Base91

iTrader: (1)

My local Kragen just became an O'reilly's and I went in with a friend to get plug wires for his 93 Aerostar. Nothing unusual but they said they couldn't supply them! Is O'reilly normally that lame??

Wadebryant

They're about the same in most respects to their DYI competition. In some cases they do offer good brand items at reasonable rates but as is most commonly the case, you have to know what you're shopping for and what's a fair price for the item you need. They will match prices with the competition but you have to prove it and it has to be the same exact item. For that matter, if you research an item on-line that they carry, chances are it's the same item found at the competition's store anyway. In that case it all comes down to price and immediate need. Otherwise, for premium parts you'll probably need to shop elsewhere or on-line anyway.

eagle_eyes

iTrader: (3)

also, they do not price match online prices, only local vendor prices.

when comparing to online stores like Rock Auto, Oreilly's is more expensive. you just have to ask yourself, "do i need that part today, or can i wait and order it?"

1ADan

iTrader: (4)

here's my rule of thumb (works pretty well) online's usually around half of a walk-in price and the dealer's usually 2x the price of a walk-in store. with internet/mail order, you trade speed (usually) for price. I've worked on both sides in the past and present (advance and 1a) and there's always some sort of trade off - money, time, or quality. you can get 2 of the 3.

kd5icr

iTrader: (2)

I have never had a problem with orielly's If they dont have it they can get it. They are a lot better than autozone imo.

Base91

iTrader: (1)

That's what I would have thought but the guy said flat out he couldn't get it. A simple part. Maybe it was just that particular clerk. But I was never much impressed with Kragen either. Usually Rockauto.

92 CaMaRo Rs

Here in my town i deffinatly chose oriellys good people there. Always get ya what ya need.

kd5icr

iTrader: (2)

I have never tried rock auto I just made an account, I hope they do good. But back to topic. Have you tried useing oriellys on line? They can ship to your home, or have it sent to the store. Maybe it is because they just swiched over that you are having problems. I hope it works out for ya.

firebird904

I've bought a lot of part's through oreillys and never had any issues both online and at the store but after looking at rockauto I can get the same part's way cheaper even though after all the stuff I need shipping comes out to around 60 bucks but It still comes out cheaper. $340.00 at rockauto vs $530.00 at oreilly that leaves me money to do other stuff to my car and get it running great

AmorgetRS

iTrader: (6)

The local Schucks I used to buy all my parts at (maintenance parts, for performance parts they suck). However, now that they are O'Reillys they treat their employees like crap. The main reason I go to that store are the people behind the counter, and now the most knowledgeable one is leaving because they put him on commission based sales and cut his pay. O'Reilly's also now requires receipts for returns where Schucks had the info in their computer. Reason why... to reduce the amount of returns. I hate it when places go backwards in customer service.

I'll be doing all my shopping at AutoZone now, at least their computer system has been updated since 1998.

StevenB L98/LS1

Even though im an advance employee, i like oreillys, because the ppl ive talk to seemed knowledgeable and there parts are quality grade. But the whole return issue with oreillys, is because they never want to keep there stores open til 9pm, like autozone and advance do, because they make there money more solo on commercial shops, than other part stores that are DIY customer based. Oreillys wants to make there money so yes thats the whole point in the receipt policy.

Autozone has the best computer system out of the parts store i know of, but the staff and employees are treated like s**t, pay is horrible autozone is lowest paying parts store u can work at. And there parts are purely crap and cheap quailty. Thats why they make the most money, because make a profit off those cheap parts, compared to Oreillys where they pay the companys such as Borg warner, AC Delco etc..

hardyz13

iTrader: (1)

Trust me Oreillys doesn't pay much more than minimum wage "at least the districts that ive worked in". I don't know what the problem is with the reciept issue. All you need to do is make sure they take your phone number before you pay and then we can track it as long as you remeber your number or name. If the pinhead tells you need a reciept talk to someone else if your sure he took the number. Also it's not like walmart were they take back all kinds of **** used or new. You should do your part and hold on to a reciept trust me its not going to grow legs and walk away. Put them in a folder or at least the glove box.

AmorgetRS

iTrader: (6)

Schucks did not require a receipt for returns, O'Reilly's does. They went backwards in customer service. I honestly don't really care as I rarely return anything. As far as warranty, yes, phone # works fine (sort of... their lookup system sucks). It is posted on the door as it was a policy change at my local Schucks.

