Advance Auto Parts to close 700+ stores.

[AutoMechanic]

They used to have their headquarters in the town I live in. The building still stands but it’s vacant now. Honestly Advance Auto is 3rd on my list to go to even though they are second closest to my house and one is right next door to my work. Napa and AutoZone have much better service and parts in my opinion even though the staff at my Napa stores are a bit iffy still the service beats Advance Auto. O’Reilly is last on my list due to prices and rude staff despite being closest to my house. I won’t miss Advance Auto that much if they close any here but I will say they have the best rewards program.

 

[Wheel]

I stopped getting parts there after buying a battery there, then having it fail within 2 weeks. This went on with them replacing the battery 3 times. I did get my money back. I had similar issues with brake calipers there. My time isn't free, and if they can't put some effort into quality control, I'll find someone who will. Also, it would be nice to not leave and wonder if the counter clerk drove in high, or got high there.

 

[spasm3]

Many years ago I needed a new container to use for recycling my used oil. The only thing I found in the parts store was a 5 gallon blue metal kerosene can. I buy it, go home and dump all my misc containers of oil into it and go back to the same store. Tell the counter guy I have oil to recycle and he won't take it. I ask why and he tells me it's because it's in a kerosene can so that means it might contain kerosene. He was the same guy who sold me the can 20 minutes ago but he holds firm. I leave the can on the counter while I go buy a can of black spray paint. I bring my kerosene can and spray paint home, paint the blue can black, wait a half hour or so for it to mostly dry and go back to the store. Same guy then takes and dumps my oil like nothing ever happened. If you have somebody that is going to sneak in brake fluid, gas, anti-freeze, whatever into the recycled oil, the type of container isn't going to change a thing.

He upsold you on the spray paint!

 

[vwmaniaman]

I would sometimes buy brakes from AAP but not if my Oreilly had them. I have a Great OReilly near me that surprises me with their stock. Thet are the local hub for the local stores and they either have my parts in stock or they are there in the morning. They take my old oil too. I often buy their oil and MG filters.

 

[RAVL]

Sorry to hear of it because people lose jobs but no real loss in terms of the product side because for the most part they sell over priced crap. Better off finding a dealer with an Internet portal or a specialty online retailer for actual repair parts you trust and for oil Walmart typically beats their prices handily. The market is a tough thing.

 

[supton]

Bummer, hoping they don't close the one near to me. Over the last year or two I have had to run out at like 7pm to get a caliper so the vehicle would be usable the following day.

But like many, I mail order when I can, because it's cheaper--so...

 

[D60]

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.

Again, until they work out reliable drone delivery within HOURS for EVERY part, this won't happen.

It's simply a market shift but the B&M stores will sell things where they can be competitive and phase out product where they can't.

In the auto industry I think brakes -- specifically rotors and some calipers -- are still not economical to ship quickly. Many fluids too, as they're heavy.

Auto parts stores offset costs right now by raping you on chemicals (RTV, brake cleaner), bulbs and wipers. Also seasonal things like snow brushes.

In other industries like "hardware" you can bet HD will be selling lumber for a LONG time.

I welcome the home delivery trend. It saves me money AND time. B&M retailers will either adapt or die. Wringing your hands about it is like the horse 'n buggy being worried about automobiles -- it's coming, so deal with it.

 

[Ausfahrt]

Again, until they work out reliable drone delivery within HOURS for EVERY part, this won't happen.

It's simply a market shift but the B&M stores will sell things where they can be competitive and phase out product where they can't.

In the auto industry I think brakes -- specifically rotors and some calipers -- are still not economical to ship quickly. Many fluids too, as they're heavy.

Auto parts stores offset costs right now by raping you on chemicals (RTV, brake cleaner), bulbs and wipers. Also seasonal things like snow brushes.

In other industries like "hardware" you can bet HD will be selling lumber for a LONG time.

