Yes, Napa makes no effort to let you know who made the part. I purchased a upper control arm that was their high end version and it turned out to be a Mevotech Supreme. This was at Napa Canada.
NAPA Parts Have Really Slid Down Hill
- Thread starter MrkofXcellence
- Start date
You forgot to mention the part where the newer Hitachi joint venture in China part costs as much or more then the previous Hitachi made in Japan part. You also know it's most likely an agreement where Hitachi is being paid to put their name on a Chinese part.
I bought some SS lug nuts for my Jeep GC that were Doorman. But if there were other suppliers I would have gone with them vs Doorman. For my 2001 Jeep GC the factory lug nuts were chrome plated steel. Rust would get between the steel and chrome and you would need a 19.5mm socket (I think). Or a 19mm socket and BFH.
I avoid Doorman if possible.
A shame. I always held NAPA in high esteem. Over the decades of owning the Valiant they always had the odd replacement part that was needed when it couldn't be found anywhere else.
The last time I went into one: three people sitting in front of their computers at 8 am on a Sunday morning. I was there to pick up the battery I had bought from them online. They barely looked up. It's rare that I have ever found that slack-jawed not interested attitude here in town... but there it was. And no call when the battery came in [it had to be delivered from another store]. No email, nothing.
I don't think that's a NAPA problem specifically, but a general trend across all retail, though.
Still. That battery lasted only 2 and a half years and it was one of NAPA's own branded stock.
The last time I went into one: three people sitting in front of their computers at 8 am on a Sunday morning. I was there to pick up the battery I had bought from them online. They barely looked up. It's rare that I have ever found that slack-jawed not interested attitude here in town... but there it was. And no call when the battery came in [it had to be delivered from another store]. No email, nothing.
I don't think that's a NAPA problem specifically, but a general trend across all retail, though.
Still. That battery lasted only 2 and a half years and it was one of NAPA's own branded stock.
Yep, because most are private franchises, service and quality of people are all over the map. Here, it's absolutely terrible and they actually hire the clerks (not managers) that wash out from O'Reilly and others.
They also don't want to take returns from other stores, which IMO is a HUGE violation of the franchise agreement -- if not in writing (I don't know), then in good faith.
If you want to hang the NAPA shingle, then as far as the customer is concerned you are a NAPA. If you don't like that, then open your own Dave's Auto Parts and maintain your own website, handle your own advertising and figure out how to get parts to your door without the aid of a nationwide supply chain.
This irritates me so!!!!!
Last edited:
When it comes to hoses, I always use OEM now. Learned the hard way on a 2012 Hyundai Santa fe. The Napa part had a light weepage I could not stop. Dealt with it for a month or so. Went and paid 3 times the amount for an OEM hose, and the issue went away.
I feel like Im heading that way.
I guess First Brands and Fram have move to India made filters of late. Nice pleat gap.
bought an upper radiator hose for m 03 sorento at napa. didnt come close to fitting right. i tried to cut itt to fit. ruined i so couldnt return it. went to orielys and asked for same hose for same car. the one they brought out was same wrong one napa sold me. parts books cant even be trusted these dayys! got correct hose at auto zone for the win!
At the risk of stating the obvious, they all just buy from a handful of manufacturers. In the case of a GMT400 p/s hose, O'Reilly uses Sunsong and badges it as Precision (misnomer). Doesn't fit. Autozone uses Edelmann which they throw in a Duralast bag, and that worked great.
But obviously, any other retailers buying from Sunsong for this application are gonna have disappointed customers. Same situation with your rad hose I'd think.
I believe it! It's all application specific. It just sucks either way because one bend, diameter, length or other dimension gets input incorrectly and suddenly shelves are flooded with poorly fitting [insert widget identifier]
edit: then they sell the incorrect blueprints to Dorman who continues to make the WRONG part for the next fifteen years
- Joined
- May 16, 2022
- Messages
- 842
I guess First Brands and Fram have move to India made filters of late. Nice pleat gap.
Those made in INDIA oil filter videos KILL me... LOL, Cutting metal on a dirt floor with sandals or bare feet and NO eye protection! No OSHA in India I guess...
After learning my new Harley oil filter is made by Mahle in India I did kinda panic as the visions of these videos come to mind.
However, I did some digging and India has legit ( Non dirt floor ) filter plants...
Similar threads
- Locked