*disclaimer* I am slightly bitter as O'Reilly's had ruined my hometown parts store and is screwing over my favorite parts guy there, who I have become good friends with through him working there. So, take my opinion with a grain of salt...

gwarren007

iTrader: (1)

Orielly's didn't "just" change from being Checker/Shucks/Kragen , it happened 2+ years ago. April 2, 2008
http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepu...02.html?&wired

90% of the change happened in the first 6 months, the last of the change was the face of the buildings. They have had the CSK/Oriellys name and reciepts (go check your last 2 years worth) for some time! if you didn't notice a change before now, you won't in the future.

AmorgetRS

iTrader: (6)

I noticed the change a long time ago. Changes may of happened quicker where you are, but the store in my town was just refaced in the last month. They moved to the every associate has a cash register about 4 months ago.

Don't take me as stupid.

gwarren007

iTrader: (1)

Didn't say that in any way shape or form. You just said what I had been saying...

"I noticed the change a long time ago"

"the store in my town was just refaced in the last month"

For the last 2 years has still has been Orielly's, any change you would have noticed in the last two years will still be in effect today.

mw66nova

iTrader: (13)

well...as an O'reilly employee, i will say that your customer service experience in the store is 100% up to the guy behind the counter. i'd say, in the demograh of my store, that 95% of my clientele do NOT keep up with their reciepts...and typically have had 5+ phone numbers since they bought the part in question, sometimes just a year prior. i have figured out (through necessity) how to look up these transactions and get them back out of the door with little or no issues.

our pricing is typically very competitve with other walk-in stores, and we will price match any product with a similar warranty. as far as i know, we do not offer the price match for online stores though. i'll look into that further...

what i've found, and it seems to be this way with most parts stores, is that the guys behind the counter are actually very uneducated about parts, and store policy. they make things up as they go, and i've even seen manager's do it. i'm only a part time "retail service specialist" but i've kinda taken it upon myself to be as educated about the real policies as i can be so i can help people as much as possible...

UnderCover89TBI

iTrader: (25)

They will price match anything. Almost no questions ask if less than 20 dollars. Over 20 they have to make a phone call. The key thing is the part your pricematching has to have the same warranty. So if your buying a water pump from carquest that has a 1 year warranty that is new for 25. And they have it for 35 with a lifetime warranty. they will not do it. Makes sense to me. They have to be able to have the plug wires. They hire people that don't know anything about cars it seems at this store. Luckily I deal with commercial so I get people with a decent amount of knowledge.

mw66nova

iTrader: (13)

O'reilly does have a commercial side called "First Call". theres is usually only one or two people who run this at each store, they're called the "ISS" or Installer Sales Specialist. they typically have more knowledge about cars in general, and have lots of outside sources for odd-ball parts (say you're working on a land rober or a jaguar, yes i can get parts for you too, even though there's not a lot listed in the catalog). be-friending your local ISS will make for fewer headaches when going to the parts store.

UnderCover89TBI

iTrader: (25)

exactly what I do. I just usually order all my own stuff online at thier website and it gets delivered.

Beater79TA

I like the store over the other options in my area because they carry better brands often with better warranties. My only complaint is they are now in the process of switching computer systems and apparently aren't transferring customer warranty records into the new system. So unless you have the receipt, they won't warranty it unless you purchased it after the system changeover.

eagle_eyes

iTrader: (3)

here, it depends on which store you walk into. we have 3 O'reilly's stores, and only one of them is worth a darn. i have some really close friends that work there, so i've never had any problems getting parts or returning them without receipts.

the manager is a cool guy too. he and one of my friends had to work a thanksgiving and couldn't leave all day because they have to have at least 2 at the store at all times. i brought them a plate of food each, and have been on their good side ever since.

the other stores, however, are worthless. they sit on the counter and talk to eachother all day, offering no assistance. one of my friends(employee of the good store) walked in, went straight to the back to the vault, pulled out a hundred dollar bill, and left. he gave it to that store manager the next day and told him what he did, expecting something to be done about it, but nothing was ever done.

the pay isn't that bad here. they based it off of the "tests" you took. i know one of my friends was making like $12.00 plus commissions. of coarse, for San Angelo, that's not all too bad for not having any higher education. the only other places that pay more without education is the oil field and...well i guess just the oil field.

hardyz13

iTrader: (1)

After the switch over they will still be able to search all csk, cragan and schucks customers, if the guy says he can't than he doesn't know how. They sent us emails telling us how to do it and to make sure all tms know how.

solaris_vii

iTrader: (3)

here in toledo all of the murrays were bought out by oreilly's. i loved murrays with a passion, but oreilly's is absolute garbage. i go to autozone now

Camaroboi

If you have a problem with getting a part, it's probably the clerk. I notice some of them are no longer ASE cert'd. When I had a problem I checked out their page and got the part #, then I went in with the #.

twigger

You get what you pay for, that goes for employees to. Waiting 6 months for a 3% pay raise to go through after your pay has been cut doesnt inspire loyalty or hard work.

