redbird_400

I'm including all of them! Autozone, pep boys, advanced autoparts, cheifs, o'rileys, and whatever is powered by a large company with too much money. Since 1950 whatever doesnt make a difference in now and days customer service. I'm growing tired of going to the parts store and finding 80 year old grandmothers or other people who dont have a clue of what their selling. From advanced auto parts I quote "Valve seal, what are those?" BAGH! Those are the parts that you better not get wrong because I dont want to take them all the way home and find out they dont fit, then bring them back all greasy to hear "we cant take that back" If your an unemployed thirdgener or have a krap job PLEASE! For the love of Cars go apply for a job at a parts store. Right now they are filled with employees who have the slightest interest any automobiles. I could go on and on here but I would rather try to keep my cool or snap and then slap the manager in the face for hiring these people.

92MaroRS

I love my job at Advance Auto Parts. We always get people in bitching about other places in the area. I do want to make sure that people hear this though:

When you go to get parts, make sure you know every detail involved. you wouldnt believe how many times we get people in that dont even know the model of their car or what engine they have!

michta

And to build on redbirds comments.....What is up with all the "pocket rockets and trinkets?" Walked into auto zone one day and toys all in the way of the door and in the aisles, Not stock waiting to put away but toys and bull..... I made the comment about is this a toy store or auto parts. The manage,Whom i have had run ins with before said if you don't like it don't come in. So I have not been back.

92MaroRS

Yea we have useless crap like that in our store at Advance. It'sa rariety that we ever sell any of it and anytime little kids come in they play with them and it gets very annoying, id rather see them leave, but its corporates decision not mine.

vrtc350

iTrader: (1)

I guess I am lucky in that I have a place in my area with a very knowledgable staff. KOI Kentucky Motors Service mainly sells parts to mechanics shops but they have a small showroom where you walk up to the counter and tell them what you want. Only thing is they close at 6 during the week. The stores warehouse is bigger than Advanced and Autozone combined.

Sorry 92maroRS, Advance auto is not any good here. The service is soooo slooooooow! I'm sure more idiots come in then every work at any of those stores. Advance Auto is alright here. I usually look my parts up online before I go in.

92MaroRS

no problem, i know there are bad stores, i was out in NY this summer and needed some parts and i was horribly discusted at the service, sent an email to my DM when i got back.

ShiftyCapone

iTrader: (7)

No offense to anyone, but the "real" car guys don't work at parts stores. I have no doubt that many of them know their stuff from nothing more than being on the job, but I don't think parts stores can afford experienced car techs. To my knowledge parts stores have limited positions with benifits and decent pay.

92MaroRS

Correct, I am currently in Auto body and have been tinkering on cars for about 8 years now, granted the majority of it is back yard mechanic but i would like to think i know a good bit about cars. I can't say i havnt learned anything from working there(you learn something new every day, only time before it happens at work and pertains to cars) but i was very confident in my automotive knowledge when i started there and has paid off by customers asking specifically for me when they come in.

92MaroRS

and to add to my previous comment, each store near me(advance atleast, there are 4 of them) have atleast one person that works full time at a dealership as a tech.

vrtc350

iTrader: (1)

Well what is the definition of a "real" car guy? Is it someone that only works on them for a living? A dealership tech, muffler shop guy, or the guy who owns the local mechanic shop? I work for a credit union, does that mean I can't be a "real" car guy? Does that mean a guy that sell car parts in the evening can't be a "real" car guy?

IMO, I think anyone that has a distinct desire to work, learn, and enhance a car under all facets is a "real" car guy and to say someone with that desire based on their occupation is not a fair assumption.

This is just like a discussion I had with a friend about the definition of a sport. What makes a sport a sport?

SPORT: an individual or group competitive activity involving physical exertion or skill, governed by rules, and sometimes engaged in professionally ( often used in the plural )

By that definition checkers is a sport.

