They did it again!

Greg1959

Well-known Member
Broke off a wheel stud on a utility trailer. Drove the head out of the hub and took the pieces, including the nut, to AutoZoned. Told the clerk that I need a wheel stud and nut. I placed the pieces on the counter.

He asked "What year and model"? I told him it was a homemade trailer and I have no idea what the axle came from. He said "Well, I can't help you without year and model".

I ten asked him ""Why can't you just use a set of calipers and measure the neck then go back and find one that fits". He just looked at me kinda dumbfounded.

I then asked if I could go back and find the part. He said "No, only employees are allowed in back".

I picked up my pieces of the stud and said thanks and left.

What the heck is so hard for someone to go back and match parts.

I have encountered this problem multiple times while fixing older tractors and implements.

i.e. I needed a 1/2" petcock for a radiator drain. Went to auto store, told them I needed 1/2" petcock valve. They asked what is make and model? I said a 1957 tractor. Their response...wait for it...."We don't carry tractor parts".

For pete's sake, what is wrong with some people. I could go back and find the part I need much faster than trying to explain to these clerks what it is used for.

Sad part is...most of these clerks that have told me this is in the 50 to 60 year old range.

Thanks for listening

Greg
 
I run into that problem at places like Autozone and O'Reiley's . That's why i usually just start at NAPA. The counter help there seems to know that all parts they have don't go on cars and trucks.
 
Yea, its kinda disappointing.

Napa used to be very good here, but they went through a help change 10 years ago and its gotten worse and worse now.

Its a computer generation any more.

Paul
 
They irk the heck out of me too Greg.
My local parts guy has been in the same place for 37 years.
His kids are getting ready to take over the business I think.
They're damm good too.
One of them a while back didn't know what I was asking for when
I asked for points lube. He said "to be honest, I've never installed
a set of points and I mostly sell them to you".
I said "fair enough, is your dad around?" Grateful for his honesty.
We got what we needed and all was good. Kid learned to boot.
Great bunch of guys. I'm thankful to have them around!
 
The one I like best is when you are lucky enough to get a item they can look up you can have the part in your hand and they tell you that is not the part you need it does not fit what you are asking for. it is better to leave right then and not to blow up and look like the fool that you are about to look like. I wish I could but sometimes I just cant hold back and then I have to find another store to shop at.
John
 
I know exactly what you mean. Most of them are clueless about...everything?

But every now and then I find a good one that is willing to go the extra mile. I needed an oil filter for a forklift the other day. Had the old one, no number left on it. Man at O Rileys willingly went through the Mitsubishi listings until he matched it up! Trouble is, next time I went, he was gone.

I've managed to find a couple of old school auto supplies that I keep good relations with. They are willing to go the extra mile.

Let me scrounge the back room for lost treasures!

Still have real paper and ink books going back 60-70 years!

Sometimes I think they hate to see me coming, those days I back off and try again later when they are in a better mood. And don't show up at 4:00 Friday evening... It's Miller time... Not gonna happen then!

It's just like finding a good restaurant... Ain't gonna be a McDonalds! Give me a local family business any day!
 
WE have two suppliers here that hire people that actually have an idea where those parts go on a vehicle and how they function. All the rest, mostly newer chain outlets, are absolutely clueless computer operators. I only go to the two good ones that seem to have the ability to hire competent people. Just saves my time and temper.
 
Unfortunately the people that work in these stores are not mechanics, and in many cases have never been mechanics. They are by the book and by the book only. It -IS- really sad that someone can work in one of these stores for years in some cases, and they don't know what a part looks like unless they look it up on the puter, retrieve it from the shelving, bring it to the counter and take it out of the box. Then tell ya "Oh, is that what one of them looks like". It is very aggrivating to deal with someone that gives you the wrong parts, or someone that is unknowledgable to help ya.
 
Most parts counter guys have a very narrow mind when it comes to adaptation most have tunnel vision.When you find parts guy that has a broad mind they are worth there weight.Scott
 
I watched an interesting video today about 3D printing.

