Is it just me, or do all parts stores but NAPA stink?

[allenlook]

We have any number of auto parts stores around here it seems. The NAPA stores are thinning out a bit which worries me.

I can walk into NAPA and ask, for example, for an oil filter for my 1952 Super A tractor, and they'll reach for the book, and tell me there's a tall and a short one, show me both if I ask and offer me the choice (it's up to me to know which one I need, of course.)

If I walk into AutoZone, or Advance Auto, or Pep Boys, or CarQuest, or Discount Auto, I am first presented with a huge wall of "pimp toys" such as green and purple blinker lenses, chrome shifter knobs, and neon underbody kits. (None of which looked good on my Cub so I took them off.) Having already searched the aisles in vain for the part I seek, I approach the counter and request, again for example, an oil filter for my 1952 Farmall Super A tractor. Then the pimple-faced kid behind the counter will look at me like I've suddenly sprouted an unborn twin out of my neck and say with all the passion he can muster - "Uhhhh..." If I repeat my request, he will turn to look in the back and say something to the effect of - "Uh, Jerry? Do we carry parts for AllFarm Supers?"

By the time he looks back, I'm already gone...

[Cub-Bud]

Tarzan says, "Napa good, all others bad."

[Lurker Carl]

We live in a disposable society. Don't fix it, you need to throw it away and get a new one. Thank goodness for the internet.

Even the few NAPA stores left here are crap. No one working the counter knows anything about what they're selling or doesn't really want to help you. TSC has the same problem.

[allenlook]

[whining] The TSC here in Saratoga is maddening - they carry the oddest assortment of things, but only *half* of a reasonable selection - for instance they will carry pipe fittings, elbows and nipples in 1" and 2", but little in between! Or they will carry half of the components required to build a 3-pt. hitch, but not the other half!

They're building another TSC here in the same county, but that one will be equally frustrating - around here all the Home Depots, Lowes, and Tractor Supply stores are called "boutique" stores because they only carry a fraction of the normal inventory, and they only carry those items which are deemed to be purchased most often by the suburbian bedroom-community denizens that pass for "do-it-yourselfers" around here.

Same goes for Best Buy, Circuit City, etc. - only half the inventory.

I guess if you live in a development whose name ends in "Estates" (and yes I did used to live in "Wishing Well Estates") then you pass for a farmer around here [/whining]

[John *.?-!.* cub owner]

We don't have a NAPA in our area, but do have 2 privately owned parts stores, both of which are great. We do have an autozone, but the only time I go there is if I want a cheap quality screwdriver, pliers, etc. There are a lot of old Farmalls in this part of the country, and the parts store i frequnet them most, the more experienced employees don't even have to look up the filter numbers for the old Farmall, they just go get them of the shelf.

[JBall8019]

i like the napa store in warren ohio. they ahve some good guys working there. tsc stores in my area are not the great because of the lack of service but the gals they hire do fill up their wrangler jeans quite nicely! the autozones and advanced parts places dont have much for tractors or newer car parts.
john

[Rudi]

Kind of funny in a way NOT NAPA here is crap... if you want something - DON'T go to NAPA or as it is known here as UAP/NAPA.

We used to have one parts guy that knew a bit... but even he has problems -- as he is just about retiring time and don't give a dang... the rest are all pimples who barely can read let along figure out what a spark plug is or a point. Don't ask them for a regulator or a coil -- they just adopt that "I don't know squat" look, and you may as well leave right then.

The only places that really are good are my CaseIH Dealer (gone and now I have to go to Amherst NS or Sussex NB), sometimes Canada Trash, definitely not Co-op... unfortunatley... or to an independant like APM... they will at least order stuff for me if needed. Thank God I still have access to places like Fairfield Fittings, NTN Bearings etc., to get the really exotic stuff.....

[Bigdog]

Around here we have the usual assortment of auto parts stores. Of those, only the NAPA and a locally owned family business are any good. In addition, we have a 4th or 5th generation Case IH dealer that is still very good. Of course, agriculture is still a very large piece of the economics of this area.

[Thomas]

Now doubt more and more auto parts stores are zeroing on youngster's,and theres more and more youngster's behind the counters.

Now ask the young man behind the counter to cross reference part while his computer out of order. and thank goodness the cash register can show how much change to give back to the customer. ..but to be fair not all youngster's behind the counter are..............

[WKPoor]

I've discovered lately that the NAPA is getting real competitive with the discounters also. Last 3x's I've needed a part NAPA was the same or cheeper and I trust their parts alot more. I may not even shop around anymore. Just call them up and get it.

[ljw]

We have very good Napa stores here. For the most part I can count on them to understand and deliver what I want. But I wish they would adjust their prices between a regular Joe off the street and a commercial auto repair business, whom they give great discounts.

[Donny M]

My NAPA guys are the best I order a part and have it the next morning if it's not in stock. They will even give my parts to strangers if the stranger has an I/H hat on
In all the time I've been dealing with them I've received the wrong part only once. I ordered a IH200 and received a IC200. But they made it right the next day and gave it to Jesse Roberts to deliver to the Tumble.
Autozone and the others I stay away from

[Jeff Silvey]

I have to agree with everyone on NAPA. My NAPA didn't evan go to the book he know what he's doing . One I have noticed is that KIDS don't know how to give the correct change w/o a calculator . If power goes out they are lost . Thats about the same as a BAD parts store.
Jeff

[Eugene]

My comments concern a lot of high traffic businesses, not only the autoparts stores.

Business hire the cheapest help they can obtain. Not the best, the cheapest. The second part of the problem is that most business do not provide their recent hires with sufficient training and frequently no training. The third problem is that business pay low wages for counter help.

All of the above creates a high personnel turnover. Exacerbating the problem.

Eugene

[Merlin]

The best NAPA store I've been it where I live closed down. My favorite hardware changed hands also. Last week my wife decided to ride to town (20 miles) for a few groceries. I asked her to pick me up four 1/4"X3 1/4" standard bolts. I wrote it on a piece of paper for her just like that and added on the paper "they can be longer than 3 1/4", but not shorter". She wasn't feeling well and when they put them in the bag, she just brought them to me. They were 1/4"X3/4". She went to lay down and I got in my car and had business at the hardware. I handed the paper to the kid and told him I would like to get those 4 bolts. "Oh, a lady was just in and picked these up, do you want 4 more" No, just the ones I have written down. He handed me 4 more 3/4" bolts. Thats when I came unglued. DOES THESE LOOK LIKE 3 1/4" BOLTS TO YOU? He then ask "what is this X mean"? I managed to get the bolts and leave the scene before the law got there. They haven't showed up at my house yet, so I think everything is ok.