US auto stores - who does their quality control ??

[edwardh1]

something I have never seen an internet article on - how do buyers for autozone or say napa judge the quality level of unknown chinese goods, that they are considering buying. I would think they get proposals from companies, hey we can sell you alternators for $4 less than you are now paying- does some young MBA buyer go to his boss and based on price (ONLY) recommend- lets buy form this company ? even if the vendor they buy from now is fine?

and is there any follow on Quality checks or testing once they start buying from a specific vendor? to catch the substitutions some manufacturers make - different parts, cheaper parts, weaker parts, etc? a simple example would be phillips head screws with the cross slots being too shallow

 

[eljefino]

Originally Posted By: edwardh1
a simple example would be phillips head screws with the cross slots being too shallow


Potentially these aren't Phillips head screws at all, but something like Japanese JIS screws. Dealing with ham-handed mechanics is additionally something parts stores have to self-insure against.

But to answer your question, acceptable rates of warranty returns is a biggie.

 

[dogememe]

It's funny, there is always a huge emphasis on quality, quality, quality in the monthly team member magazine for the parts store I work at.

No matter which one you buy from (O, Napa, Advance, AutoZone, etc) it's all the same stuff.

And quality doesn't belong in the same sentence as some of these parts.

 

[Audios]

There probably is no quality control. Its as long as the selling rate is exceeding the amount of returned/warranty defective alternators, continue the course. And from what Ive seen, Duralast/Advanced/Napa/No name all have their rebuilds done in Mexico, and all have the same exact output stickers, box/interior packaging, and all are very simlarly painted. Id imagine theyre all coming out of one huge factory and slapped in different boxes.

 

[Vern_in_IL]

Originally Posted By: Audios
There probably is no quality control. Its as long as the selling rate is exceeding the amount of returned/warranty defective alternators, continue the course. And from what Ive seen, Duralast/Advanced/Napa/No name all have their rebuilds done in Mexico, and all have the same exact output stickers, box/interior packaging, and all are very simlarly painted. Id imagine theyre all coming out of one huge factory and slapped in different boxes.


I would not mind this IF THEY PAID DOUBLE FOR MY LABOR COST. Installing a part could be time consuming, like a fuel pump, then you find out it is defective and now you are out for double the labor!

Honestly I only shop at NAPA now... not for the parts, but at least they can replace my tractor U-joint, unlike the others that must know the "make and model" then it's digging throught the boxes.

 

[Audios]

Originally Posted By: Vern_in_IL
Originally Posted By: Audios
There probably is no quality control. Its as long as the selling rate is exceeding the amount of returned/warranty defective alternators, continue the course. And from what Ive seen, Duralast/Advanced/Napa/No name all have their rebuilds done in Mexico, and all have the same exact output stickers, box/interior packaging, and all are very simlarly painted. Id imagine theyre all coming out of one huge factory and slapped in different boxes.


I would not mind this IF THEY PAID DOUBLE FOR MY LABOR COST. Installing a part could be time consuming, like a fuel pump, then you find out it is defective and now you are out for double the labor!

Honestly I only shop at NAPA now... not for the parts, but at least they can replace my tractor U-joint, unlike the others that must know the "make and model" then it's digging throught the boxes.


Yes this is a big concern also. Love how the box says free roadside if failed and labor costs covered! Then the fine print says up to $55 on a tow and 45$ an hour for labor. I have a Journey that the Napa alternator failed within 350 miles. Cost me a 125$ tow since it was AWD, had to do the alternator over again, not fun, and got reimbursed all of 110$ with labor from this wonderful warranty company and "free tow"

 

[Kestas]

Our company sells replacement parts to NAPA, and has open communications with them. NAPA doesn't do any quality control. They give feedback through warranty. We analyze the parts and share information with them. They quality control is on our company.

 

[ragtoplvr]

Ever hear of part number proliferation. Tens of thousands of different alternators, starters etc. Then you only sell when it breaks, so how many will you sell. There is the tooling of unique castings, injection molded parts.

In the good ole days, Ford, GM and Chrysler had common starters, alternators ac compressors. Testing was much simpler. Now, virtually impossible. Some cars have Valeo, Bosch, Delphi starters depending on who was less expensive that week.

What a mess.

Rod

 

[Kestas]

To underscore the good old days, wasn't 50% of all cars sold in 1957 the 1957 Chevrolet? I'll bet that made parts sourcing super simple.

 

[NHGUY]

The only oversight in the parts business is the laws regarding hydraulic brake hoses by DOT,and the motor oil/brake fluid meeting minimum standards.No government agency is overseeing muffler quality,balljoint durability or wiperblade effectiveness.Its up to the warranty rate/complaints/sales figures for manufacturers/distributors to demand change.Its amazing it hasn't lead to many accidents and fatalities with all the cheap stuff out there.

 

[ragtoplvr]

True,look at all the bad china tire valve stems that looked good but failed in a year or 2. Simple part, but you do have to add the slightly higher cost UV and oxidation additives.

Rod

 

[Pajero]

That's why I stick with OEM for my SUV. Of course most parts are obsolete. Ebay has been great for OEM NOS. I've heard of too many horror stories concerning aftermarket parts. China has flooded the market with cheap parts. There is no quality control my friend! I changed too many starters, alternators, etc on previous used American vehicles.


Respectfully,

Pajero!

 

[Vern_in_IL]

Originally Posted By: Kestas
To underscore the good old days, wasn't 50% of all cars sold in 1957 the 1957 Chevrolet? I'll bet that made parts sourcing super simple.


Yes GM back in the 70's was great, many parts were interchangeable! Heck my Dad hit a deer with his '79 Pontiac Bonnivlle 2 door, he found a '77 parked in the pasture and basically bought all the plastic front pieces and bumper! The cars were the same but the grilles and taillights always changed every year, but mounted the same!

But then the Japanese came and redesigns sped up big time.

Today they redesigned the Honda Pilot SUV into a van, F150 with it's stadium headlights, Camry gets bigger, like the only vehicle able to maintain any resemblance of original design is the Jeep JK

 

[dlundblad]

I get a kick out of how stringent automotive manufacturing is compared to the selling of cheap rebuilt parts.

 

[Silk]

Having known some people who do this - they send a buyer to China, who checks all the stuff they are interested in, and anything else they can find. It's all good, and shipped out. Six months later stocks are low, so they reorder. The stuff turns up, a couple of boxes are checked...and it's total junk. There needs to be someone in China doing quality control on all suppliers.