What is it with auto parts stores anymore.....

[gibs67cpe]

I goto the local autoparts store today(the one that rhymes with calzone). Of course they dont have what I need. I mean why would they carry U Bolts for god sakes. No but they have every type of shifter knob, fake spinning hubcap and every other BS novelty item there. They didnt have a shackle kit either. It would take them 5 days to get it...... So I goto the next place (rhymes with toys). They have A u bolt....... 1 freaking U bolt?? who needs just 1? They look in their system and all their stores only have 1.....I would have had to drive all over San Diego to get all 4........ oh and the shackle kit was a special order only item. It would be so great to be able to goto a auto parts store and get real auto parts, not have it just be a beefed up Wal Mart auto department.....UGHHHHH guess I am ordering the stuff online now.

Thanks for reading.



Gib

[lunarweasel]

Did you try NAPA? They aren't perfect, but the people seem and stock always seem to be better than the others.

[dodgestang]

There is no margin on the u-bolts and shackles and they turn very slow because of the number of customers who would actually come in to buy them.

[wrenchman]

I don't even consider these national chain outfits like the one you visited to be real auto parts stores. When I want real parts I go to my locally owned and operated NAPA or another local parts store we've had in town forever. They have counter people that actually know something about autos and parts. Not just what the computer tells them. I've been wrenchin' for a living for over 30 years, and I just don't mess around with those "other" stores when I need real, good quality parts. There's a reason they're cheaper!!

[Roddster]

Even my old favorite parts store never has the quality parts I'm looking for. They know me, and I always asked for the better brands. As years went by, they seemed to more and more need to order the good stuff. I stopped going there.
I found another place just as far away to get the good stuff I want.
Seems some of these auto parts stores cater to poor people.

And, I like NAPA, they don't seem to be able to keep a store open around here. They get under cut by the junk merchants and close in a year or two.

[DRAGPAK428]

Napa usually has the parts for older cars, Autozone,pepboys,Murrays etc usually just stock the stuff that moves quick, they can get it,and its usually cheaper but you have to wait. I also like Napas because their counter guys usually have more experience with older cars imo

[lucmann]

Agree on NAPA, they actually know what you're talking about before looking in the computer. They don't get a blank look on their faces when you mention "flathead"

[scstang67]

I like the local O....y's. I was in there so much a few years ago, they would just let me go back and pick out what I needed. For instance I needed a 6'' radiator hose that had a ridiculous bend on the bottom end. I just stood back there at their wall for 1/2 hour and finally found one that had the bend I needed. It was 3 feet long but I was pleased. I will use them in the future

[79cobraII]

as of 2009 i utterly gave up on retail stores in my area, everything is now online ordered and i get even higher discounts with the coupons i get via email. Its sad its come to this, but after spending hours in the car trying to find a simple part at 10 different auto parts stores and giving up defeated, going fully online for everything just made my life easier. any delay in ordering parts and delivering them to my house didn't matter since the stores would always have to order what i needed and have me come in and pick it up anyway.

[AMR66]

U-bolts are really not an "auto parts" item. You associate U-bolts with shackles, etc, but there are a lot of other things that you can do with them and NOT auto related

[gibs67cpe]

True they arent, but I would figure an auto parts store would have some. Oh well. My money went to the online merchant instead. Typical anymore. I think I am going to do business soley online now. I am tired of the San Diego 500 to get a hose or bolt or shock or whatever.....

Thanks for the input, looks like I am not the only one that has noticed these places suck.


GIb

[GypsyR]

I have about given up on my local parts stores too. I have an '81 VW Rabbit diesel that regularly needs something or another. Most parts aren't even on their computer. The ones that are... Well, I needed a head gasket of specific thickness, a common thing in VW world. They had a "fits all" gasket for $36. I passed. Found an online vendor that sells the correct selection of gaskets that come from the original supplier to VW. For $18.
Sometime later I wanted to replace the cheap OEM replacement and very sloppy OEM replacement type timing chain on SWMBO's 302. I knew better than to use one, but I HAD to put a new one on at the time and that's all I could lay hands on. Local parts stores can get a "name brand" roller type chain, but it takes three days. I got one in three days. But at half their price ordered online from Summit.
I dread buying replacement PC parts locally, like at Best Buy. If I can just hold off a bit, I can always order the same thing online for about half their price and have more than one or two to choose from.
I went all over town one time trying to find a small part to fix a kitchen faucet once. Finally gave up and found an online vendor that sold me a whole repair kit for $10.
If I lose internet service I wonder if I'll be able to fix ANYTHING anyone.

[twotoots2]

Originally Posted by GypsyR

....If I lose internet service I wonder if I'll be able to fix ANYTHING anyone.

I agree. Though I like our NAPA store here, its getting increasingly difficult to get older model parts too. Tried to order some carb jets from them and never received them. Was told I have to order a PCV filter (fits in the air cleaner). They couldn't find it anywhere, and I'd have to pay the freight to get it in.....! Everything is going online anymore..

[cormy1]

Yes, since I started working on cars again, I have reestablished my relationship with our local NAPA store. Feels good to walk back in there after all these years, we took it right up where we left it years ago..good guys.

[Maxum96]

I agree for the most part about the local parts stores. Most of the time they don't have a clue. I usually research it online before I go in. I do have to say that I've been using Summit exclusively for speed parts until recently. With the O'Reilly's buying out Checker, the local Checker stores are carrying a lot more parts. And they're handling a lot of brand name speed parts. Instead of having to pay $10 for shipping and waiting 3 days, all I have to do is pay sales tax and wait overnight usually to have my parts. Plus it's a breeze to return anything and they price match Summit.