Young guys at the auto parts store

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I went into Radioshack the other day to get some parts for my rotary phone and they didn't know what I was talking about! Kids these days!
 
My Autozone has a good manager. He builds engines. I've made the acquaintance. He know me and what I'm doing. And I don't eat up his counter help's time looking for things.
I have found that for many things I need to do my homework.
All the chains I deal with now have what parts they can get on the net.
If I need a sending unit for example, I'll find the part number on the net before I go in. This not only assures I will get the right thing (because it usually has to be ordered), but it saves counter time for "the help", and me.
Some times I've gone in the parts store with a number and it simply isn't in their computer system. Garbage in garbage out.

Otherwise one will get the dreaded "What year/car/engine, etc".
Oh no, it's not even a stock car anymore. I just tell them it's a custom application.
 
Most auto stores have good web sites to look up part #s. I get he number and then call the store.
I try to help the young folks working behind the counter. You can't expect a kid to have knowledge of 40-50 year old parts.
I give them credit for at least working and trying to make it on their own.
 
Tadams said:
I went into the local Napa
I was asks who made a Barracuda, they weren't familiar with that name and couldn't find it in the book. I told him to look for Valiant and the Barracuda is listed as a sub model. He wasn't sure what a Valiant was either
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I called aerospace component and the kid didn't know if their 350 gph fuel pump was compatible with E 85
 
To be fair, I see the same thing from the other side of the counter. I work in industrial/ag supply. Bearings, hydraulics, etc. I've got a million stories of customers and some of the **** that comes out of their mouth would make you shake your head.

Basic story? Guy comes in, looking for a bearing. Knows the shaft size, outside, etc. So I ask him:

"Set screw or eccentric lock collar type"
Blank stare
"Does it got two set screws at a 45 or 90* angle? Or does it have a little collar that comes off?"
"OH the collar kind"

Go to the shelf. Get it. Set it on the counter. I'm punching it up, he's opening the box and looking at it. The eccentric lock collar bearing is just that. A collar that has an "eccentric" or "cam" style lock. Spin it around the shaft, the two cams mate, hit it with a drift - Done. He starts spinning the collar around.

"This ones broken, it won't lock"
My turn for a blank stare - "Yeah, it won't lock without a shaft in there...."
"OH duh"

And on my story scale, that's about a 2/10. Ask me about the hutterite who can "spin" his hand at "exactly" 411 RPM.
 
I have went to our local (major chain) parts store asking for something I've seen in their chains web site and they couldn't find it on their computer. They explained that their computer system was pretty sorry compared to the web site. They were pretty darn good parts guys but the ownership left a lot to be desired.
Yote
 
Lustle said:
To be fair, I see the same thing from the other side of the counter. I work in industrial/ag supply. Bearings, hydraulics, etc. I've got a million stories of customers and some of the **** that comes out of their mouth would make you shake your head.

Basic story? Guy comes in, looking for a bearing. Knows the shaft size, outside, etc. So I ask him:

"Set screw or eccentric lock collar type"
Blank stare
"Does it got two set screws at a 45 or 90* angle? Or does it have a little collar that comes off?"
"OH the collar kind"

Go to the shelf. Get it. Set it on the counter. I'm punching it up, he's opening the box and looking at it. The eccentric lock collar bearing is just that. A collar that has an "eccentric" or "cam" style lock. Spin it around the shaft, the two cams mate, hit it with a drift - Done. He starts spinning the collar around.

"This ones broken, it won't lock"
My turn for a blank stare - "Yeah, it won't lock without a shaft in there...."
"OH duh"

And on my story scale, that's about a 2/10. Ask me about the hutterite who can "spin" his hand at "exactly" 411 RPM.
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I used to work in a big store in this town, we sold all kinds of industrial drive components. Bearings, sprockets and chain, sheaves and taper lock products. (Main line was Browning) We had Gates industrial belts all the way around the roofline of the store. Automotive, fractional, A, B and C belts, and a few special ones. Logging chokers and riggin components. Pipe fittings and made hydraulic hoses. We sold and repaired welders, sold popular heavy truck products along with auto parts and janitorial supplies. And, the boss started a nice fastener store the last few years.
 
