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

[413]

A car guy I know with lots of cars, he. goes to the store for one part at a time, and he bitches about the dumb counter guys. I tell him, don't you have that stuff in stock? Tune up parts, filters, ALL gaskets, t-stat, etc. I sure do.

Kid I know needed help putting on a serp belt, I said get the belt there first. So I show up and get busy, the belt won't fit, well callback, turns out they sold him the hi-dollar belt for the DOHC hot rod engine. So he goes back to exchange and he says "this one was twice the price". Why? I ask, because it come with a "lifetime warranty". So I go back and get them to return it and sell it for normal price. They were just jerking this kids chain to get more money both times.

Most parts store buys are barely above burger flipping levels, they are not mechanics folks. Tho old timers that know the business are a different and extinct breed.

HELL YEs napa parts guys get a monthly bonus!

 

[michiganpat]

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

my 2011 originally used and spec'ed champion 446 copper plugs, and that's what I use, changing every ~30k miles....$1.97 ea on rock auto, so about $40 with shipping Iridium ones run $6-8ea on rock auto, FWIW....same plugs are 2-3X more expensive at local parts stores.....I'm 90% rock auto, unless it's a timing issue and I NEED the part THAT DAY

 

[mygasser]

when ngk first brought out the platinum tipped plugs (late 70's) i tried a set in my honda 400/4 despite them being twice the price. a week later they went back as i'd melted the tips off of 2 of them, i got 2 sets of the copper ones in exchange.
neil.

 

[4mulas]

I think they just don’t know any better. Used to be that parts store guys were also car guys. Not anymore. Even the new generation of speed shop counter workers don’t know what you’re talking about when it comes to cars older than a 1987 mustang….

 

[Ottmundr]

You don't know what you're missing!
You need to git yourself some of them Platinum-iridium superconductor splitfire whiz-bang white lightning plugs! They give you at least 5 hp per plug, and come with a Team Platinum-Iridium sticker to put on your fender, which adds another 3hp, because ScIeNcE!

I haven't replaced the plugs on my '16 scat charger yet. Bah humbug!

 

[B3422w5]

Th

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.


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!

Think that’s bad, don’t walk in and tell them you need wiper blades. They will grab the 40 dollar ones, not the 8 dollar ones.
Just like going into a mattress store, they aren’t going to show you a 38 dollar Army cot, you are going to get the 3100 dollar mattress set.
Look up what you want online, go in knowing what you want and how mitch it cost.
And ditch the 1500 dollar Brooks brothers suit before walking in the door

 

[Kern Dog]

I guess I'll stow away my gold and diamond pinky ring too...

 

[ProjectBazza]

I guess I'll stow away my gold and diamond pinky ring too...

 

[middleagecrisis]

Sad thing is parts store counter help don't get commission, only the manager on his yearly sales in the form of a bonus. They look up your application on the computer, which is why they ask irrelevant questions (does it have A/C?) and the most expensive parts are on the top of the list and go in descending order to the cheapest. Plus, they'd rather sell you what they have in stock, than order what they don't. I was an AutoShack (before they renamed to AutoZone) store manager years ago when parts were looked up on big row of catalogs. The experience level with regards to general automotive knowledge has sunk to new lows! As mentioned above, you're better off looking it up yourself and taking the part number with you.

 

[Lefty71]

Greg, they are literally trained with the following mindset..... "They will pay this much, why not more???"

 

[missing linc]

Fortunately there are still a couple decent people in the local auto parts stores here, but the numbers are getting thinner. One of them was hiring a while back, so I did have a brief conversation with the manager about the job and what it paid, not enough for me to change careers at this point, maybe in a couple more years when I no longer want to drive truck and deliver freight all day.

 

[340six]

I

when ngk first brought out the platinum tipped plugs (late 70's) i tried a set in my honda 400/4 despite them being twice the price. a week later they went back as i'd melted the tips off of 2 of them, i got 2 sets of the copper ones in exchange.
neil.

Have some of these. My buddy was manager at Western Auto and used to give me stuff. Salesman back then gave display and sample stuff.

