The O'Reilly factor

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Flatlander

Flatlander

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You know what I'm talking about. When you walk into a parts store and the staff has that 'deer in the headlights' look, you help them look-up and order the part your needing, and when you go back it's the wrong part 'cuz they keyed it in wrong. :banghead:
 
All depends on the people working behind the counter (and ultimately the manager). I've got one O'Reilly that's 10 minutes from my house. Every time I go there they either don't have the part they said they did, or something else happens to sour me on that store, so I won't do busines at that store. Another O'Reilly that's about 20 minutes from the house is just the opposite, they have their act together. I usually go to the same parts store (Advanced Auto Parts), not because their always the cheapest, but because the frustration factor is much lower and they usually have the parts. Do business with the stores with the best people.
 
Since there are no O'Reilly's in my area can't speak for them but NAPA, Autozone and Advanced Auto all have on-line parts books that allows you to look up what you want yourself. The NAPA and Advance Auto sites even have pictures to help you decide if it's the correct part. And Autozone lets you send a pick list to the local store so they have them on the counter when you get there.

With our cars being so old I do a lot of cross referencing to other years and models to see whats what before I purchase anything. I almost always walk in with the part number of what I want. Saves a lot of frustration.
 

Heres the problem with most auto parts stores today!

#1 Most are store chained owned. The independant owners are dropping like flys. We as the buying public are the main cause for this! When its something thats hard to find or we need tech support, we go running to that independant store. Most of these owners have been doing this for years. When we need something common we go to the chain stores! It would seem the buying public has no loyalty to the guy who just help us out of a major jam.

#2 All these chained owned stores seem to set up like wal-mart. They only carry the fast moving parts, no training for the counter help, if its not in the computor we can't get it, Whats a catalog? , lack of knowledge, every thing packaged for convenience, ala no bolt bins or brass fittings, etc. If you need six bolts, you have to buy 2 pkg. of 5 to get them. If they are out of the second pkg., they will have it on the tuesday stock order.

#3 Lastly, these chain stores do a job, not a great one. They get a return on their investment, but are they here to really serv you or here to just get your money. If they piss you off, do you go back to them again. Do they know you will be back? Are you a valued customer? Do they care if you come back or not?

#4 The bottom line, SUPPORT THE GUY WHO GETS YOU OUT OF THAT JAM!
 
I usually look up online what I want... Then give the parts guy a part #. Dosent matter Autozone, NAPA, Discount... If you give them the right # the part will be right... do a little homework. Saves a second trip.. They can mostly interchange #'s, though Autozone couldnt convert a Napa #36531 Rear brake hose to anything, Discount did it easily.. It's coming tommorow morning 7:30 AM. BTW, This hose (should) work on a Duster with S/S Springs.
 
one thing i liked about my o'reilly is that they can get the parts normaly by the next business day :headbang: thats really nice, and the guys around here are pretty helpfull, compaird to sturdevants, do you guys have a thermostate for a 89 318, no they dont make them, what! they have made 318s for 40 years or so :scratch: , god i hate getting the new guy when the rest just stand around
 
My local O'Reilly's lost their manager to NAPA, now he just works behind the counter. I asked him if it was a horizontal or vertical move, he said definitely vertical. We have a very good NAPA. Anywhooo, thought it a good play on words. :)
 
mikedevore said:
Heres the problem with most auto parts stores today!

#1 Most are store chained owned. The independant owners are dropping like flys. We as the buying public are the main cause for this! When its something thats hard to find or we need tech support, we go running to that independant store. Most of these owners have been doing this for years. When we need something common we go to the chain stores! It would seem the buying public has no loyalty to the guy who just help us out of a major jam.

#2 All these chained owned stores seem to set up like wal-mart. They only carry the fast moving parts, no training for the counter help, if its not in the computor we can't get it, Whats a catalog? , lack of knowledge, every thing packaged for convenience, ala no bolt bins or brass fittings, etc. If you need six bolts, you have to buy 2 pkg. of 5 to get them. If they are out of the second pkg., they will have it on the tuesday stock order.

#3 Lastly, these chain stores do a job, not a great one. They get a return on their investment, but are they here to really serv you or here to just get your money. If they piss you off, do you go back to them again. Do they know you will be back? Are you a valued customer? Do they care if you come back or not?

#4 The bottom line, SUPPORT THE GUY WHO GETS YOU OUT OF THAT JAM!
Click to expand...

I do, one of those Knowledgable people is the Manager at the
East Greenbush Advance Auto Parts store.

His name is Joe H. he is about 50 years old, about 6'2" and around 350 lbs,
and he knows his Autoparts crapp.

I have been helped by this man, for over 25 years, and was really glad when he moved to the store close to me.

I recently needed an Oil filler/vent cap, for the 1964-65 style 273 Valve covers, and he walked in the back, without looking anything up, on the copmuter; and came up front with a Stant cap, {Part Number: 11061}
he said, this fits like 85% of the Old cars;
and be Sure to paint it, its unpainted, and will rust in a month, if you don't.

There is another older Man at the Napa on Cental Ave in Albany,NY,
named Milt, he is really good too.

11061.jpg
 
I guess Im lucky - there are two, well run, autoparts stores in town, a carquest and a local independant. Both are very competent. I wont buy oil, fliters, or plugs from them too much $, but I will buy most other hard parts there. Oil plugs and filters are about all the chain stores are good for - Ive found. Ive recently discovered the napa website, its an excellent source of cross referencing parts etc., but I have no napa's as close as the others.
 
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