[Old Blue 66]

Not a big fan of "The Zone" either. The store in my town has a bunch of different types of people working there. The manager cant say anything positive about anything and anther is constantly complaining and yelling across the store. Its just a trashy environment. They don't seem to be all that knowledgeable either.

[ho428]

Originally Posted by firebirdcrazy1959

Back before both of the big guys came to town,NAPA was THE store to get parts here and they had a smokin machine shop business.They had 8 counter guys who all knew cars and parts and it was always packed.Now it's just the owner,Mike,Dave the counter guy who has been there for ever,Jim the machinist and a counter girl and Mike the delivery guy who i went to HS with.
I get my machine work done there because Jim knows his stuff and knows Pontiacs.When i need a part for a Pontiac i go to them,if i need fluids i go to Advanced Auto.The Auto Zone here really sucks big time.

That's what I grew up with, we had several good parts stores with in house machine shops, 3 Anderson Brothers stores, 2 Kauffmans, all had machine shops, first name basis with most of them and that was just on my side of town and a couple more really good parts stores, the key for these is that were all family owned. No corporate ownerships. Once those started moving in the old guard started closing or selling out.
Can't really blame them, someone offers you enough to retire your family with.

What's really odd is there are so many more cars on the road than 30 years ago but fewer good parts stores. They're almost like Wal-marts now.
We still have a few hold outs but they're a dying breed. Even the buildings are not being kept up, guess they can't afford it and compete.

[OhMyGoat]

Originally Posted by Colin

I called probably 10+ years ago to order some new hood struts for the wifes Camaro. The guy on the phone was taking information on the car.........you know, year, make, model. Then he asked if it was a 2 door or a 4 door and I just hung up on him and never called back. A 4 door Camaro? Give me a break......everyone knows that Camaros and Firebirds are all 2 door cars, especially someone in the parts business.

I used to have a 4 door Camaro...I think it was a 1964 or 1965 model. I can't remember, it was a long time ago. :confused:

Unbelievable!!!

[455Grandville]

Originally Posted by Colin

Yep......Autozone and Advance both pretty much suck. Sometimes I will buy brake pads at Advance.
Add J.C. Whitney to the list. I called probably 10+ years ago to order some new hood struts for the wifes Camaro. The guy on the phone was taking information on the car.........you know, year, make, model. Then he asked if it was a 2 door or a 4 door and I just hung up on him and never called back. A 4 door Camaro? Give me a break......everyone knows that Camaros and Firebirds are all 2 door cars, especially someone in the parts business.

You should have told him it was a convertible station wagon model with a LS6 454 :D
Back in highschool some a'hole classmate worked there ; I used to call up for a radiator hose or radiator for a VW Bug (before there was a new one). Funny how he never figured that out after several calls.....

[hottrodd]

the days of good auto parts stores are about gone!!!!!!!!!!! autozone,advance,etc. have just about put them all out of bussiness, us car guys are probably 1-100 or less in custumers, the rest of the people are only there for wax, armor all, get there cars worked on at the dealer. it is a real shame, us car guys that really need the good-old part stores, are losing them !! to non-car people who support autozone,advance, etc!!:mad: :eek: :cry:

[Pontirag]

Auto part stores have evolved. No more machine shops no more technology cross over. I also blame our public school systems that teach children problem solving skills (or dont). They have only a few resources and little imagination so to think outside the box is "unimaginable". Besides, in this country nobody wants to pay for knowlege anymore. it TOO scary to have underlings that know more than supervisors. Nobody dares to hire based upon competency anymore. Ethics is starting to slip to.

[69BIRD]

Back in '02 I owned a'69 RSZ28 with the original DZ302 motor. I went to Autozone to get new plugs & wires. I said " I need some tune-up stuff for my 1969 Z28" he asked what size motor and I replied "302". He said "you mean 307". I said no 302. He said how 'bout 305? I told him the only motor available in a '69 Z28 was a 302. He said bull****, 302 is a Ford motor only, "I have 15 years experience in auto parts" and I must be mistaken. After 5 more minutes going round and round with this chuckle-head, I took him out to the parking lot and popped the hood and showed him the factory sticker on the air cleaner that reads 302 290 horsepower. He could'nt believe his eyes and just walked back into the store. Thats the last time I stepped foot in an Autozone.

[GTOWAGON]

I have been working in the auto parts buisness since 1979. The entire time i have only worked for NAPA or independant stores that cater to the wholesale crowd. THE ONLY THING AUTOZONE IS GOOD FOR IS AIR FRESHENERS AND CAR WAX!!!!!!!

[Rack776]

Heres some revenge for you guys, all you need is:
1: A free saturday (busiest time for parts guys is lunch/dinner when everyone's on break
2: Some time to kill (like when waiting for paint to dry)
3: a phone.

I used to work at A&A Auto parts when I was in my Early 20s
Back they were owned by Joe Amato the Drag Racer at the time we were a
cool speed shop, now they sell mostly import crap & truck bedliners.

For fun on a busy saturday morning who ever was on break at
the time would call the competition (Pep Boys, Auto Zone ect.)
and ask for one of the following-

-1966 Corvair Upper & Lower Radiator Hoses
This works best on a new guy pick a more obscure air cooled european model to stump a veteran

-1974 VW Bus Radiator Cap & Rotor (Use your best stoner accent for this one dude!)
You could go on for ever when the guy would ask Brake Rotor or Ignition Rotor - Just say yes and wait, then you can get mad him when he lies & says the radiator cap is out of stock & special order only.

-1983 Corvette Rear Brake Rotors & pads with the performance suspension option.
Argue non stop with the guy that it is infact a 1983 and his book/computer is wrong

- Pick any Porsche, Volvo, BMW and make up a part of your choice and see if it really exists A Variable ride control shock absorber sensor & main relay sounds good to me.
If it dont exist then have fun telling them Pep Boys had no trouble finding it but they were more expensive than the dealership.

-Ask for this one - This is a real product I saw it with my own eyes once - a guy came in our store trying to buy more with out going back to the dealer.
:idea: Get ready here it comes-
BMW approved radio antenna & winshield wiper cleaner.
A special $35 bottle of rubbing alchohol to clean the black exterior trim on a BMW.
I read the contents on the back of the bottle and it said 60% isopropal alcohol.
When I said we did not carry such a product the man said he would go back to the dealer cause he did not trust regular rubbing alchohol to clean his radio antenna!

The trick is to waste their time as much as they waste ours!
Have fun and keep it clean!

Jason
:stupid:

[69BIRD]

Jason

LMFAO!!