In a couple of years you won"t need to go to a parts store to get things like wheel studs and nuts. Just fire up the 3D printer, enter the specs of what you want, and it will fabricate the part right there in your living room. The printers and powders are expensive today but the price is coming down rapidly.
Make your own parts
 
Times have changed since stores have gone fully computerized and automated. People don't think or need to think anymore. Heck, I heard recently that schools no longer teach writing anymore. Shut the iphone, ipad, ipod off and people will walk into walls and have no idea how or why that happened. Guess what? Someone runs a commercial that shows one of their cars parallel parking itself. If the computer malfunctions a few generations from now, someones are going to sit there looking out the windows probably not having the first clue how to open one of the doors. Come to think of it, I saw a comercial somewhere that showed someone kicking the back of a car, and the tailgate opened itself. Apparently, cars are smart enough that if you kick one, yours, it knows to let you in.

Back to your problem, my auto parts store in Bristol has a staff that knows and understands their goods. AND, specifically for your problem, they have "orange" Dorman drawers for their products, which do have wheel studs and lug nuts pictured right on the outside of the specific drawers and...your day world have gone much easier. Maybe what is going on at Autozone and other big box auto parts stores is that the staff recently heard something about being freed from their need to have jobs, and the only thing on their minds now is that they can walk out the door at any second, freed from their jobs and life will forever be good and prosperous for them and their families.

Mark
 
On the other hand, HAD he matched it up the best he could, in today's world, if the customer knicked a knuckle installing it 'cuz it was a hair different, or WORSE, if the trailer was ever involved in an accident, the store would be dragged into a lawsuit.

NOT selling a $1.59 stud would be BETTER in some scenarios today!

SAD but true!
 
For one thing, they are scared about liability and as mentioned by some others, they just don't have a clue. Most of the counter guys that now work have very limited time (if any) turning a wrench.
The last time I was in Autozone (and it's been awhile ago), they told me that they could not look up any parts for a vehicle over one ton and they had absolutely no paper parts books to look into. It's all on the computer.
It took any parts business for my brother's F500 truck elsewhere.
 
thgats a problem at the "short line" parts stores, the help is computer savy but has virtually no mechanical experience .the part is findable, ive done it myself, many times when i worked at a local carquest [ try finding wheel studs for a bros motor broom, the computer wont help with that] go to carquest or napa for a trailer they can either get out the book, which has actual size pictures of wheel studs in it with thread count leangth ect, or just go back to the drawers and start looking, it doesnt mater what the axle is out of it will have used a commonly available stud in it just have to spend some time matching it up
 
The only ones I know of around here that have books are O"reilies and NAPA. Personally I use either one as both have knowledgeable folks behind the counter. On the other hand I have also been in the other places and had both good and bad experiences. The bad were the same as what you experienced, the good were when the same type of folks that I frequent at the other stores were encountered. In other words if the folks behind the counter have even a bit of common sense, and a sense of customer service, they can all find basically the same parts, they just have to be willing to put forth the effort needed to find them.....
 
Onan used the 300 Ford engine on their generators. I went to a store for a water pump.I was told they don't handle industrial parts.So I went back removed the pump and went back to the store. Laid the pump on the counter. Guy tells me that is a truck water pump. Have five in stock. I said no this is the industrial pump you said you didn't have.Got my pump and never went back to that store.Most parts guys now have no clue what they are doing.
 
Speaking from experience,numb skulls can be found on both sides of the counter. Countless times I have went to the bin for a part without looking it up. Customer thinks I must be to lazy to look his part up so he will just take his business elsewhere rather than risk getting wrong part. Auto-Zone has a site listing everything they have in stock plus any that can be special ordered. I suggest you go online,find the right part #s to give them when you go in. As the saying gos"if you want it done right,do it yourself",whinning isn't going to help matters.
 
(quoted from post at 23:45:42 04/13/14) Speaking from experience,numb skulls can be found on both sides of the counter. Countless times I have went to the bin for a part without looking it up. Customer thinks I must be to lazy to look his part up so he will just take his business elsewhere rather than risk getting wrong part. Auto-Zone has a site listing everything they have in stock plus any that can be special ordered. I suggest you go online,find the right part #s to give them when you go in. As the saying gos"if you want it done right,do it yourself",whinning isn't going to help matters.
da.bees, let's think about this for a minute.
Are you really telling people that in order to get the right part they
have to research it themselves and bring the part number to the store?
Might as well buy it online and get rid of the parts stores.
 