I will admit, most of the time the people there don't know any more than what the computer will tell them and some even less. That is why I rely on myself, the "real" car guy to make sure I get the part I need.

NOTE: I am not attempting to start a flame war or any type of argument. This is only my civil response to a civil discussion.

michta

IMO a real car "person" is someone(male or female) that has the know how to repair or explain to a tech or back yard to get the problem solved. And yes I know a couple younger counter people at auto zone that are very good with fixing or giving advice on fixing and what parts are needed for that job.

redbird_400

lmao! Thats funny.. Where do you work!? I'm going to... lol j\k. I'm glad to see a thirdgen person working there. Please tell the store on sudly rd to get it together and carry wire brushes. A few visits ago at advanced auto parts there was this old lady who came in looking for some part on her brake system. She didnt even know what it was called, where it went or what it does. The line just keept getting longer and I felt like telling her to get out of the store as she is now causing everyone problems. she said "ooohhh... I should have called my mechanic before I came" and I'm thinking, "your mechanic really sux if he is sending you out to get brake system parts"

I know you hate customers who dont know what they are talking about but the fact is, every business has them. I'm stuck in the computer helpdesk business. I get people who call me that cant find the power button on their computer.

vrtc350

iTrader: (1)

You have to have the desire to gain the know how to repair.

Anyone and their grandmother can explain that their car is making a funny noise.

redbird_400

Part of any job is to take interest in what you are doing. To have knowledge of your products and to accurately answer questions that your customer may have. If I were the manager looking to hire employees for a parts store and you tell me that you have 20 years experience selling ice cream to customers, I'm probaly not going to hire you. If you have little to no experience listed on paper for automobiles but you can atleast prove to me that you have the knowlege and are reliable, I'm more likely to give you a job.

What I want to know is how do these mismatch people get jobs in the wrong area? I understand people need jobs, but I wouldnt hire people because I feel sorry for them. I would hire based on a knowledge test and background reliability to attend to work. With every computer tech support job that I have signed onto, I did have to pass a technical test before they would hire me. Then there is usually a 4-6 week training course that needs to be complete before I start any real work. Is there no simular practice in auto parts stores? The only design I see is that they try and put the more knowledgeable people in shifts that "real car guys" would come to the store to buy parts. Usually early morning or weekdays I get the no nothing grandmother. Mid day and late shift I might get someone who has more experience. Maybe you should forward this thread to the Advanced Auto Parts managers. lol

Random fact... When visiting an OReillys about a year ago, the person who was getting my radiator hose did not speak english. He only spoke spanish. (useful, but so is being bilingual)

92MaroRS

Well the thing is the store needs people to work also, sometimes you dont have an option and need someone to work. there is a training program at work that is a compilation of tests that cover all the vehicle systems. Honestly as long as they have a basic knowledge of cars and are willing to learn they will do half way decent.

rdcamer0

Yes that is the problem.When I started at Advance Auto Parts in 94 a lot of people wanted to work there and it was hard to get a job there.Things have really changed over the years.If I made a list of everyone that has come and gone it would look like a phone book.A lot of people do not want to work mostly nights and weekends.What good are paid holidays if they can pick what day they want to take for the holiday and then pay straight time for it even after working 40 regular hours.There are a lot of times when I really enjoy my job and know that I was able solve someones problem.There are a lot of people that are really grateful for helping them out.A lot of people don't understand how much more is it to the job than just waiting on people.Anyone that has worked in one of these stores knows how hard it can be to find any help let alone good help.We have had people from the home office come and work in our store a few times.All of them are ready to leave very quickly.They don't realize how much more there is to it than it looks.Sorry for the rant but I just wanted to point out a few reasons why some of the people working there have little knowledge about cars.When you get desperate enough you hire anyone with a pulse.

redbird_400

Yea, I was on one of my many visits before to Advanced Auto parts. The dude behind the counter I guess saw that I had an interest in cars and asked me if I was looking for any part time work. lol.. no I've already been enslaved full time by a cable company.

c4boom

A year or two ago i went in to auto zone and got a full gasket kit for a inline 300 ford that i was rebuilding. I filled the form they had on the counter for part timers and you know what they told me. i did not have enough retail experience. It did not mater to them that i knew every part in that store better than the GM but i had never worked a cash register before was no good.

