The point being the guys behind the counter are mechanically uneducated kids. If I call and ask for wheel cylinders, they ask disc or drum. The good ones say something along the lines of "doing the back brakes" or something to verify what I'm asking for, but they know the difference. The current generation of parts houses employ people that don't know where a carb goes.
I remember going in to Checkers and asking for a SBF starter. They asked for what engine. When I told them I had a 351w in my 71, they said that was impossible. I finally just said something like okay it's a Galaxy.
Exactly, if they can use a computer, they get hired. I miss the smart guys at parts stores. They are limited around here
i perfer the Ladies behind the counter. they have a want to learn mentality around here. i had one going through her...what year?...what make?...what motor?...what transmission and when it got to ...what color, she asked me ..."what the hell difference does that make?" none of the parts stores can remember my name...when i walk in i hear.. "it's Himagain"...(meaning...someone special)... ......
A lady here proved me wrong once... I was amazed, because I hadnt really dealt with her before, but figured she was just the average parts store guy that didnt know anything. We became good friends since
Ever went in and asked for anything for a 83 corvette? They dont list it. Ive called and asked for a high/low switch for the rearend of a 83 corvette many many times... they never catch on
Ought to see me trying to get anything at all for my '75 Fiat Spider. With the 302 swapped in, Chevy alternator and ignition, I had all kinds of fun getting parts for that car at Advance Auto, ordered stuff for 4 different cars. Plugs and wires for a '70 Mustang with a 302, Alternator and ignition module for a '78 Camaro with a 350, ignition coil for a '89 F150 with a 460, and the pick up in the Duraspark II distributor for a '84 Mustang with a 302. The guy said, man looks like you have a few projects? He looked at me like I was nuts when I told him it was all going on the same car, a '75 Fiat Spider.
Well, at least there are two parts store that I have used for years near me. The same guys have been working behind the counter as long as I have been going to them. Neither is a national chain store... both locally owned. I tried a local Schucks once - asked for an oil temp gauge and they said they didn't have one but they could order it. I said "order it". When it came in I noticed it was the same gauge as their water temp gauge - it just said oil instaed of water and it cost $20 more than the water temp. I went ahead and paid for it and told the manager that I wasn't amused. I told him I would never buy anything from their store again and neither would my friends. He must have thought that was fine.
When I went to UTI, we called Pepboys once and asked if we could get a driveshaft for an 06 Scion XB. The "expert" on the phone told me that he didn't have any in stock but he could send an employee to the junkyard to get one and quote me a price. I laughed so hard he hung up on me.
