can anyone believe the people that work in part stores, well some of the people at least. this is like the third time ive had a problem with the kragen in azusa. the first time, the guy tried to convince me that a v belt that was stock for my year but 3 inches shorter than the one i pulled off would fit my car "it must have stretched". the second time i walk in there and say i need a fan clutch. the guy says "there is no clutches on the fans." i almost died laughing so hard, but he was serious. then today i got in argument about how there was a turn signal cam in the steering columb. the guy behind the counter tried to convince me that "cams are only in the engine." i must not have been in the right mood today because i almost hit him. Who do they get to work in these places?

anyway who knows a non technical term for the turn signal cam that a parts boy could comprehend, or a place that is close to me that has someone who knows what they are talking about?

 

It's better when you go to Pep Boys and you use <i>their</i> computers to pull up a part number, because no one really helps you there! Just ask them to pull (point to the P/N on the screen) that part and its good. Did those w/ the Fiero Valve cover gaskets, cause no one was around to actually use their friggin computers.

 

Poor service at any Auto Parts store is nothing new especially at Kragen. Go to their Web Site and send a letter to them and explain what happened. It worked at the one local to me.

 

I think it's a massive conspiracy effort by the retail auto parts industry to further "frustrate" the DIY crowd into "paying" to have it done at a repair shop.

Have you ever noticed how they recently stopped carrying AC Delco oil filters at PepBoys?

Or, how most auto parts stores including Wallymarts, Kmarts and other retail chains stopped carrying AC Delco batteries?

Have you tried Adcock yet? They seem to know their stuff and carry lots of AC Delco parts. A rarity these days. LOL!

 

I always buy from NAPA or PartPlus at least they will understand what you are talking about . I only buy from autozone oil,oil filter,some sutpid little parts or dumb oil.
while back some dude behind the counter tried to convince me that >I don't have slave cylinder on bellhousing< and it is N/A for all 84 Camaros. even he tried to look up under automatic tranny

 

If a person knows enough about cars to be qualified to work behind a parts counter, they will demand more than minimum wage that Kragen, Autozone, etc. pay. Either that Kragen, Autozone, etc deliberately look for incompetent help. When I feel like messing with them, I go in to look for parts for my '70 Chevy pickup. they ask me for the engine size, and I tell them 327. They look on their computers, and then have fits because the 327 doesn't show up.

 

ya, i always wondered about that. my 86 TA didnt come with a 350. it came with a 305. the 350 dosent show up in their computer so how do i get parts that are specific to a 350. most of the parts are interchangable and i dont run into problems, but like the v belts, and other stuff?

 

The V-belts are part of the accessories on the front of the engine and are interchangeable amongst all small block Chevy engines, regardless of the cubic inch. There are very few external parts that are different between a 305 and a 350. You shouldnt have too many problems just telling them what engine came in your car instead of what it has in it now.

 

ya thats what i do. i really dont think ive ran into a problem telling them i have a 305 in my car. i think the accessories might be from the engine that is in there now that is older than my car. (havent puled the numbers yet). looks like a 70's or early 80's engine...

 

Way back when while I was still High School I was hired for a job at Pep Boys. I had just left a job working at a local Union 76 station and had spent a couple summers helping out at Datsun Z repair shop my friend's father owned. Not to mention the time I had spent working on my own car.

Anyway, at the time the pay at PB was a nice increase over what I made working for Union 76, but on my first day I received a rude awakening. After meeting with the store and getting oriented I then got a surprise visit from the District Manager.

This guy promptly told me that I wasn't wearing a "proper" uniform (Keep in mind this my first day and the Store Manager told me to wear anything I had that matched their colors. He would then order me an "official" uniform later on.)

Then Mr. District Manager starts complaining about how my hair was cut (again, the Store Manager had told me that I was within company regulation). The DM then tells me to go buy new clothes that meet his approval and to get my hair cut and to get it done before my next scheduled work day.

Now this is all happening on a Friday night and I'm scheduled to work again Saturday morning. The Store Manager totally caved in and said he'd let me go early so I could take care of the DM's requests. I promptly went home and accepted another job I had been offered somewhere else. I then called PB on Saturday and told them I didn't want their job.

This gave me a pretty good insight as to how these stores tended to hire people. They don't seem to care much for automotive expertise. They just want people that will tolerate the corporate BS.

 

wow what i nightmare. no wonder they can tget anyone that knows what they are talking about as far as cars to work at one of those places. if someone knows anything about cars they probably work somewhere else.

 

yeah some of those people make me look bad, i work at the pep boys in la verne like three miles away from glendora come down and ill get you what you need,i actually know what im talking about, its pretty sad the last couple of people they have hired didnt know what a distributor was.

 

to bad you have to be 18 to work at a parts store, i would work at one of those places.

 

not at my store, you should come apply