He's sent me to other parts stores plenty of times for things they didn't carry and gave me a printout of everything they sell for a 61-64 Slick.

64fordf100292v8 · Post by **64fordf100292v8** » March 9, 2007, 2:10 am

I have a friend that works at O'Reillys and I drive clear across town anytime I need something because I know he will spend the time to find the right part. And if he can't find it he'll hand me the book and let me try! LOL! He even let's me go in the back of the store with him.

ABA · Post by **ABA** » March 9, 2007, 8:36 am

This "lady" behind the counter at Advance Auto swore up and down that my 352 wasn't the original engine in my '65 'cause it wasn't in the computer.
Never wanted to Smack a female till that moment.
I left and went straight to NAPA.

Had a DA at AutoZone bring me a 2" radiator hose when I ask for a 5/8 heater hose, then he wanted to know who made the Monte Carlo.

It's O'Rieleys or NAPA for me from now own.

willy3486 · Post by **willy3486** » March 9, 2007, 10:42 am

I may have all of yall beat. I went to the local auto zone one Saturday when I was redoing my brake lines. The only one free person was a non English speaking Mexican. Now I am not predijuce but I do have a problem with a auto store here in Tennessee employing someone to help the public tthat can't speak over 10 words in English. It took at least an hour to get about 2 generic brake lines and 2 fittings. I finally was able to get them because he gave up and motioned for me to go to the brake line area behind the counter. I was able to get the parts myself in 5 minutes.

BigTim · Post by **BigTim** » March 9, 2007, 12:11 pm

willy3486 wrote:The only one free person was a non English speaking Mexican.

That would set me off to the point they would know how pissed I was. If you are gonna come to this country do it legally and learn to speak "our" language.

Slick Fan · Post by **Slick Fan** » March 9, 2007, 12:24 pm

Model_T_46804 wrote:We've got all the big name auto parts stores around my area, but when it comes to quality parts and counter people with a brain you can't beat NAPA. The other stores hire kids that wouldn't know a cam shaft from a drive shaft if the computer went down.

Same here. All the big chain stores have shut down 90% of the small guys who really knew what they were doing. Here, the only places with intelligent life are Napa or Car Quest...the rest are all morons from another planet who couldn't find their ass with both hands.

BigTim wrote:
willy3486 wrote:The only one free person was a non English speaking Mexican.
That would set me off to the point they would know how pissed I was. If you are gonna come to this country do it legally and learn to speak "our" language.

ICEMAN6166 · Post by **ICEMAN6166** » March 9, 2007, 12:41 pm

BigTim wrote:
willy3486 wrote:The only one free person was a non English speaking Mexican.
That would set me off to the point they would know how pissed I was. If you are gonna come to this country do it legally and learn to speak "our" language.

i cannot agree more.i refuse to deal with those i cannot understand, on the phone or in person.nothing wrong with LEGAL immigrants, but they should know how to speak our language if they are dealing with the public.

also i only go to 1 parts store, if they have to order thats fine, i will wait rather than drive a long way to deal with stupidity and ignorance.

castruck_1964 · Post by **castruck_1964** » March 9, 2007, 6:05 pm

You guys should try a Canadian tire on for size. most hire computer kids who don't know a water pump from a radiator even if you hit them over the head with one of them.
I am lucky because I have a friend who works at NAPA who is a certified car guy know what you are talking about and usually can find what you need somewhere. And I also know a parts manager at a smaller Ford dealer just outside the city who is a car guy and will try and help me find factory parts for non factory applications and will order it in to see if it will work or not.

BigTim · Post by **BigTim** » March 9, 2007, 11:59 pm

ICEMAN6166 wrote: i will wait rather than drive a long way to deal with stupidity and ignorance.

Vice versa, I will drive a ways not to deal with stupidity.

jeepbut · Post by **jeepbut** » March 10, 2007, 12:46 am

Local autozone punk kid told me I must be a senile old man because Ford never made a 352. I'm 51 and never went back. Thanks, Lyman.

FORDBOYpete · Post by **FORDBOYpete** » March 10, 2007, 8:15 am

My problem with big National discount Franchise, stores besides y'alls experiences as explained above, is they all carry the same crap parts, only with their own name on them. Too much is built in other countries, and when there's a problem they do not stand behind the parts they sell.

More than once I have had some jerk walk up opening a Box asking me. . . . "Does this Look Like It?" If it's a relay for an EFI many of them look alike but do not share the same electronic or same functional values when installed, which gets me "Oh you Installed this part and that voids the return once you used it." Try saying "Well it looks like the old part" See how that works. . . .

The Lifetime Gaurentee from Auto Zone = 3 times and you're out & they keep your core so you have nothing to hand in as a core when you wind up going to NAPA, FoMoCo, or your local Independent Jobber. I try to do as much with my local jobber as I can because they are a Valuable but vanishing resource in so many localities anymore.

It's maddening to spend a lot of time for a simple standard common part because somebody has no skills, no knowledge, no interest, and no real future in the Aito Parts Business, but has a job at the Parts Store I just happened to walk into.

But as mentioned by you guys, having to agrue with an Idiot to get what I need is a bit much to me too.

FBp

mikecarson · Post by **mikecarson** » March 10, 2007, 9:07 am

64 f100 · Post by **64 f100** » March 10, 2007, 10:18 am

I've had my fair share of problems with counter help, in both the local user freindly store and the chain stores. My biggest problem has been with parts that only barely fit, and this is getting worse as more things come from China and elswhere. I can only say, our own government betrays us, and it's because it is owned lock, stock and barrel by big money interests. A lot of this money is foreign, and they could care less about you and I. Most of those countrys hate us anyway. They don't much care about their own people, so how do you think they will treat us, once they have total control? However, this is off subject, and I know of no solution, but keep your gun handy, and amunition dry.

Every so often my local parts place hires a newby kid. I try not to be the trainer, as it take hime three times as long to look something up, and usually gets it wrong. Newest one is a nice kid, but 3 times in a row he's gotten it wrong. I try not to let him wiat on me. I've had generally good results from most of the guys in the chain stores, with the usual exception. I also try and plan ahead and buy mechanical extras on Ebay for a cheaper price. Example I-beam pivot bushings 24$ each at local parts store with my discount. I got a pair off ebay with shiping for the price of one. Same goes for kingpins. I know I will use the stuff so I stock up on a good buy. Only problem is remmembering which extras I have.

Rich

ICEMAN6166 · Post by **ICEMAN6166** » March 10, 2007, 12:32 pm

i always demand parts that are made in USA, if not i wont buy them.
last packs of bulbs i bought all said HUNGARY on the base, i did not think it was a big deal , they are only 1157 bulbs what could be wrong with them?
junk, 1/2 of them were loose , couple did not work, and some burned out very fast.i have better luck cleaning up old light bulbs from parts trucks.

ABA · Post by **ABA** » March 10, 2007, 1:28 pm

But I do enjoy going to the above mentioned parts stores and asking for parts I know are not in the 'puter and making them lift those 8" thick books from under the counter and look up parts the old fashion way.

Wore one dude slap out one day just looking up tune up parts for a 352.

ICEMAN6166 · Post by **ICEMAN6166** » March 10, 2007, 2:50 pm

i been thru that before.
no 352 in the book, does not go back that far
i said ok 302 or 351 will be fine
not the same
yes i said, it is ,same cap ,points and rotor for all ford v-8
no cant be
never mind, just get them.
they wont work
i dont care ill buy them anyway.
whatever happened to the customer being right?

Auto Zone aarrrrggghhh

Auto Zone aarrrrggghhh

Napa

Re: Napa