I recently went to Auto Zone and asked if they had a solenoid for a lawn tractor. He turned and walked back to the shelves and brought it back with him. Said it was what I needed. Looked at it and he was right. He said it was not listed in the book, but was the same as I needed. He was an older gentleman that had previously work at another place and they let him go when the place changed hands. Funny thing was I had stopped at the place that let him go, and they said they didn't have the part. He said they did, but didn't know what to look for if the book didn't show it. Sad part is we are loosing all the guys that actually know the parts business.
 
Royse,

I think you described the future, many stores have online ordering, inventory checking and delivery tracking already.

Local stores will stock fewer items, only those with the highest turnover. Everything else is avilable either: free delivery to the store in a day or two; or to order online for delivery to your home or business for a nominal delivery charge.

Order parts from your work bench using your cell phone or laptop and pick them up at your mailbox or front door.
 
Are you willing to pay the 2% more it might cost to keep someone behind the counter that knows something?

Rod
 
Last time I was in Auto Zone I was looking for parts to rebuild an Onan CCK engine. Sealed power made a kit at the time and it was listed in their industrial catalog. Kid at the counter was standing with a rack of books about 3 feet behind him. He swore up and down that they couldn't get any part that wasn't listed on the computer. When I ask to see the manager I pointed out that I could see the industrial book from where I was standing. The manager looked up the kit in the book and got me a price. Then told me he thought I could actually get the part cheaper at JD because they has used that engine on something. He was right. But by then I was fed up with parts places hiring people based on being able to run a computer and not having any idea about parts at all. My local NAPA does a pretty good job.

Rick
 
Same thing happens in most businesses. Lumberyards/home centers that used to have several very knowledgeable people are all gone now. The big box stores want only those that can make the boxes on the shelves look neat. Good luck taking an odd lock into one to be rekeyed. In earlier times, almost anybody in a builder's supply could do it for you. And most wouldn't even charge for that service.
 
It is a sign of the times. These modern type parts people can only look at a screen. They have no real understanding.
I remember the Parts Manager at our local IH dealership. He started in 1949. Always carried calipers. You took something to him and he knew where to find it...regardless of make or model. He memorized part numbers. Had books and an inventory system that worked. Dealers carried lots of parts. We are fortunate here...we have a very good NAPA store...and two good CaseIH and Massey dealers with good parts people.
 
Here I have trouble with all of the auto parts stores. If it isn't on the computer, they people at Autozone and O'Reilly's can't find it. I have trouble finding the right parts on NAPA's online site; sometimes when I go to the NAPA store even the counter person can't find the part on their computer - and they complain that they saw it on their computer just a few days before.

One of the NAPA gals knew they had the part even though it didn't show on the computer - the part was right behind her on the shelf!

At the AC branch where I worked out of, we had a parts manager (before computers) that knew every part in the branch and which bin the part was in. He would even convert old part numbers to the new 6-digit part numbers in his head. He never had to use a parts book when he was on the phone; he just knew the parts, their numbers and whether they were in stock or not.
 
I only use parts people I trust for some parts. They have to earn respect just like everyone else does in their profession. There is a older woman in a local parts store that is sharp as a tack on everything I have ordered, so I order from her. There is an older guy at another store that doesn't know much if it isn't in the computer. He burned me twice and I won't let him burn me again.
 
Places like Autozone are in the business of selling fast moving parts at cheap low margin prices.They'd loose $$$ fooling with you taking up the salesman's time.Go to a regular trailer place to get the parts.
 
yes because it will be prooven that parts counter people with previous mechanical experience will boost sales by at least 40 % and im some cases more, not only cars and trucks but heavy trucks and machinery knowlegde make that store the go to place in town our place did it and i was there to see the results, people want a parts man [ or woman] who can get them what they want, not some kid just putting in his 8 who cant fathom beyond what size semi exhaust tip will fit on a honda car
 