92MaroRS

Thats what i was told, talked Advance into Hiring me, and guess what? 8 months later i now have keys to the store and am running it at nights.

redbird_400

k, I found an Autozone that just opened about a month ago or something that has two people that I always see in there that know what they are talking about and can find the parts that they sell easily and quickly. The store is clean and well stocked. They even have a small section of chrome parts for dressup and such. Dallas TX had alot of that but VA.... ehh.. I'm in the wrong neighborhood.

michta

yep all the super stores are nice in a pinch, I prefer the independent parts house that have local ties to the community and I have an idea where the money goes and see their family in helping out. Only problem is they close at 6 or so.

redbird_400

yea, but the money backing those stores in most cases is not as much as a corporate store. This means that they cant always beat the best price and they wont always carry the extra stuff that you buy.

3.8TransAM

Independent houses and some chains like CarQuest actually tend to have a lot better parts than Autozone and Advance etc.

Remember the big parts houses always push price. Cheaper cheaper cheaper. U think this comes from quailty parts or cheapest chinese reman thay can get?

Lot more than once I went somewhere else and it was becuase I asked them who remanned the alt or starter.

It might have cost me $20 but guess what? I wasnt using my lifetime warranty once a year to replace it once a yr :-)

There is a ton of info out there on remans and the best price. The harder thing is who offers the best quality for the best price. Its not autozone and the other big chains. They cater to retards who shouldnt be working on their cars in the first place and are only there cause their ~@#$%box died in their parking lot.

later
Jeremy

redbird_400

lol you might be right about that but I'm doing fine with those parts stores. I guess I just havent come across a family owned part store that was really apealing to me. As far as the reman stuff, I got both a starter and altenator from these types of stores and they have been runing for 4 years so far but I guess anyone could have a bad experience. Any other type of part like distributor caps and coils, spark plugs, little chrome dress up items I'm fine with picking up at autozone. They carry acell products thats cool for now. BUT! I will say something about those spectra hose dress up sleeves. made in china parts. The hose clamps are very cheap and strip out with little torque applyed from a screw driver. What I do is pop the end off and put a hose clam in that says "Made in USA" and it solves the problem. All other parts I'll go to Jegs or Summit.

92MaroRS

Please tell me why they have commercial accounts and delievery and do about 20% of their sales via commercial accounts if they are so 'retard oriented'?

vrtc350

iTrader: (1)

20% is hardly the majority of their business. I wouldn't go as far as calling them "retard oriented" but they cater to and are designed for the average person that doesn't know squat about cars. I would have a hard time believing that their commercial accounts generate more revenue than their store front..... but I could be wrong.

20% commercial
80% store front

92MaroRS

i agree, but without that 20% the store would not be productive.

vrtc350

iTrader: (1)

Total business equals 100%

commercial = 20%
store front = 80%

While 20% of your business is a large portion, it is not the majority. Places of this nature would stay afloat minus the commercial biz. That is why you see a good portion of the store dedicated to APC sticker, fuzzy dice, and other tacky automotive trinkets. Why? because it sells. When you get 80% of your business walking through the door you put everything any idiot would buy in addition to car parts. Hell, you get people in there not to buy car parts. Instead they come in to buy tire wet, go "oh snap! There is an APC and nos sticker...that shiz would look fly on my ride!" Next thing you know, there is a $30 sale on garbage in about 10 minutes. Exactly why "they cater to retards" comment was made.

I spent 4 years as a retail manager for Sears. I know how that works.

