Oil Filter Discussion At Advance Auto Parts

[Branson304]

I walked into my local Advance Auto Parts this evening & overheard an employee telling a customer that if he uses a Motorcraft filter instead of an AC Delco on his Silverado, the Motorcraft would "go into bypass & the pressure would make the filter collapse." I was appalled at the stupidity but I kept my mouth shut.

After said customer left, that employee & another got in an argument over whether AC Delco or Motorcraft is the better filter. I chimed in & explained I was on Motorcraft's side. We discussed filters for a bit & I asked if they've ever tried a Fram Ultra & they both basically said Frams are all cardboard inside & they're junk/the worst filter. I said not the Fram Ultra, metal end caps, silicone ADBV, etc. to no avail. The dude thought the Fram Extra was the most expensive Fram filter available. He told me to cut open a Fram & I would see. I said I have cut open multiple Frams & they've been fine. I told them to cut open a Fram Ultra & they would see it is on a whole different level than the cheap orange can. Then I went out the door.

Amazing how stupid/ignorant someone who sells these items can be...

 

[DoubleWasp]

Knowing anything about auto parts is an automatic disqualifier to be hired by a chain parts store these days.

 

[DuckRyder]

Never argue with an idiot is the best policy.

 

[mclasser]

Parts guy =/= mechanic. I've encountered some knowledgeable ones but most don't know what the [censored] they're talking about.

 

[Transamfan454]

From a mechanics view that sounds like a typical parts guy to me..... Just kidding seriously though I know what u mean.

 

[donnyj08]

we have one guy who knows something at our advance. the other ten are strung out on meth, look like death, and seem completely illiterate and scatterbrained.

The problem is they can't pay these people over $8 an hour so they will never get anyone with any parts knowledge. Those guys with knowledge are working for the service shops or the dealers.

The autoparts stores get the same people that worked at burger king two weeks before.

 

[redbone3]

It sounds like your counterman used to be a reporter. They give a reporter a test on firearms knowledge and general knowledge. If he passes he is not hired.

 

[Branson304]

Originally Posted By: donnyj08
we have one guy who knows something at our advance. the other ten are strung out on meth, look like death, and seem completely illiterate and scatterbrained.

The problem is they can't pay these people over $8 an hour so they will never get anyone with any parts knowledge. Those guys with knowledge are working for the service shops or the dealers.

The autoparts stores get the same people that worked at burger king two weeks before.



I know, unfortunately. I have two Advance Auto Parts near me. The one 6 miles south of me actually seems to have educated employees. There are 3 men & 1 woman who work there regularly & they all seem a whole lot more educated than most parts store workers. The one I was in tonight is 12 miles north & every employee I've ever dealt with there doesn't seem to know the difference between a windshield wiper & a spark plug... blows my mind.

 

[dlundblad]

I briefly worked at a parts store and the assistant manager was about the same way. He always pushed the Lucas additive and told customers that switching from synthetic to conventional would wear out the bearings.

 

[crazyoildude]

Pretty funny.. Most in the auto parts business think all frams are the same i hear it also and when you tell them about the ultra being totally different they all try to save you...lol

 

[AMC]

The high price, thin walled can, tiny oil inlet holes and cheap plastic bypass valve still prevent me from buying or liking the ultra.....

 

[crazyoildude]

AMC what filter are u using?

 

[ZeeOSix]

^^^ LoL

 

[meborder]

No doubt, help at auto parts stores can be hit or miss, but to be fair, most of you who are bashing the guys who work there are guilty of the same crimes, just at a different level.

You can't possibly expect a parts guy to know everything about a product he doesn't even sell. AFAIK, aap doesn't sell FRAM ultra, so how can you expect him to know much about them?

Before I frequented the board, I had never heard about the FRAM ultra, or the problems with Purolator. I don't live, breath, and eat oil and oil related products and ill bet that these guys don't either. They've got about 100 other products they have to know about as part of their job, and ill bet they don't study any of them unless they are getting paid to do so.

Quite a few of you need to stop looking down your nose at the people from whom you seek help. You don know anything about them, so quit pretending that you do.

After graduating college with a bachelor's of science in civil engineering I ended up working at AAP for about 3 years until the economy recovered in the engineering sector. I spent 3 out of those 3 years dealing with knucklehead like the lot of you looking down their noses at me assuming I was just some flunky who couldn't cut it "in the real world"

In less than a year I was working as an assistant manager making 11.50/hr. This was 2003-2005, and for a non technical job, that was a pretty good wage for my area.

I'm just saying not everyone can know everything about the one topic you show a particular interest in, and don't assume you know anything about anyone unless they tell you directly. You just never know, the flunky behind the counter might someday be managing the multi-million dollar interstate interchange and bridge erection project you just drove through.... Because, you know what?

He did.

 

[bvance554]

^

 

[Brybo86]

....crickets....

 

[bbhero]

Very well stated. We don't know anyone else's real story or life circumstance. I try to treat everyone like they are someone. Because they are.
Doesn't mean people at times don't say things that don't make sense. But that happens in every job or profession. I've seen this firsthand. Being told no to a number if request I had led to a horrific result.

 

[gallydif]

Originally Posted By: meborder
You can't possibly expect a parts guy to know everything about a product he doesn't even sell. AFAIK, aap doesn't sell FRAM ultra, so how can you expect him to know much about them?


AAP does sell them. That's where I bought mine.
With these types of jobs you get a full array of the type of people working them. Ones that will do this for the rest of life and won't go anywhere else. Others that do this is a part time while doing college courses, etc.

 

[OneEyeJack]

I don't think there is a standard that has to be met to become a parts counterman. For me, just getting the correct part is good enough. As far as fluids and filters go, I'll take care of my own needs. I won't go out of my way to correct an obvious false statement unless asked my opinion or I think the person might listen and at least check to see if what I say might be correct.

Recently a parts guy told a customer that if he really wanted to protect his new engine that he should use 100% coolant and no water. For this I had to make a comment. We got on the customer's tablet and looked it up. Sure enough all the information was available to make the correct decision which the customer did. The parts guy told me he did not care what anyone said, he was always going to use 100% coolant. Sometimes stupid can't be fixed.

 

[The_Jeff]

Originally Posted By: meborder
You just never know, the flunky behind the counter might someday be managing the multi-million dollar interstate interchange and bridge erection project you just drove through.... Because, you know what?

He did.