First and foremost I'm only speaking about my experiences in my town, but feel free to expand on this if you like.
What is the deal with auto parts stores lately? Customer service is nonexistant and 99% of the "kids" behind the counter look at you with a blank stare when you through out any word other than spark plug or air filter. God forbid if their computers are down! Points, what do you do with those? I by no means am an expert. Check my posts, you'll see. That's why I come hear... to learn and share what I've learned. When I have to sit there and explain to the store manager the difference between standard and sport ratio in a rack and pinion set up, something ain't right.
What happened to those shops with the middle-aged guy that always knew what you were looking for and wouldn't let you forget an associated part that you didn't even think of that would put a stop to completing the job? (Ex: bearings,races, axle grease) If he didn't have what you needed he could rig you up something to get you by till you could get to one of his competitors up the road. Not to mention he called while you were standing there to make sure they had the part you were looking for to begin with.
Have the days of the shadetree mechanic and men that changed their own oil really passed me by? Is it really that remarkable that I don't have to take our cars to the dealership when the check engine light comes on. Is it really that amazing that we can disassemble anything in or on our cars and put them back together most of the time better than they came from the factory?
I know I'm rambling on incoherently about my personal experiences over the past week, but I can't be alone in my frustrations. Can I?
Potter
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'66 Mustang Coupe: V-code Emberglo, C-code 289, Pony interior, typical go-fast parts, T5, 3.80 gear '93 LX 5.0 Vert: Soon to be 5.8 vert '00 F250: Its 8400 lbs, its loud and its fast
I hear you Potter.If the computer does not show em what you need,they are just lost.Most of these parts people do not work on their own rides,but want to tell you how to fix yours.....
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Cherish those around you,for at the blink of an eye,they can be gone.
The problem is cost cutting and wages. They would rather have a young guy who knows very little and works for 8.00 an hour than a knowledgeable man who won't work for less that 15.00 an hour (not sure how good parts stores guys are anyways, if they were really good. . . Wouldn't they be doing something else?) If that kid can still sell parts and work for less that's more money for upper management.
I have experience on both sides. I am only 22, but I am by no-means a punk ""kid". I hold 11 Certs from Ford Motor Company, and have been a technician at both a Land Rover and a Ford dealership, and I always work on my own car. By no means am I master mechanic, but I feel I know a little bit.
My first job was at a Kragen in Claifornia, I was 17, still in high school, but I have come up working on cars with my dad my whole life. To give the parts guys credit, you have to relize that 90% of how the entire store works is based off a computer system. So if the computers are down, its not just looking up the parts, the inventory system is off, no ability to check what parts are available (if available), and sometimes, no way to actually sell or check-out the item(s).
Us 'kids' have to learn somewhere, and sometime. A parts store 9/10 is the worst place to learn that, when your so called 'manager' is clueless about cars or how things actually work how are you supposed to learn?
But I also know the pain of morons behind the counter, guys that are managers, but don't know anything about cars other than what they have learned at the store. Plus nobody seems to know how to use paper catalogs, or the different tricks to look up parts. The worst is probably the customer service, I can deal with somebody that doesn't know a lot about the cars, as long as they are willing to help, I can help them help me. But the guys that just don't care are the worst.
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Jesse Berger 90 LX, Previous 4 cyl. (Decommissioned, 351W on the way)
H/C/I+Bolt Ons
Best ET: 12.54@106 mph 2001 V6 5 Speed Daily Driver Windstar Intake, Dual Exhuast, CAI, Headers
Best ET: 15.6@88 mph (stock trim)
I've only got you by 9 years that's why I put kids in quotes. To some of the oldtimers on here I'm a "kid" too.
Quote:
Originally Posted by StalkerStang
So if the computers are down, its not just looking up the parts, the inventory system is off, no ability to check what parts are available (if available), and sometimes, no way to actually sell or check-out the item(s).
I get ya when it comes to the inventory part. In that respect everything is automated.
