went to my local auto parts store and...

[Tippey764]

What can I say some people know their parts others dont hell maybe the cat working there must be new. Dont label him as a autoparts noob.

If he's new then he is a noob....

[TracieS]

Most of the parts store around here most of my friends work at so I don't go through that. But I have had to go threw it before and if they would have just gave Me what I wanted it would've saved me time and cussing out the store manager.

[ChampCoupe]

These autoparts stores have idiots working behind the counter, no offense to anyone that's works for these store. But the majority of them don't know a bolt from a nut.

[SOHC-FTW]

We had a set of springs delivered to the shop friday that we didn't even order lol. The only place around here that is any account is napa the rest stink.

[accord93racer]

Oh, so you are one of the morons we all hate, too. The kind of parts guy that asks engine size when looking up an instrument cluster bulb type.

Sometimes the computer prompts that question and you just ask what the computer prompts. Hell the parts system at NAPA will ask if a K1500 Chevy is 4 wheel drive when looking up certain parts.

I've worked in the parts industry for 9 years. Sometimes I ask stupid quesitons because I just read the prompts from the computer, normally it is with commercial customers and they just give me crap for it.

On the flip side there are a lot of shops and DIYers that have no idea what they are doing and get frustated.

[GeoffM]

Oh, so you are one of the morons we all hate, too. The kind of parts guy that asks engine size when looking up an instrument cluster bulb type.

Yep
That's me.
I do need to say my disclaimer though:
If you came in and asked me for that; unless you were very polite or
attractive, I would type in something that I knew would produce no results and
tell you to go to the dealer.

[wed3k]

what seperates my shop from other machine shops. other shops look up a bmw 4.4l v8 valve guides, find out that there are none available and refuse the order.

We find a custom guide or another application nad make them fit and put a hefty price tag on it. even with our price tag, it sure is cheaper than a 2000 dollar cylinder head. this is how money is made.

[i want my cb9]

most of my life ive worked at part stores and even managed them but now i go to them as a customer and yes some dont have a clue but im still respectfull, besides ive already done the research and i know what im looking for when i go in there, i needed a alternator recently for my wifes grandcaravan (ours) and this thing is loaded with options and has the 3.8 so needed the higher output style, kid kept on saying no the one we have is not going to work (the higher output) and its designed for people with bumpin systems, i kept my cool and said ill take it, then he started rattling off the return policy if i installed it i cant return for refund and blahh blahh blahh, < it worked out fine and went back to return the core and before the kid even opened the box blasted out if you installed we aint taking back. boy did he feel like a (DORK) after that lol. i still kept my cool during that whole ordeal.

[mugencivic4dr]

^^^thats how they all are (young kids) i just like rubbing it in their faces a tiny bit to show that they were wrong and maybe when the next cust comes along they can ask the right questions or just accept the fact that "the customer is always right" (even though i hate that motto/saying)

What can I say some people know their parts others dont hell maybe the cat working there must be new. Dont label him as a autoparts noob.

If he's new then he is a noob....

lol,

.
Chevy seems to be the exception.

its CHEBY'S not CHEVY'S lol

These autoparts stores have idiots working behind the counter, no offense to anyone that's works for these store. But the majority of them don't know a bolt from a nut.

i had this girl/lady that would always helped me out when i went in, i hated having her help me. before any starts their sexist/equal right rant, i dont mind a female helping me out at an autoparts store. i hate the fact that this lady was your typical female that generally doesnt know whats going on or know anything, and did not know anything thing about parts. she was hired just to fill in the spot needed to be filled in. after a few months she wasnt there any more

[wildBill83]

I've been sourcing parts for my H22A4 and when I go to parts stores and they ask me what car I'm working on I always tell them that it's irrelevant what car I'm working on, I want to see H22A components. Now I just tell them 94 and 97 prelude to skip the BS. If I told them 93 Accord with a 2.2L DOHC VTEC they would just look at me stupid.

[mugencivic4dr]

^^^you dont want to confuse them more than what they already are lol.

[Accrdwgnguy]

I've been sourcing parts for my H22A4 and when I go to parts stores and they ask me what car I'm working on I always tell them that it's irrelevant what car I'm working on, I want to see H22A components. Now I just tell them 94 and 97 prelude to skip the BS. If I told them 93 Accord with a 2.2L DOHC VTEC they would just look at me stupid.

Every parts database lists parts by year,make,model, not by engine family. A 1993 Accord didn't come with a 2.2L DOHC VTEC engine, how is your average parts jockey supposed to find parts for a car that didn't exist from the factory? Even if you went to the Honda parts counter and asked for an H22A4 water pump, you would get a funny look there too almost guaranteed, unless the guy plays with Hondas in his offtime. They are out there, obviously but your typical parts guy was no idea what H22A4 refers to.

[crazymikey]

i know exactly what you're talking about




dont even get me started on the dealers, my wifes brothers work in the parts department at their local dealer and i dont understand how they know nothing about cars. and they have a combined of 30yrs of "parts" experiance

lol, I work at a dealership. I'm the lot manager/detailer. My service manager deals with all the customers and the parts and inventory and everything. He HATES dealing with aftermarket stuff because it's aftermarket and custom and wasn't for the vehicle from the factory so it's not OEM and not in our system etc etc etc.

He has now left me in charge of being the "aftermarket specialist". So now I get dragged away from whatever I'm doing sometimes to talk to customers about aftermarket stuff, or I have to end up installing/repairing aftermarket stuff that even our licenced tech won't touch.

A few weeks ago I had to completely reinstall and rewire a terrible botched job of LED daytime running lights, harness and HID projectors/halo retrofit in a 2007 Mitsubishi Endeavor. I spent 4 hours on it. Our tech had no idea where to even start and he's been doing it for 25 years.

So yeah. Sometimes it's just easier to do things yourself, even when there's someone there who is supposed to help.