I deal with lots of parts stores, and when I need something
tractor related.....I have a very short list of which stores to go to.
Usually the ones in farm country or that supply real mechanics.
They know their stuff.
If I have to go to a wax and floormats type auto parts store, I NEVER say the word tractor. I just say I'm 'making something'
Researching parts numbers beforehand is always good. Even the best places make a mistake once in awhile. And in the computer only type places, a part number can help.
Don't say any vehicle, just ask the computer only type guy if he can cross reference the part number. His computer will tell him
the vehicle the part number crosses to on their brand parts.
"yep, that's the car I have" lol
 
What size motor? A.C. or not? What color?
Automatic or manual? Electric windows?
We need all this info to help make your parts shopping experience a success.
Your call is important to us.
good luck
K
 
My 2010 Ford Escape will parellel park "by itself" someone has to shift gears). Only used it once - just for fun. Haven't needed to parallel park for 25 years...
 
We have two parts stores nearby - O'Reilly and Carquest. O'Reilly has a bunch of high school dropouts working there. Most of them have a hard time finding their way to work, let alone any part. Carquest is MUCH better - even though they have been bought out by Advance Auto - the worst parts house on the planet.
 
There is a Farmall dealer near us that had a young man at the parts counter who new parts with out looking them up. One time I went in with the old part, he saw me walking to the counter, when I was about half way there he went back to the parts area and returned to the counter with the new part. He new many part numbers without looking them up. Last time I went in he wasn't there. Now there is a big fat guy, if he can't reach the part without getting off his chair they don't have it.

I went to the GMC dealer where I bought my truck for a free oil change. Several days before that I changed the oil in my car, that had a 283 engine, the aluminum plate that hold the gasket was badly pitted. While waiting for my truck I went to the parts counter thinking 283 was a common engine they would have the part. The parts man said when they went to computers the y thew away any part that wasn't listed in the computer.
Bill
 
Very likely in that store everything is pre packaged and stuck on the shelves in some random order not in drawers full of grouped items like things like that once were and it was easy to walk back there and find them all in one spot.
I doubt they have size charts to go backwards to look up items that way as their system is only geared to go by make and model forward.
Welcome to the wonderful world of progress ! and the big box type stores.
 

We have a NAPA store in a small town that does a pretty good business with the farmers, Amish etc. The employees (young and old) have been in place for a while and know thier way around. I went in there to get a seal for my mower (bush hog type) gearbox, after the counter guy spent about 10 minutes pulling up various screens on the computer he commented, "this is a tough one". I replied, "if it was easy I could just go to Autozone". I got my seal.
 
I was in the local NAPA store while the NAPA rep was there. He asked the parts girl why she didn't use the computer much to look up parts. She told him what he could do with his computer.She uses books and her brains to look up parts.
 
I needed to replace a ball bearing once that had seized and spun. About half the number on it was obliterated.

I went to a large bearing place on my lunch hour, figuring they could match it anyway. Some stumpy little dork with a cigar in his face took one look at it and said, "It would be a @^%$%^&*%^$% waste of time to even try finding one", and handed it back to me.

I went to another bearing place and handed to bearing to a fellow behind the counter He took a calipers out of his shirt pocket, took a couple of measurements, reached up on a shelf, and handed me one.

When I got back to my office, I had an "interesting" telephone conversation with the manager of the first bearing place.

A few days later, I had to go to the first place on company business. The "stumpy little dork with a cigar in his face" was nowhere to be seen.
 
Not to be a smart a$$ as I know what you are talking about. You need to measure it yourself, then go on the Auto Zone website and look it up your self. You may need to look through several brands ( Chevy/ Ford)and models ( 1/2, 3/4 ton)of vehicles to find the right wheel stud. They have good part descriptions of each part online. Best part of all, then it will tell you if it is available at your local store or not, it will be cheaper and waiting for you when you walk in the door. They also have discount code's for additional savings. If you are not in a hurry for the item or it is not close to your location they will ship it to you. Don't want to buy online, just walk-in and give the clerk the part #, problem solved..
 
Parts store clerk has become a part time job for teenagers. It's no longer a career path where a man can start at 18, work his way up, and raise a family.

They pay wages comparable to McDonalds or Burger King. Just barely over minimum.

The stupid ones don't last long because they get fired. The smart ones don't last long because they're too smart to stick around. So, you're always dealing with some green kid who just started last week.

On the rare occasion you get an old guy, he's only there because Social Security isn't enough to get by on, so they're angry and miserable to deal with, and just as clueless as the kids.