Quote:
Originally Posted by StalkerStang
Us 'kids' have to learn somewhere, and sometime. A parts store 9/10 is the worst place to learn that, when your so called 'manager' is clueless about cars or how things actually work how are you supposed to learn?
True. I just ASSuMEd that if they applied for the job that they would have at least picked up a wrech. Qualifications must not be an issue.
Quote:
Originally Posted by StalkerStang
But the guys that just don't care are the worst.
My point exactly. I have all the respect for the Mgr today that sought out answers because he wanted to learn. I understand managing a store has a lot more to do inventory, timesheets, sales, etc., but I would have thought some kind of indepth knowledge would be required. I don't care what they're good at, just have something.
Overall Jesse you make very valid points.
Quote:
Originally Posted by daboyho50
The problem is cost cutting and wages. They would rather have a young guy who knows very little and works for 8.00 an hour than a knowledgeable man who won't work for less that 15.00 an hour (not sure how good parts stores guys are anyways, if they were really good. . . Wouldn't they be doing something else?)
I know its all about padding the bottom line. I guess that's what gets me so ramped up about it. As far as doing something else... I guess they have to because they're being undercut by the young guy. Just like middle management, the perception is that you're over paid for the job your doing and the company can cut costs by letting you go and hiring and a newbie.
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'66 Mustang Coupe: V-code Emberglo, C-code 289, Pony interior, typical go-fast parts, T5, 3.80 gear '93 LX 5.0 Vert: Soon to be 5.8 vert '00 F250: Its 8400 lbs, its loud and its fast
I don't know I walk past the desk guy into the shop and ask them...the desk guys are useless just about. the guy building the cars back to life... they live and breathe this day in day out so there the ones to ask.
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Oh Lord forgive the GM Fans...they know not what they do...
Thank goodness I have a friend that works at Schucks that also has an 2005 Mustang and has built it up on his own. Any questions I have on mine he is able to help me out.
you also need to realize that 95 percent of the people that use local auto stores have no idea what they are looking for or what its called and are complete idiots
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if your not first your last!
im not driving too fast your just too slow
you also need to realize that 95 percent of the people that use local auto stores have no idea what they are looking for or what its called and are complete idiots
And then get mad at you when you can't help them...
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Jesse Berger 90 LX, Previous 4 cyl. (Decommissioned, 351W on the way)
H/C/I+Bolt Ons
Best ET: 12.54@106 mph 2001 V6 5 Speed Daily Driver Windstar Intake, Dual Exhuast, CAI, Headers
Best ET: 15.6@88 mph (stock trim)
Idk but over here it's the same thing but with the older guys believe it or not. I think the worst was the gentleman asking me the year of a holley carburator on a mazda rx7 that I was working on. I kept telling him it didn't come with a holley stock but he insisted on getting the year of the car and the carb. Suffice to say, he didn't help me much.
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93 LX 2.3 to 5.0 conversion. 60% of the time it works every time.
VTEC - All the lag of a turbo............None of the boost
If its Fast and reliable, it ain't cheap.
If its Cheap and reliable, it ain't fast.
If its Fast and cheap, it ain't reliable.
Ive had mixed experiences. Ive had middle aged guys that didn't know sheet from shine ola and Ive had young girls that knew exactly what to look for. I would say overall the wealth of knowledge you are looking for faded and dispersed as the huge discount stores expanded throughout the country. I can still find the proverbial middle aged guy that knows how to get a part tracked down. He works at a dedicated speed shop or a small independent shop that Walmart, Auto Zone, O Reilly's, Advance, etc. hasn't run out of business. As far as chains go, NAPA has been better and stocks better grade parts. With so many discounters, the wealth of knowledge has been dispersed. Usually there is one in those shops who has a clue. The rest are pawns to piss us off. We should also face the fact that cars aint what they used to be. How many manufactures are out there now with tons of new innovations? I can help out when it comes to v-8 cars of my era, but I'm no good at finding muffler bearings for a Huyndai crapola or flux capacitors for a DeLorean. LOL
Auto Parts Stores Ain't What They Use To Be 
for a Huyndai crapola or flux capacitors for a DeLorean. LOL