I welcome the home delivery trend. It saves me money AND time. B&M retailers will either adapt or die. Wringing your hands about it is like the horse 'n buggy being worried about automobiles -- it's coming, so deal with it.

There are many instances of mid-year model or component changes that make ordering online difficult. Sometimes you just need to physically take the old part to the store to make sure that the new one matches.

 

[Kira]

Two things.
1) I recall the price paid for the Diehard name was a reported $200,000,000! That was indeed an eyepopper.
2) Each of the parts stores in my circle has its own 5 to 8 car fleet of delivery vehicles. I hear, "I can have it for you in an hour", all the time.
Add to that efficiencies of computer ordering / stocking / easy cell phone communications, and store closures aren't that surprising.

Illustration: I saw an O'Reilly's take delivery of 20 large, identical Y-pipes. I mentioned it to the counterman, and he told me they supplied a bunch of other stores. It made perfect sense.
The trucking company had a mere 8-mile open highway run off an Intestate to reach that O'Reily's.
Their wee Chevy's buzz about the countryside.

Personal lament: I wish the E-vehicle industry supplied fleets first so that real data about recharging / fires / range / costs could've been gathered.

 

[cb_13]

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.
I find that to be true also but when they have a bundle deal, I get a filter for free and then a SpeedPerks coupon for $5.00 on the next purchase. Plus they take my used oil with no hassle what so ever. When all is said and done it's the same price or better as Walmart.

A couple of years ago, my wife and daughter went to the Taylor Swift concert at MetLife Stadium here in NJ on a Sunday night. About 6 pm, they call me and tell me the battery went dead and nothing works and the windows are down. Being a good husband and father, no choice but to try to get a battery, shoot over to the stadium and change it out so I can go home and sleep in peace without worrying. So, I gather some tools, my son, some cash in case I have to try to bribe my way into the stadium parking lot and off we go to Advance, thankfully still open at 7 pm on a Sunday, to buy a battery. When I gave him the car info and tell him my tale of woe, he tells me there are two different size batteries for that car, do I know which one is in there. Nope, not a clue. This guy offers to sell me one of the batteries but let me take both so I know one will fit. He was literally going to let me walk out with a $200.00 battery without paying. I told him that was very generous of him but I need to pay for both and I'll bring the un-needed one back for a refund. I don't know if he was being foolish, or kind of old school, but I thought the offer was pretty neat. Got to the stadium, Troopers let me right in, empty spot right next to my wife's car, 10 minutes to swap out the battery and just as soon as I closed the hood, Taylor was taking the stage, the roar of the crowd was deafening! My son and I hung around for the next 20 minutes or so listening to the concert and then, off we went heroically, with the help of Advance Auto Parts, into the night.

If you can afford Taylor Swift tickets you should have been able to have the local Porsche dealer to deliver your wife a new car to the stadium.

 

[ARCOgraphite]

Don't like the one near me. I don't like most "big box" Ap stores. I go to Sanel or Robbins or sometime NAPA for car parts and ODPE oil. PCMO I get at WM.

Not happy about the perceived WM filter pricing increase the past year. Big overcharge on a 2 dollar, no-tech commodity item; I wonder if the supplier regional distributor is the culprit in this chain?

 

[Dave P.]

If you can afford Taylor Swift tickets you should have been able to have the local Porsche dealer to deliver you wife a new car to the stadium.

Unless my wife was lying and I don't have any reason to believe she was, they were $108.00 each in the upper deck. My wife works hard and deserves her fun! Although, while my son and I were trying to get in to the stadium, there was a woman and her daughter that approached our car and offered to pay up to $800.00 each if we had any to spare. Next time Taylor comes to town, gonna have to try to buy some extras!

