What auto parts store?

[dja4260]

I Love Advance Auto Parts. I purchase everything online, then pick up in store. I have a pepboys down the block but the service sucks and Advance Auto is much cheaper, clean, and helpful employees. In store they give me the 20% off just from asking.

 

[cp3]

I'm liking RockAuto more and more, at least for light weight items. Shipping gets to be too much for stuff like brakes. But even then, the selection is outstanding compared to local and I would use them if it was a brand I wanted to try.

 

[NHHEMI]

I will go whereever they have what I want at the best price within the most reasonable distance to travel. I have no real loyalty to any parts store these days due to the poor/ignorant about parts help they hire.

We have...

AutoZone
Advance Auto
PepBoys
Napa
Robbins( local state chain )
Sanels( local state chain )

It all depends really on what I need and where it is available. Whenever possible however I order what I need online or from my Speed Shop guy because I know I will get a quality part, at a fair price, and it is the right thing the 1st time.

It can be hit or miss going to the local parts stores due to lousy, poorly trained, lacking auto knowledge, lazy help. Most are polite and all but sorely lacking in any knowledge and ambition. I was a better parts guy my very 1st day on the job than 99% of these guys are now who have been there for years. Not meant as a brag just how it is. I am embarrassed for a lot of these parts people I meet these days they are so pitiful compared to how it was when I was in the field. Even dealer parts people are just not as good.

If they can't punch it into their computer and have it pop up they have no clue what else to do. As a former parts guy it irks me to no end when this happens. I am tired of having to show them how to look up my parts when it isn't quick and easy for them. They are far too eager to just say "no, we don't have it". God help you if the power goes out at a parts store these days and the computers go down. I don't think these modern day parts people have a clue how to use a parts book.

Drives me nuts. I was a very good parts guy so it bugs me as said when these slackers start the [censored] they do. Nothing worse than some 18 year old girl behind the parts counter. You may as well just forget it when you walk in and see that( NOT meant sexist - just factual ).

The local PepBoys actually has some good parts guys but it is the furthest parts store from me at close to 45 minutes one way. The Napa's have some good parts people but they are always the most expensive. Sanels has good parts people but very $$$ and not much inventory. I worked at Robbins too many years to give them any business unless they are the last choice. So, it is usually AZ and AAP 1st. I just have to go to my happy place before going in so I don't lose it.

 

[Spazdog]

My favorite all time was Western Auto.

When I was a kid, you could buy EVERYTHING there.
Need a set of 225R15s and a refrigerator? Western Auto.
Need a lawn mower and a set of points for the Chevrolet 283? Western Auto.
Need an alternator and a bicycle? Western Auto.
Need a .410 shotgun and a go-kart? Western Auto.

I liked them so much, I went to work for them

Many of the starters and alternators were remanufactured for Western Auto by Delco. Lowest warranty ratio of any product line I ever sold for any retailer. (HiLo/O'Reilly, Napa, etc...)

We sold Die Hard batteries...meh

no better no worse than others. We also sold Delco and Motorcraft batteries at a fraction of the cost of the dealership.

Wells electrical just like many other chains. Except we offered a 5% low price guarantee.

And we had tires and service.

And! Full line of Havoline oils availiable

Too bad they went the way of the Dodo bird. My store was always profitible but I guess it takes more than one store.

 

[doitmyself]

I have had a few (not tons, but enough) warranty/return issues that I cringe at the idea of ordering major parts like rotors/drums, alternators, shocks/struts, etc. by mail order.

We must have 3 dozen auto parts stores in my area and I actually enjoy comparison shopping. I have developed experience to know which store has the brand I want at the better price (i.e. - Timken bearings, Moog parts, Gates, etc..).

Years ago, one could become loyal to an excellent mom and pop store with both good parts and employees. Not so much now a days. I do favor stores with better employees and recently dropped a NAPA store due to how one employee was rude regarding my workplace purchases there.

I will give AAP more attention after the discount talk here. Autozone is excellent for their tool rental and extended hours, but a lot of their stuff (i.e.-brake hardware kits) are inferior.

So, I have about 8 different stores that I shop at based on best value and good service for what I WANT.

Supporting local business is good., Especially the ones that go the extra mile.

 

[Chris142]

Originally Posted By: doitmyself


We must have 3 dozen auto parts stores in my area

That must be nice! We have 4 Napa's that are owned by the same guy, 3 O'Rileys,5 A'Zones and 2 Pep Boys.

Thats it! No other choices. No Carquest or Bumper to Bumper or independant stores.

 

[1 SX]

some of you really have a selection.. haha.. i have to take a 65 mile round trip just for a spark plug... ugh. But when i do, the selection of a few different stores, A Napa, 2 advanced auto parts, autozone and a walmart...... maybe an STS tire, or a brake chain, but thats about it.. no PBs, unfortunately..

 

[Jimmy9190]

Originally Posted By: Spazdog
My favorite all time was Western Auto.

When I was a kid, you could buy EVERYTHING there.
Need a set of 225R15s and a refrigerator? Western Auto.
Need a lawn mower and a set of points for the Chevrolet 283? Western Auto.
Need an alternator and a bicycle? Western Auto.
Need a .410 shotgun and a go-kart? Western Auto.


+1

I can remember very well going to the Western Auto Store with my grandfather when I was 6 and 7 years old. I can still remember the circle-shaped sign with the arrow on it out front and the smell of the new tires in the store. They had just about anything you might need and could help you find parts or put parts together for whatever project you might be working on that day. There used to be an old Western Auto store not far from here in Dade City, Florida. It was not exactly the same because inside it was a Western Auto and a Radio Shack store in the same building. It did still have the old arrow-circle sign outside though. It finally went out of buisiness a few years ago.

One other reason I tend to favor AAP or AZ over Napa is the Napa store here is always closed on Sunday and they close early on Saturday. It's good to be able to get to the other parts store late at night and on Sunday. Like many of us that seems to be when I am wrenching, probably because I am so slow at it. I like to take my time and try my best to get it done right the first time around. We had a pretty good but small mom and pop owned Carquest here but they went under last year. It was sad to see them go.

 

[NHHEMI]

My Marina actually was a Western Auto for many years before they(WA) went out.

 

[cadfaeltex]

We have an O'reilly, Autozone, Advance, and a Carquest here in town. I tend to use the O'reilly because my brother-in-law worked for one many years ago and their insurance took good care of my sister when my niece was born very early and had to be in NICU for a long time.

BTW, I don't mind and in fact like stores that are closed on Sunday - might be slightly inconvenient but shows values that resonate with me. Occupational hazard I guess.