I don't know what you're expecting.

I did get a kid last Sunday at NAPA who was pretty good. I came in looking for a 160 degree thermostat, and I had the NAPA part number THM 95. He punched it in, none in stock, but he was able to cross reference it and found me another 160 degree thermostat the same size and style that he did have in stock.

I don't expect him to be there next time. He'll move on to bigger and better quickly.
 
What can you expect from a low paying job that requires little training?
The "fast turnover" stores like Auto Zone and Advance and a few others hire people based on the "body theory." The theory is that ANYBODY can be trained to do the job. Everything is basically broken down into a "one size fits all" routine that works most of the time. Add to that a computer that contains most of the information that is likely to ever be requested. Then use an interface that makes it simple enough for a third grader to use, and Voila!! You have a nearly foolproof system that will fulfill most normally encountered requests for parts. For this function, you can now hire a minimum wage, entry level flunky that has no idea of what a part looks like of where it goes on the car. BUT... they pay little to keep costs down!

Most of the competent and knowledgeable old timers are gone to retirement or just plain let go because they cost too much. After all, could you raise a family, pay a mortgage, educate your children on what a parts counter job pays today??? In order to be competitive, even the old time parts houses have to think twice about paying the old timer what he is REALLY worth as they are losing so much of their more profitable sales to places like AutoZone.

In a nutshell, we are a nation of cheapskates. We shop for the lowest price, and in general are not willing to pay the top dollar for top shelf service and/or quality. We got what we paid for.
 
I run into the same thing here. We have Car Quest, Napa, and O'Reilly in town. Car Quest has some good parts guys, Napa not quite as good...and O'Reilly is a waste of time. Needed a V-belt, and only O'Reilly was open (Sunday). Told the guy I needed a B-47, and he proceeds to look on his computer, and then tell me he doesn't have anything that crosses to that number. Not "We don't have that size in stock". Huh?? I -know- they have A and B width V-belts.
 
I spent a lot of years in the parts biz...and I was damn good at it. These days, parts counter people are paid peanuts...and you get what you pay for. In 1988, I was a parts manager making $500 a week + commission, and my countermen were making $10 an hour + commission. [Commission was based on the gross profit of the parts department, not strictly on gross sales.] In 2007 after the frame plant closed, I went to O'Reilly's seeking a counter job, and asked for $11 an hour...AFTER I received my AAS degree in Automotive Management. The manager of the local store told me that HE didn't get $11 an hour! And then we wonder why competent parts people don't stick around, or even stay in the business.

Adjusted strictly for inflation, that $10 an hour in 1988 would be $17.53 an hour in 2007, and $19.85 an hour in 2014. So that's why parts guys like me left the biz [I left in 2000, for a MIG welding job in a plant making Ford Explorer frames, making $16.29 an hour]. And that's why many parts people today don't have a clue...because we pay them like a burger jockey, they think like one.

As far as hiring older, experienced parts guys goes...I had one interviewer tell me when I was past 55 that he "might" [and DID] hesitate to hire me because hiring an older worker might "skew" their company's insurance costs [technically, that's NOT age discrimination, because it's about keeping their costs down...even though it has the same effect].

Not complaining; time marches on. How many saddlery and buggy whip manufacturers are still in business, compared with 100-140 years ago? Auto parts businesses are competing with Amazon.com as well as other parts houses...and Amazon is just a freakin' warehouse/shipping company.
 
Frustrating - I run into it all the time - when you're desperate for a part TODAY, and all you have are the big chain stores, you gotta try.

You KNOW the part's somewhere back there, but the real challenge is convincing the guy at the counter to go get it.

I most recently had the problem with an oil filter for a tractor - the brand I was looking for was out, and I just wanted a cross reference to another brand. - they insisted on "make and model" - and once they heard the word "tractor" I got the usual "oh we don't sell tractor parts".

But, they ARE "auto" parts stores, and 99.9% of their business is supplying common parts to late model cars.

Around here, they actually do that job quite well. So I can't really knock any of them.

But it still does make you reflect back on the good old days when things were simpler.

But, the sad reality is that cars are much more complex these days. So you need that limited focus to JUST car parts - which can only be looked up for specifics.