 

[ARCOgraphite]

TS concert at a stadium sounds like round one of purgatory to me

 

[TomYoung]

Typically I buy Pennzoil Platinum and Fram Ultra or Fram Titanium. I'm not interested in buying a cheap filter or "cheap" oil so let's compare apples to apples;
Walmart - Oil is probably $24.00 + filter $9.00 = $33.00 The Walmart by me also doesn't take oil.
AAP - Oil is $37.00 + filter on bundle is N/C $0.00 - Speedperks rebate $5.00 = $32.00 plus I recycle my used oil while I'm there which to me is a service they provide to me for free.
My numbers could be off a couple of bucks either way because I haven't bought at Walmart for a little while but feel free to tell me where my calculations are wrong.

The bundle is 38.99 on the website today. I am not advocating cheap oils or cheap filters, but I am suggesting that you can get out for less than 30 dollars from Walmart.

 

[Dave P.]

The bundle is 38.99 on the website today. I am not advocating cheap oils or cheap filters, but I am suggesting that you can get out for less than 30 dollars from Walmart.

True, if I buy lesser or different products. If I buy the exact same Pennzoil,it is $23.78 at Walmart and the Fram Ultra is $9.04 for a total of $32.82.
The bundle at AAP is, as you say, $38.99 but I have -$5.00 (Speed Perks from my previous purchase) = $33.99 for a difference of $1.17 plus I recycle oil at the same time. So, no difference for the same products plus added convenience because Advance is close to my house, I can park right by the entrance and no checkout line to speak of.

 

[Dave P.]

TS concert at a stadium sounds like round one of purgatory to me

Me too, kinda, which is why I had to go and rescue the wife and daughter. Otherwise, we would have all been stuck there with a dead battery. I do like her though but I am tired of all the Travis and Taylor coverage.

 

[dogememe]

I think the economics are different about buying your oil and filter at Walmart vs an auto parts store. I've mentioned this before elsewhere but I will elaborate why I think auto parts stores charge more for oil and filters than Walmart, without actually making oodles of profit from it.

At an auto parts store, there is higher overhead for the company. You can go up to the counter, and an employee will look up the filter and oil type and capacity for you if you so desire, go get it off the shelf for you, and then when you're done, you bring the used stuff back and they will dump it for you. You might buy something extra, you might not - many people do not buy anything besides oil and filter... Maybe an air filter and/or cabin filter too. Despite what you might think about related sales, I can tell you from experience a large percentage of people buying oil and filter are not buying anything else... maybe a $2 funnel if we're lucky.

At Walmart, you're on your own looking stuff up. You simply pick your own stuff, put it in your cart, buy pasta, milk, some shorts, body wash, and a bunch of random other stuff at the same time, some of which is very high margin. Then you go to self checkout. And when you're done, you bring your used oil to the auto parts store for recycling.

Also, Walmart doesn't need to have as many different kinds of oil and filter, because they serve the everyday consumer, not all types of customers and repair shops. At an auto parts store, they need to have so many filters for uncommon vehicles because a shop might call for one every six months. While Walmart can stock the most common filters for 90% of vehicles on the road by numbers, vs having to cover 99.9% of vehicles on the road at any given point. Having that slow-moving inventory on hand costs money.

 

[Rmay635703]

It would be nice to know which stores so I can grab some clearance filters and oil

Yes

When they feel like it, one of our local places went several close to a month with a crayon drawn “full sign” indicating no fluids.

I broke down and was able to dispose at AAP about 15 miles out of my way.

 

[SC Maintenance]

Of the Wall Street owned slop AAP is my favorite. Still all of them suck and have too many retail locations. What someone needs is a locker type arrangement like Amazon. Order online and pick up 2 hours later at the locker.

 

[Snagglefoot]

I’m thinking the retail purchaser has mainly been a boomer. Half the boomers have died. The youngest boomer is 55 to 60 years old depending on what birthdate you choose for the last birthdate for a boomer.

The subsequent generations are less likely to put a jack under a car and change a ball joint. That leaves the repair shops as the main customer and they want a rock bottom pricing. That didn't fit Advance very well. The times they are a changin’.