This sounds like a doozie.

And on my story scale, that's about a 2/10. Ask me about the hutterite who can "spin" his hand at "exactly" 411 RPM.[/QUOTE]
 
My local Napa store in my small town is also the local BBQ/Smoker store. I've gone in asking for parts and the guy(owner) has tried to sell me a BBQ everytime. I just skip him now and drive the 20 minute's into the city my town is a suburb of.

Canadian Tire here sucks as well. I've gone looking for small parts and been told to check plumbing or electric sections.

Riddler
 
All generations have their own specialities. When we oldsters have trouble with our cell phones, we go ask someone under 30.
 
g413 said:
All generations have their own specialities. When we oldsters have trouble with our cell phones, we go ask someone under 30.
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X30! I handed a youngster a cordless phone the other day since he did not get cell service here, He could not figure it out!
 
lucky here. 95% of their employees have been there years. occasional new person at some stores, ie O reilly, napa... local owner bumper t o bumper...... one youinger guy has finally remember barracuda is a plymouth but really a good young guy that tries.

NO I rarely ever BUY fast food!!!!!!!! too scared!!!
 
In ,a weird twist: The guy that taught me Mopar,works as an a O'Reilly employee..... He was hurt ,doing commercial A.C./HVAC work. The store manager was actually smart enough (car guy,himself...Time spent at Baylands...) ,to hire a experienced hot rodder....I actually,was impressed.
 
This discussin has taken place for ages and will continue. I remember when I was 18. I didn't have a clue about cars made before 1955. Let's face it, we are getting older. Next time you encounter a clueless counter person educate them.
 
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dart4forte said:
This discussin has taken place for ages and will continue. I remember when I was 18. I didn't have a clue about cars made before 1955. Let's face it, we are getting older. Next time you encounter a clueless counter person educate them.
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"This younger generation is as smart and capable as we were at their age"-said no generation ever.
 
Yes they are but that doesn't make them conversant with the knowledge that we have. It's a shame the kids are not taught to use books, instead they immediately go to the machine. It's a greater shame that parts houses overall don't have the old parts manuals on hand.
 
I've been joking for years that I should write a book about working in the auto parts business. Problem is, some of the stories are so bizarre, nobody who hasn't been there would believe it.
 
dart4forte said:
Yes they are but that doesn't make them conversant with the knowledge that we have. It's a shame the kids are not taught to use books, instead they immediately go to the machine. It's a greater shame that parts houses overall don't have the old parts manuals on hand.
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Personally, I am glad the books are gone. Few things are worse than walking into a parts store with my part#, and screenshot of the part, and verifying online or by phone it is in stock to only get stuck behind some fudd who has bellied up to the counter asking for some random ancient thingamajig while the parts guy thumbs through a massive book.
 
i had one of our new hires at work looking for a bucket of pneumatic fluid a few weeks ago. i let him go all day until i finnaly told him it was just an empty bucket.
 
seabee said:
Personally, I am glad the books are gone. Few things are worse than walking into a parts store with my part#, and screenshot of the part, and verifying online or by phone it is in stock to only get stuck behind some fudd who has bellied up to the counter asking for some random ancient thingamajig while the parts guy thumbs through a massive book.
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??REALLY?? Is that what you want to go with, here?
 
We have a couple of young guys at our store, but I have to admit, they are open to correction, learning new stuff and raggin on pretty well. We have one guy that's about 10 years older than I am and then me as the senior crew. We call ourselves the handicapped crew, because he has a fake leg and I have a fake eye. lol We actually just scored a perfect score for every category corporate looks for. We were the only store in our district to do it. The main problem I see with young guys is they are impatient. They fly off the handle to quickly and assume too much. But that can be taught out over time if they are serious about it.
 
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