Think of the lowly hi/lo light switch - used to be you could buy one and it'd fit virtually any vehicle on the road. But now it's much more complicated than that. Nobody uses foot switches anymore.

Belts - an auto store used to be able to stock 10 different sizes and never send anybody home empty handed. Now you need a computer to find the right one out of dozens of choices. Same with hoses.

Remember too that not only is there more advanced technology in the cars themselves, but there are also more manufactures.

You had Chrysler Ford and GM - Now you've got a mix of all the foreign manufacturers. (remember for a while there were "foreign auto parts" stores?) I forgot about those!

So - it's a different world - times change.

Just tough to watch it happen sometimes.
 
You are correct most of them can"t find a part if it"s not tied to an auto. They can"t think outside the box. Our local Advance Auto parts guy can match something for you but he used to own his own parts store so he made every attempt to make a sale.
 
You may sincerely believe that.... but it's been my observation and experience that a lot of things in life do not work that way. There's a large swath of people who want that service and quality but when push comes to shove they still go for cheap. That's why everything is the way it is in this land. I've got some hay customers who fit the very same model. They all want better quality but when it comes to paying for that quality they're nowhere to be found. You might find one in ten who actually means it when they say they'll pay for quality...
Much the same when someone goes shopping at a discount parts house. Most times their intent in being there in the first place was because they wanted cheap... Otherwise they'd have gone to a dealer or NAPA right off the line.

Rod
 
It is true that quality of service is not a top priority anymore as society has shifted to low cost, throw away when it is broken. But if America is really going to focus on service based industry you would hope the customer service would improve.

What irks me most about the parts places, I've used them all, is when you go in with the part number and they still have to use the computer to figure out which shelf it is on. Still get asked for the make and model, what my 1955 tractor is not in your computer.

The other one is that they won't transfer parts between stores anymore. I get a puzzled look when I tell them to order it from the warehouse then because I am not driving across town to your other store to get it.

I am fine with the young new guys doing the best with a poorly designed system, but laziness and bad attitude will guarantee that I will not be back. I will still go back to the Oreilly's even though they have sold me a bad part because the clerks were really nice to my 3 year old son.
 
We have two Napa stores here both are real good at finding parts for you. One day I was in and this girl waited on me after quite sometime waiting I ask the the old guy if she knew what she doing bad mistake shae never waited on since even if she's the only not busy. I just go to Napa because the same clerk who was there ten years ago is still there they pretty know the system and how to find parts for you.
Walt
 
reading this, makes me happy n sad at same time. i used to be a counter person for local autozone. i can tell u this much, any customer i ever dealt with, got what they needed, whether it was in a computer or not. having ag experience, and turning wrench skills does help. i ticked off manger once, cause i knew something he didnt n made him look real bad. got fired for not sweeping the floor correctly. lmao
 
(quoted from post at 04:35:16 04/14/14) Are you willing to pay the 2% more it might cost to keep someone behind the counter that knows something?

Rod
Absolutely!
Parts, tires, tools, building material, furniture, shoes...... you name it, I'll pay a premium to get a better product or better service.

NAPA is my first stop when shopping for parts.
They're pretty good at getting out the books if they can't find the info on the computer, and if they don't have something they'll know who will.

I did stay away from that store for about 25 years though. One of the counter guys complained about us dirt track guys being a pain to deal with because we were always wanting to find a part that would work on something it wasn't intended to be used on. I said fine, I'll spend my money someplace else. The other place is gone now so I went back to NAPA. The guy that complained about dirt track racers is long gone.
I hope I never set foot in an Autozone store again. They are the worst of the worst. Advanced is slightly better than Autozone. Car Quest is better than Advanced.
 
I always look up the parts I need online. That way I know the price, the part number and if it in stock. I buy alot of parts from Advance Auto Parts. I can buy online and pick up at the store all within an hour, and it is cheaper than buying directly from the store.

If I am not in a hurry for something I will shop the internet for the same part I would normally get at the store and can often save even more money.
 
"You had Chrysler Ford and GM-"

Yeah. And Studebaker and Packard and Hudson and Nash and Kaiser-Frazer and Willys and International and Divco and Crosley, back in "the good old days."
 

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