 

[seabee]

Retail operations today have advanced point of sale systems that are closely monitored by managers usually up to the district level. Those managers have to show those numbers to their bosses and investors and come up with plans to increase average transaction sales via upsells, addons, etc..

When that scrutiny trickles down to the actual employee dealing with the customer those numbers calculate their actual worth in the eyes of "laptop managers" more than their customer service, knowledge, reliability, and so on.

 

[bcschief]

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.


View attachment 1716499271

They are taught that by Big Auto Parts.

 

[dmopar74]

I always take in the part numbers I want to the store because I know they're going to upsale otherwise. Same thing for tires, I don't know how many times iva asked for what was cheapest they had in stock, and they give me some insane price for michelins or something like that, when I've already checked online that they had another brand in stock for 1/3rd the price.

 

[Kern Dog]

Retail operations today have advanced point of sale systems that are closely monitored by managers usually up to the district level. Those managers have to show those numbers to their bosses and investors and come up with plans to increase average transaction sales via upsells, addons, etc..

When that scrutiny trickles down to the actual employee dealing with the customer those numbers calculate their actual worth in the eyes of "laptop managers" more than their customer service, knowledge, reliability, and so on.

You write like an engineer.
I see words there that probably make sense despite written in a cryptic manner.

I see that you list 1537 Paper Street. Is that a Fight Club reference?

 

[volaredon]

The ones I deal with usually swing the screen around so I can see it and I point and say "I want THAT one". I'm always asking what makes one version of the part I need. $40 and another of the same part $100. I am one I never get house brand unless they can tell me who really makes that part and/or tahts all they have and I'm in some kind of a bind and have to "get what they have".

 

[FlamesAreWicked]

When it comes to chain parts stores, I’ll go online and look to see if they even have what I want in stock. A lot of times they will give a nice discount for buying online and have it shipped to your house versus going into the store. That’s if it’s something I don’t need right then and can’t wait 1-2 days.

 

[seabee]

You write like an engineer.
I see words there that probably make sense despite written in a cryptic manner.

View attachment 1716499579

I see that you list 1537 Paper Street. Is that a Fight Club reference?

It is!

My uncryptic point is that the employees are closely monitored for upselling and when they don't perform to company expectations they are considered sub par.

That's why the one's with the manager name tags are constantly pushing fuel treatment, dielectric grease packs, etc..

 

[Kern Dog]

I like it when I use an obscure reference and someone actually gets it.
Clever and observant can make things interesting.

 

[junkyardhero]

I think they just don’t know any better. Used to be that parts store guys were also car guys. Not anymore. Even the new generation of speed shop counter workers don’t know what you’re talking about when it comes to cars older than a 1987 mustang….

what's a speed shop?

 

[RustyRatRod]

A car guy I know with lots of cars, he. goes to the store for one part at a time, and he bitches about the dumb counter guys. I tell him, don't you have that stuff in stock? Tune up parts, filters, ALL gaskets, t-stat, etc. I sure do.

Kid I know needed help putting on a serp belt, I said get the belt there first. So I show up and get busy, the belt won't fit, well callback, turns out they sold him the hi-dollar belt for the DOHC hot rod engine. So he goes back to exchange and he says "this one was twice the price". Why? I ask, because it come with a "lifetime warranty". So I go back and get them to return it and sell it for normal price. They were just jerking this kids chain to get more money both times.

Most parts store buys are barely above burger flipping levels, they are not mechanics folks. Tho old timers that know the business are a different and extinct breed.

HELL YEs napa parts guys get a monthly bonus!

Right! I keep things in stock here that I use regularly. Oil and filters, shop chemicals and other small parts. It's just retarded to make one trip at a time. Especially for us, since Gray is about 25 minutes away.

 

[Dan the man]

When I've went to my local auto parts store, once I tell them what I need they never have started out with the higher price parts. Parts are probably cheaper on line because of the volume of business that they do. As far as NAPA counter people getting bonuses, the one's I knew never did. Depending on the store location and ownership some were paid a hourly rate plus commission.