Buying quality parts becoming impossible.

I learned that lesson a few years ago. Alternator went out on girlfriends car. Sunday, and she needs her car for her job on Monday. Closest part store open on Sunday is an O'Reilly 25 miles away. I get one, get back, put it on, no good. Took it back to get replaced. They brought one out, and I told them to check it first. I didn't want to make another 50 mile round trip, The 3'rd one they checked worked.
Most of the time it's like pulling teeth to get them to check a new one. They are like , it's new and I'm like I don't care. Putting a starter in an a body with headers really made me question how working on an older car would be easier than these newer ones