Another parts retailer bites the dust

[GT289]

Advance Auto just bought out BWP Distributors/Carquest.
Apparently this happened on Wednesday (2nd). Not in the
media yet and I haven't seen an official press release.
The manufacturer I work for does a lot of business with
Carquest. (or maybe that's "did" a lot of business)

[ScottsGT]

I was at Auto Zone last night and the guy was telling me that Advance was being bought out.
Might be a good thing considering the pricing structure at Carquest. Went to buy a pinion bearing for a Samurai and they wanted $75 for it. I waited a day for Advanced to get it for $12 or $15
Modern auto parts stores are all based on what sells, and only what sells. Forget carrying the automotive hardware parts bins anymore, O ring assortments, body or brake line clips.

I really miss the old mom and pop parts stores.

[Maxum96]

Originally Posted by ScottsGT

Forget carrying the automotive hardware parts bins anymore, O ring assortments, body or brake line clips.
I really miss the old mom and pop parts stores.

No sh*t!

[GT289]

Originally Posted by ScottsGT

Modern auto parts stores are all based on what sells, and only what sells. Forget carrying the automotive hardware parts bins anymore, O ring assortments, body or brake line clips.

I really miss the old mom and pop parts stores.

It's now all based on "velocity" movement. How many turns the store stock
can do determines what they carry.

[Husky44]

That stinks! I love my local Car Quest store. We're getting an Auto Zone built across the street from it. It's kinda weird--Eagle River is a small town, and I already have an O'Reillys, a NAPA, and a Car Quest all within one mile on the same street. Why Auto Zone thought it'd be a good idea to build right across the same street within that same mile is beyond me.

Don't know about the rest of the world, but here the Car Quest is like a Mom and Pop. Same guy is always there, and he knows parts. Not true with the other big chains. Had both of them look at me like I had three eyeballs when I asked for braided stainless steel fuel hose. CQ didn't have it either, but he knew exactly what I was talking about.

[HoustonGlock]

Down here in south Texas we call auto zone Vato Zone, because that's generally who works there and usually don't have a clue about any old car if it doesn't fit their ricer honda, they don't know what to do.

No offence to anyone here if they work there and do have a clue, then they are definitely an exception, not the rule.

[sixtysevenGTconv]

Here in southern NH I have lots of choices. Besides what I call a mom/pop store, Robbins Auto parts which I can use my sons ~20% off, I have several others to pick from. Advance, NAPA,V.I.P., Autozone, PEP Boys. For a part & job I don't wanna do twice, I always pick the mom/pop store same 4 guys for years and know there stuff.

[RobReam]

This has been in the works for some time.
Exclusive: Parts retailer Carquest explores $2 billion sale - sources | Reuters

[mjb1032]

If a retailer feels it can lure enough customers from the existing stores because of its profit margin from its imported products it will open right next door and put them out of business.

Walmart and Lowes are two notorious ones.

A few towns away there's a top-notch lumber yard, Cape Cod Lumber... huge place, they carry everything, indoor show rooms for doors and windows, kitchens, you name it. Been there since 1958

Lowes put a store right across the street...which sucks.
IMO the town should not have allowed it, but I'm not sure if they legally could have blocked it.
Last time I was in the area CCL was still open, but the Lowes parking lot was loaded with cars.

[tx65coupe]

I miss the local independent auto parts stores too.

I agree about some of the pricing at Car Quest, they do offer quite a few things that most other pars stores don't though. I hope they didn't get bought out.

[yelostang]

Who bought who?? CarQuest bought Advance...........or Advance bought Carquest??

[Roddster]

They are all the same. Auto zone, O'reilly's, Advanced, Pep Boys, ALL THE SAME!
If you have the old type - guys know what you want, have the good stuff along with the cheap crap, well then. Don't go anywhere else!
NAPA: Love you guys but seems the stores stay open for about a year and a half around here.
Walmart: best place to buy oil. Sorry, it's a fact.

[GT289]

Originally Posted by yelostang

Who bought who?? CarQuest bought Advance...........or Advance bought Carquest??

Like I said in my original post, Advance bought out Carquest.

It definitely gets them into most of the areas in the US where they aren't
present right now. (following Oreilly's expansion model basically when they
bought out CSK)

[88cougargt]

Originally Posted by HoustonGlock

Down here in south Texas we call auto zone Vato Zone, because that's generally who works there and usually don't have a clue about any old car if it doesn't fit their ricer honda, they don't know what to do.

No offence to anyone here if they work there and do have a clue, then they are definitely an exception, not the rule.

I used to work at an AZ (up north). It was the best (low paying) jobs I've ever had. I'm fairly car savy and would work with someone to find the right part. Even if it involved bringing out half my stock on a bench and picking through each comparing.

One time a guy walked in with a battery. I checked it and it wouldn't hold a charge. So he bought a new one and I offered it install it. He said his car had died about 4 miles down and he was going to walk back to it. I took my break, and drove him down to his car. We got it back to AZ and I checked the alt and it was fried. I helped him change it out in the lot.

Turns out he was halfway on a 1000 mile car trip to see his kids after his wife divorced him. He was exceptionally grateful and tried to tip me. I let him buy me a soda instead.

At the 24hr store I worked at we had tons of people down on their luck. We were in a somewhat shady part of town. Usually people working 16hr shifts trying to make ends meet. Then they get off work and their 86 towncar won't start.

I have lots of these stores and the reason I said it was the best job ever is I was basically paid to help people. It's a shame that more people don't recognize that opportunity to learn and be helpful.

I'm an engineer now and make 10x as much but I still miss those days.

Here are reasons the stores are so ****ty.
1. I was the only one in the store trained on all the diagnostic equpt. Nobody else would get trained (they paid you to do it).
2. They hired anyone. Even people who knew almost nothing about cars.
3. Most people are lazy and self centered. They only do the minimum to get their next check so they can spend it on themselves.
4. Most think there is a Macho aspect to working at a car parts store. They learn to act and talk like Greasy Al from the Pick-N-Pull. This is an ignorant way to go through life.
5. The stores have definitely clamped down on parts availability. I used to carry all sorts of stuff (sheet gasket, Plastigauge, assembly lube, ball hones...) but most techs didn't know what they were or how they worked and would just say "we don't carry that". That stuff has gone away since the crash.
6. MAKE THEM ORDER YOU THE RIGHT PART. Can't stress this enough. If they tell you they don't have it in store they are supposed to order it from the hub. It can usually be there the same day! You can even phone in an order and have it delivered to your work by the commercial driver.
7. If you know it is obscure, look the part up before you go and just hand them a PN and tell them what it is. Remember, chances are, they do not have the techsavy you do.
8. Valucraft parts are crap. Not uncommon for 3 or 4 out of every pallet of alternators and starters tp be bad out of the box. I tested them ALL before I sold them to a customer. Go for name brands whenever you can.

This is not a defense of AZ. Just my view of it. They have definatley gone down hill and I have had my fill of our local store's crap. Now I typically got to he O'reilly's near my house because they have 3 guys who are helpful and know what they are doing (typically). I buy most of my suspension and routine maintenance parts from rock auto since I can pick Moog, raybestos, etc.

-D

[joe69]

Our local Carquest is like a Mom & Pop store. They have been under several names over the years, Autopro, Big A, and now Carquest. One of the counter guys has been there at least since the mid 80's. He's very knowledgeable. They have a bunch of drawers of misc hardware, core plugs, brushes, bushings, etc, etc. They even have their own machine shop on site. I hope this doesn't ruin this store.

Joe