Pillsbry10

iTrader: (1)

funny enough i do that every time i go for a part, yet everytime the clerk says well what kind of car do you have...doesnt matter dude this is the part number... itll be in the computer...you dont need the f'ing computer its custom, its not in there.. lol

i usually tell them dont worry about it i got it and walk back in the back and get it myself (ive worked at a few of those places i know where its at)

StevenB L98/LS1

WOW can they be any dumber? You pretty just made there job easy! The only time a customer walks into my store with a part number is just check to make sure we have it in stock, and then i automatically know where the part is to get it for my customer. Easy and simple method.

Base91

iTrader: (1)

Soooo. When it comes down to it they're (auto stores) pretty much all just the same. Depends on the guy (or gal) behind the counter.

TraviZ

iTrader: (2)

Exactly, base91.
I am an assistant manager for a former kragen now o'rielly store.
if you know the people behind the counter, and treat them with respect (key word) they have more power then you know to take good care of you.

Lots of people come to the store I work at (folsom, ca) for my service and knowledge. all the employees at my location have a good relationship together and thats very important to overall store performance as well.

I also give a discount to any TGO member that comes my way. We also hook up just about any car club people that come as well.

not all o'riellys are this way.

I read in a early post o'rielly treats employees like crap.
I find this true. luckily here in california, one of the FEW perks of living in this state, there is alot of restrictions on what they can do to us.

InfernalVortex

iTrader: (4)

Just depends on the people workin there. Where Im at I've always had good luck with any of the 3 O'Reilly stores I've been to, and it's the people that work at them that make the difference. The people that work at the other stores I've been to are, on the whole, not as knowledgable, helpful, or polite.

But that's just around here, I'm sure it's just luck of the draw, or coincidence. I would just go to the store that's closest to you with the people you can tolerate.

nicz28

I worked with the company when it was Kragen and I can say that If I have ANY other choice, I will never walk through the doors of o'reilly's... They cut all associates pay almost in half. Kragen did ASE training classes and held training seminars in order to keep good customer service through knowledgable parts pros. Oreilly's put an end to that. I wouldn't go there expecting to see any kind of knowledgability... I'll go Napa from now on.

gsf-87IROC

I worked at Advanced Auto back in the early 2000s as a part time job. I busted my butt and went above and beyond until they told me after 3 months 'I can't give you more than the standard raise as I need real hard evidence of you deserving more to justify it to corporate'. I quit caring at that point. I showed up on time, never missed a day of work. Others came and went in the 3 or 4 months I worked there. Stole stuff, didn't show up, causing the manager to work 60-70 hrs/week to make up for the slackers.

Anyway, I moved on to a higher paying part time gig doing engineering work but still go to Adv. They are the best locally> I think the store and where you go depends on the management and the store more than corporate. Autozone does sell more crap(in love with duralast which=lowest bidder of the month I'm sure). I avoid them for that reason. Their employees have improved over the years. For a while, I oculdn't stand them.

3rdgenmaro

iTrader: (9)

IMHO, they are all basically the same.

I order most of my stuff from RockAuto whenever possible. If I need anything else, I call around to the different stores. Find out who has what brand and at what price. Then I decide where to purchase from.

It also depends on the people that work there. Everystore has atleast one or two idiots that work there, but only a few have those real good guys. It just depends on where they work.

MY87LT

iTrader: (2)

From my experience at both O'Reily's (Kragen) or even Autozone. Yea, have had some really top notch staff members, and then the totally worthless people. Worst one has been so far at Pep Boys when the lady behind the counter asked me if a Camaro was a car or truck.

theNMBR27

IMO and experience no. Go to advance they will price match and transfer from any store same day.

kd5icr

iTrader: (2)

I tried rock auto today, and I will tell ye,they crushed Orielly's price wise it was cheaper for me to order the parts with shipping than to drive around the block to the store. I recomend rock auto over oreilly's any time as of today.

hardyz13

iTrader: (1)

Yeah only thing that sucks is when that part fails then you have to wait, but if that doesn't bother you then they are fantastic.

Camaro305SB

I go to Oreillys for all of my aftermarket part needs and they have always been good (both house brand parts and customer service). As far as customer service though its really about the person behind the counter than the company so I don't knock the company if one clerk happens to be an @$$hole.