sad parts stores

[Willie dog]

How many of you on here know what a drag link socket is??

Having misplaced mine many years ago, I went to THREE different "chain" parts stores to get a new one.

One guy who worked there said "what's that" after I told him what I was looking for. I described it as a socket that looks like a big straight blade screwdriver on the end. He proceeded to tell me, "we have big screwdrivers, but our brand of tools are junk. "

The second place didn't know what one was either.

After the third place said they don't have any, I went home and MADE ONE!

True story I kid you not!

[gearhead204]

for some reason I'm not at all surprised! if you want another good laugh go to a hardware store and ask for some oakum, could you picture our grand parents going into a store and asking for the stuff they used to get and the blank faces that they would get in return. I feel your pain and it will only get worse, try to find tee gauges for setting injectors on a Detroit diesel, you might be surprised to find a box of hens teeth with less searching.

[theakerstwo]

There is not many drag links like that anymore

[Willie dog]

All that is true, but I figured the NAPA store I went to would know what one was.

[Mack man 1973]

I could go on for hours on personel in parts stores. I'll share a more recent one that happened to me I called my local napa store to get a starter for a ford e350 van 5.4 the guy on the phone asked me what an e 350 was , I said e stands for econoline and it is a van the next question was who makes that after in the beginning of the conversation I said ford e 350. Then he gets back on the phone and says they didn't make an e350 I only see e150 , I kindly told the guy I have one sitting here in front of me as well int he bay beside me I have an e 450 as well . He comes back with you looking for a starter drive ? I hung up the phone and called the store again and asked to talk to Dan the manager they said sure hang on I'll get him . He got on the phone and I said I don't mean to be rude but that new kid should not be answering telephone calls he should be back taping boxes or sweeping the floors . The one thing I have learned being a business owner is that common sense is not common anymore !,

[Willie dog]

My brother was looking for a fuel pump for his 64 amc rambler. He went to an auto zone and asked for one and the counter person said, "who makes AMC.?"

There are still some good parts stores and knowledgeable people who work there. You just gotta find them.

[Mack man 1973]

Love it

[Apple dog]

The next time your at a store watch the cashier try to count change. If the register don't tell them how much to give you back they are lost.

[Bigdogtrucker]

Sad for sure. I miss my old Napa, they had some knowledgeable people there...

[Freightrain]

LOL!!! Sad, but true.

I went to Autozone one day to get a new set of points for my '64 Galaxie. Ohhh, the tragic look I got from the young salesman. I had to tell him it was ignition parts. He'd never heard of it before.

I have a good connection at one of the Napa stores. My age, knows his shit and can get it right the first time. My local Azone guy knows my name now and says hello to me when I walk in. Pretty good guy(I'd say mid 50's) and takes care of me well.

[medicpelle]

I live in a small town and we have NAPA, AZone, and O'Reilly's. I think the combined IQ between the three is room temp at best when it comes to anything before 1990. If they can't pull it up in the computer then I'm wasting my time.

[Willie dog]

Things are a bit better since Al Gore invented the internet. If I can find a part number on something like an old grease seal or other parts I can search the web based on the manufacturer and part number. I usually have good results. I just have to wait for the big brown truck to show up after a few days.

[fxfymn]

NAPA - Never Any Parts Available. God how I miss the old time guys who you could show a part to and they would walk in back and come back with it.

Try one of the tool salesmen; Cornwell, Snap On , etc. There are also 114 listings for drag link sockets on eBay.

[medicpelle]

I'm with you Willie Dog. Thank goodness for the Internet. Funny I just thought it had porn on it for all those years.

[Gmerrill0516]

I'll never forget one trip I made years ago. There was a guy looking for parts for an F-100. The counter guy laughed at him and told him there were only F-150's and they never made an F-100...I guess they never made an F-1 either...One of the best parts counter people I ever knew was a woman who graduated a few years ahead of me in high school. She knew my name, gave me my uncle's discount and knew exactly what parts I was looking for every time...I miss her. If I remember correctly I had to buy an ignition switch for a 68 International Scout...in stock, cash and carry...try that today.

[Willie dog]

I'm with you Willie Dog. Thank goodness for the Internet. Funny I just thought it had porn on it for all those years.

WAIT! You mean there's porn on the internet? ?!!??

[41chevy]

The simplest things make buying auto parts fun. Went in a few weeks ago to the NAPA, the Auto Zone and Advanced Auto Parts on a quest for a few star washers. Ended up savaging some from my field of old trucks. Not ONE counter warmer knew what I was looking for and after I showed them an example it only confused them worse.

[j hancock]

There are two New England based parts store chains that I use. Both keep parts books stashed under the counter and still have counter people that know how to read them.

Also have good luck buying a lot of parts that are not race related from Summit Racing Equipment.

[medicpelle]

Yeah Willie I have seen some boobies on there before

[Freightrain]

Yes, I do A LOT of searching and getting parts numbers before I walk into a part store. Though many would still ask what color the vehicle and if it was a 4 door and if it had delay wipers. Really? That is how their computers set up searches. My local stores quit asking "are you sure" or "what does it fit" because they want to make sure I get the right part. I used to tell them "you don't want to know what it actually fits".

Boobies on the internet? Really? Is that anything like Winfall wimmin? OT do you know anything about this???????

[41chevy]

Yes, I do A LOT of searching and getting parts numbers before I walk into a part store. Though many would still ask what color the vehicle and if it was a 4 door and if it had delay wipers. Really? That is how their computers set up searches. My local stores quit asking "are you sure" or "what does it fit" because they want to make sure I get the right part. I used to tell them "you don't want to know what it actually fits".

Boobies on the internet? Really? Is that anything like Winfall wimmin? OT do you know anything about this???????

I went to NAPA for a 3" x 8 foot length of exhaust pipe. What is it for? I told him it was for my oil burner. Do you really need that info??

[Quickfarms]

Try asking for parts for a FT-900 or any military vehicle.

I do hate when they ask me all the information on the vehicle for a generic part.

[41chevy]

Try asking for parts for a FT-900 or any military vehicle.

I do hate when they ask me all the information on the vehicle for a generic part.

Pull in with my 1963 Corvan

[Willie dog]

Pull in with my 1963 Corvan

I wouldn't even attempt to........

[david wild]

Before Nalley in ATL. went out of the truck selling biz, I went to get a 13 speed shift knob, parts man said he needed vin # to my truck, left him piece of my mind and never went back, if your that stupid for a non vin part, you don't need my biz.