Parts store dudes automatically defaulting to the MOST expensive parts they have.....

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Kern Dog

Kern Dog

Build your car to handle.
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What the heck, man?
Is there something about my face that projects a false impression of affluence? Does daily showering and a full set of teeth somehow lead them to aim for the diamond/platinum parts?
Spark plugs.
Come on, man.....does a beater 67 Dart really need platinum or iridium spark plugs? Do I need to spend ten bucks apiece when the 360 in the car features the same plug threads dating back to 1967?
Sure, I'm swapping in a 1990 roller 360 but it isn't turbocharged, I have no blower on it, I won't be running nitrous.
Same thing happens when I have bought plugs for my 2007 truck. The truck was built and shipped with basic copper core plugs, under $5 apiece yet unless I specify the cheaper plugs, they bring out some bullshit fancy set and Christ....the late model Hemis take 16 of them.


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WTF Greg? Look up what you want and go to the parts store. Buy them if they have them or order them if they don't. The guy is probably on commission and he was trying to upsell you.
 
Wait till you change some in a modern Hemi. 16 of them bad boys cost about $200 and all day takin crap of the top just to get to look at em. That was @ 100,000 miles. And they still looked like new. I'm over 200,000 now and not gonna change them . till 300
 
Oh yeah, at 415,000 miles, I've changed the plugs in my truck a few times. It got worse in the 2009 and later trucks with the engine tucked in even further than my 2007. I can change the plugs in about 90 minutes and even then, I'm embarrassed. Shoot, man....Old cars are easy!

toolmanmike said:
WTF Greg? Look up what you want and go to the parts store. Buy them if they have them or order them if they don't. The guy is probably on commission and he was trying to upsell you.
Click to expand...

This was a NAPA store, I don't think they are paid on commission but I don't know for certain.
 
Kern Dog said:
What the heck, man?
Is there something about my face that projects a false impression of affluence? Does daily showering and a full set of teeth somehow lead them to aim for the diamond/platinum parts?
Spark plugs.
Come on, man.....does a beater 67 Dart really need platinum or iridium spark plugs? Do I need to spend ten bucks apiece when the 360 in the car features the same plug threads dating back to 1967?
Sure, I'm swapping in a 1990 roller 360 but it isn't turbocharged, I have no blower on it, I won't be running nitrous.
Same thing happens when I have bought plugs for my 2007 truck. The truck was built and shipped with basic copper core plugs, under $5 apiece yet unless I specify the cheaper plugs, they bring out some bullshit fancy set and Christ....the late model Hemis take 16 of them.


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Granite Bay refers to an affluent suburban community in Placer County, California, known for luxury homes, excellent schools (Eureka Union), proximity to Folsom Lake for recreation, and a quiet, family-oriented atmosphere. It's a wealthy area near Sacramento, offering boating, biking, and a mix of estates and suburban living, though it lacks nightlife and faces wildfire insurance challenges. The name also applies to the Granite Basin Recreation Area near Prescott, Arizona, known for hiking trails and Granite Basin Lake.

Maybe there is something wrong with the description for where you live?
 
But duuude, the computer don't list no 360 for a '67 Dart...

Just wait until you tell them you need plugs for a '97 ram 2500 with a 5.9, and they tell you "Cummins don't have spark plugs"... EEAAGH!
 
I don't leave the house on the way to a parts store without a part number and phone confirmation that it is in stock.
66fyssh said:
Yup, order and pay online, then just pick them up!!
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Hell I just have them shipped to the house now. Every time I show up with part number in hand or an online order for pickup there is some dinosaur (no offense Kern Dog) doing the back n forth with the counter guy/gal for 20 minutes.
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Thanks, I don't either. I figured when I asked for plugs, I'd be told of the standard plugs that came in these engines. I forgot that their computers default to the high end stuff.

xLURKxDOGx said:
Granite Bay refers to an affluent suburban community in Placer County, California, known for luxury homes, excellent schools (Eureka Union), proximity to Folsom Lake for recreation, and a quiet, family-oriented atmosphere. It's a wealthy area near Sacramento, offering boating, biking, and a mix of estates and suburban living, though it lacks nightlife and faces wildfire insurance challenges. The name also applies to the Granite Basin Recreation Area near Prescott, Arizona, known for hiking trails and Granite Basin Lake.

Maybe there is something wrong with the description for where you live?
Click to expand...
No, that fits the description of my neighborhood. I'm a mile from the lake, no crime, million and multi-million dollar houses and all of what is listed above. There are also trailer parks although they are pretty nice.
No, I don't live in a mansion, I don't wear a suit and tie to buy car parts either!
 

Look spark plugs up on the O'Reilly site for example. They default the highest price ones first. It's common practice. At the stores, their computers do the same thing. They see what their computers show them in that order, so that's how they try to sell. Most of them make barely above minimum wage and know nothing about automobiles. I look all my stuff up, find my own part numbers and go in and either get them or order them.
 
Kern Dog said:
Thanks, I don't either. I figured when I asked for plugs, I'd be told of the standard plugs that came in these engines. I forgot that their computers default to the high end stuff.
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Even if the computers didn't default the highest price, they wouldn't know the difference between a "standard" or a "high end" plug. That kinda knowledge ain't in their wheelhouse.
 
That is true.
I was under the assumption once that the guys at the NAPA store knew cars. I asked a guy once Have you ever used this stuff?
Uhh, I actually don't work on cars.

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Kern Dog said:
Is there something about my face that projects a false impression of affluence? Does daily showering and a full set of teeth somehow lead them to aim for the diamond/platinum parts?
Click to expand...
Your communication skills on this forum are excellent and you are very knowledgeable on many automobile facets, so yes, you probably do come across as somebody with money to some of those guys.
 
Back in the day when we raced karts an iridium fine tip plug was about 35 bucks and they used to fowl all the time sometimes while push starting even on roll up laps. A fat tip normal plug was $2.50 and they never failed and after much testing we never found a power boost with these iridium plugs so we just ran the $2.50 plugs and never had an issue.
 
With the "supposed" parts people today you get the "deer in the headlight" look if it's not in the computer. In days "way" past, you could strike up a conversation with your local parts guy and explain the high points of your build and usually get very close to what you were looking for. "GOOD OLD TIME PARTS PEOPLE" are a dying breed, there are still a few of the out there but they are usually relegated to the commercial parts desk or secreted away in the back of the store. I have enough knowledge to look my stuff up on the internet and get what I want from the "keyboard" warriors in the stores today. If I can't, I bite the bullet and order from one of the suppliers on the 'net and wait for it to be delivered.
 
I thought about this few month's ago when we had a spark plug discussion.
I assume that most new cars have platinum or better. I know my 2008 came factory with um. That's a new car to me.
That's what the idiot Parts Store Monkeys are getting most. Plugs that are going into a computer controlled fuel injection vehicle. And last 100K or more.
But our old cars were made to get oil and plugs often. They are completely different and only makes sense to use copper.
So the parts guys recommend what is today's norm.

For our cars I use Autolite, NGK or Champions. When on sale I grab um. So I have common ones on the self.
Same plugs in my home generator, lawn mower, edger as goes in a small block Mopar, Chevy or Ford. Andvis Same number listed for Same big 3 stroker.
Have not paid over $1.59 each.
Few times grabbed RockAuto at a buck each for Autolite copper.
This summer few guys I know in my area will say man my mower needs something and it will just get one of my plugs, freshly swapped oil and a new tank of gas with Berrymans B-12 and live to fight another day. (Summer)
If it's common it should already be on your shelf when on sale. Add some to your next order. Ordering brakes ect check on cheap plugs.
 
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