Advance Auto Parts to close 700+ stores.

[eljefino]

The closing stores are probably duplicative ones from when they absorbed CarQuest, competing in what they consider the same market areas.

O'Reilly's has been surprisingly amazing, they have all the dumb little adapters and fittings that make cobbling something together possible. They moved in here about a decade back.

 

[joekingcorvette]

If prices are too high consumers go elsewhere and many are buying parts online too. Most people know when they will need an oil filter, plugs, or an air filter.

 

[Owen Lucas]

Tool clearance incoming?

 

[Tdbo]

They've been raping their customers for a long time now

Ever since the CarQuest purchase.
Prices went sky high, discounts became minimal.
They have made some horrible business decisions, like, for instance, paying hundreds of millions of dollars for a name ("Diehard".)
The amortization of that cost across their entire line adds needless cost and a loss of value to the consumer.
I remember pricing the cost of a battery after that change.
I ended up buying the best battery at NAPA $80.00 cheaper than a silver at AAP.
I can't even remember the last time I was in an AAP, even though we have two and a distribution center in town.
Even Auto Zone seems to do a better job. I had a good experience last time I was in one.
Anymore, NAPA is my first stop.

 

[Torrid]

I hope my local one doesn't close. I dump my used oil and buy overpriced onesy-twosy hand tools there.

Do AutoZone and O'Reilly take used oil? I've never asked mine.

Yeah they both do. I use O’Reilly’s for my oil dumps.

 

[Fordiesel69]

2023 and 2024 are record years for me needing a part in the middle of the repair. Really annoying..

 

[Kurtatron]

The future’s online shipping. I don’t see this business model thriving decades in the future. Maybe the online retailers will use them primarily as parts holding and shipping outposts, secondarily as retail outlets.

 

[zzyzzx]

I could see them doing better with fewer locations that have a better variety of parts. You might have to drive across town, but it's going to be worth it.

 

[thastinger]

Just this past weekend, I paid twice as much per NGK plug at AZ than I could have got them from RA for...but I wasn't that upset because it needed to be done and I had a couple hour opening to do it in, so I needed the plugs that day. I paid for the immediate gratification and didn't mind doing it that much.

 

[wavinwayne]

Yeah they both do. I use O’Reilly’s for my oil dumps.

Roger that. As long as I have a place to dump my oil, AAP can go away and I'll say good riddance. The only reason I ever buy stuff there is as a courtesy for letting me dump my oil. The employees don't know their elbows from their

 

[SkeeterReaper]

I'm not an AAP fan but it seems like every brick & mortar store closing is replaced with another questionable online alternative.

I shop online just like most of you but I suspect that we will not be happy when running down to our local auto parts store is no longer an option.

When you need that part ASAP they sure come in handy.
Warranty-ing online parts is almost non-existent for online retailers.
I tried to warranty some dorman parts I bought from Amazon, they have a special number for you to call for amazon purchases, hoops to jump through, waited on a return email that never came, no record of me ever contacting them.....typical run around so you"ll give up, which I did.

 

[Dave Hess]

AAP near my house is good if I go there as soon as they open.
If you go during a busy time the employees are very slow.

Luckily I only go to AAP when I need a car battery.

Here in Florida there’s so many AAP stores, almost like Walgreens.

 

[97prizm]

Agreed.

Something as simple as spark plugs for my truck

NGK Laser Iridium 92145

Advance: $13.49
Rock Auto: $6.54

Literally half the price, plus I've got 16 of them. And how many people need spark plugs in a pinch that would warrant going to a store to pick them up.

Oil is another catastrophe. $10-15/5qt for the exact same oil as Walmart. Think what you want, but why would you waste money. Walmart oil is perfectly fine.

My local aap always seems to have decent deals and coupons. However a few times the coupon discount is order online for a store pick up for some reason. Are they any more expensive than Autozone or O'Reilly's or Napa? Some things are nice to get in store vs have to ship it back if it doesn't fit. My local Napa is very industrial and dark. They did however order specialty parts for my rx-7.

 

[Elkins45]

The closest town to me of any size (28k) is Frankfort. On the east side there’s an Advance, Auto Zone and O’Reilly within a half mile of each other. Six miles away on the west side there’s an Advance, Auto Zone and NAPA within a half mile of each other. That town doesn’t need all six of those stores.

 

[brandon9715]

AAP is the only shop in town in the village I live in. Hoping it doesn’t close.

 

[Chris142]

They took over the pep boys near me. Prices went skyhigh. I have been in that store 3x and was the only customer in there. Too bad for the employees as they will have to find another job In Californias failing economy.

 

[BISCUT]

No great loss, their prices suck as well as the service.

IME they are a collegiate case study in lackluster management on a large scale.

 

[wemay]

I hope my local one doesn't close. I dump my used oil and buy overpriced onesy-twosy hand tools there.

Do AutoZone and O'Reilly take used oil? I've never asked mine.

I take mine to AZone all the time. I also find AZone to be more modern and bright inside. The AAAP around here are rather dark and dated.

 

[fantastic]

They built a brand new one in the worst possible location at a 4 way intersection. It didn't last a year and is an empty building. Online purchases, more reliability, high cost to repair all putting pressure on them.

 

[cptbarkey]

My area also has reached an oversaturation of auto parts stores, nearly as bad as Walgreens, mafia-front mattress stores and dollar stores. Cant say I will miss them.