92MaroRS

while those products take up space on our floor, its a rarity to sell any of it, when broken down into catagories, over 50% of of sales are Hard Parts.


Hard Parts=majority of parts kept behind the counter.


I'm not saying it isnt a sales driven industry, as it is, but i find(in my area atleast) that the focus is more on car parts and premium car parts rather than junk on the floor.

3.8TransAM

Commercial accounts and delivery huh?

I worked at one too, embarassed to admit it, but least I was a counter person who could work on cars :-)

Commercial accounts are real easy, when u have the cheapest price on inferior products combined with a lifetime warranty, u will have sales regardless. Cheap parts = they get the job, lifetime warranty means they dont eat the parts cost when it comes back.

Ask yourself how many professional mechanics say Autozone is the store for them. Do it honestly. I mean people who get paid to work on cars at a dealer or independent type shop. I am pretty confident the answer will be not too many.

Like I said, they cater to retards, I'm not politically correct, notice I didnt say handicapped :-) Like mentioned above the have all the garbage there that makes people go "That is fly, I must buy for my ride". They want u to buy trinkets and garbage along with subpar parts.

If all these chains were so great, wouldnt the little guy or the independents or smaller chains like carquest be taking a beating from them? Most I have used laugh when you ask if Autozone hurt there sales. OR an Advance, etc. Most of the time they dont because they are there and established and for the most part(notice not all) tend to carry a slightly better part. Only downside is maybe a few more dollars.

Sides I work with almost one parts house exclusively and with my discount now, they can easily beat Autozones price on almost everything hands down. I have asked for the cheap stuff, fix beaters or cheap as possible repair only to find out they wont even sell what they "deem" as garbage to me, nor do they stock it any longer because of past issues. Funny thing is these "subpar garbage parts" are the same line that autozone and advance etc push.

Go buy some cheap *** alternators or starters, next time u have one crap out from any large chain. I dare you. Then bring it home and gut it before u install it. U will learn a whole lot about what they consider "remanufactured"

later
Jeremy

redbird_400

Latly I've found it hard to get someone there to be able to look up ignition modules for a acell distributor. lol the dude at autozone was spacing out hardcore with a computer that he was afraid to touch. Some other guy came up and was like "dude, just do it like this" k, 60 bucks so I'll come back later after troubleshooting a bit. So I dont go back to that same store because I wanted to check out a pep boys that I havent visited yet. I ask the guy for the same product, he calls upon two others who dont have a clue then tells me I'll have to go to a special performance shop for these! lol TARD! I know that part is back there, but most of these people are to dumb to be able to look them up!

vrtc350

iTrader: (1)

Did anyone see the Modern Marvels on the History channel about Auto Parts stores? It kind of put things into perspective. Especially how each respective store came to be ( pep boys, Autozone, Advance snatching up Western Auot, and speed shops). The crazy thing is, I never new Pep Boys started the whole thing.

ShiftyCapone

iTrader: (7)

I agree, and that is what I meant by "real car guy". Someone who takes the time to make it their hobby or career. The majority of auto parts store workers that help me seem like they are only there to collect a paycheck. They really have no interest in cars. Therefore they are "non car guys". The really good car guys (be it however they gained their skill and knowledge) don't have to sell fuzzy dice.

bluegrassz

iTrader: (3)

I once worked at a privatly owned parts store, so I got broke in buy looking the part #'s up in the books. A few years later, I applied for a job at the new Advance Auto that was going in. They turned me down.

I got my revenge later after they opened. I was trying to get a part one day and the manager was wating on me. He jumped on his little computer and kept looking for what was like a half hour.
I asked him if I could get behind the counter and check out the parts book. I found it and wrote the part # down and told him to go get it.

He came back and it was just what I needed. His reply was " Didnt you apply for a job here?" I said yes and he offered me a job on the spot. lol

I told him I already had a full time job and didnt want it. lol.