Auto parts stores no more.

[Boosted92LX]

I went into two different auto parts stores this evening to try and buy a ring and pinion intallation kit. Ten years ago they were readily available, vacuum sealed to a cardboard backer with all of the shims, bearings, crushsleeve and marking compound needed to properly install gears in your car/truck. Now, it seems the pimply faced kid behind the counter have never heard of such a thing. It's not listed in their computer, so it surely must not exist...

Oreilly had a few of the parts, available individually with no Timken brand bearings available. Crush sleeve? what's that?
Autozone had even less available, but did have Timken although nothing was in stock..."We'll be able to get it here by wednesday at the latest."

I've experienced this same thing in the past with engine overhaul kits, the people behind the counter looked at me like I've lost my mind. It was "You want to rebuild the whole engine yourself?" we don't stock anything like that...

What in the HELL happened to the days of being able to walk into a parts store and buy actual car parts? Are people these days so stupid they really have to give their cars to a garage to get them fixed and parts stores are just for tacky floormats, stripes and ghetto neon?

I'm going to have to resort to buying what I need off the internet because "progress" has made local merchants into idiots.

Damn you Oreilly's/Autozone!

/rant

 

[larrym1961]

When I installed my new rear end Traction Loc and 3:73 gears a few years ago, JEGS had all the parts in one vacuumed sealed package and even the synthetic gear oil as a kit I needed to get the job done! That's one for the internet order parts store.

 

[LarsD]

Local parts stores are really only good for basic stuff anymore. To be honest I'm surprised to find decent oil and filters there still.

 

[hoopty5.0]

We have the same problem in Rosen-terd, Allen. There are two O'reilly stores in the town and only 2-3 people working there that actually know what the hell is going on. If you REALLY need something and don't mind the drive, talk to Gilbert at the store on ave H. He's the only one we deal with.

IREFUSETOGOINTOAUTOZONEEEEE!!!

 

[93project]

Just an fyi,i manage an oreilly store in el paso Texas and yes, a lot of the kids that work for me and other stores don't know much anymore. All oreilly stores carry ring and pinion install kits in the stores. Several for Chevy, and an 8.8 kit. They run about $100. National bearings in the kit. But, a lot of employees don't know of their existence....

 

[hoopty5.0]

Just an fyi,i manage an oreilly store in el paso Texas and yes, a lot of the kids that work for me and other stores don't know much anymore. All oreilly stores carry ring and pinion install kits in the stores. Several for Chevy, and an 8.8 kit. They run about $100. National bearings in the kit. But, a lot of employees don't know of their existence....

What are the chances of you getting transferred to Rosenberg?

 

[seahawksax]

My o Riley's has always been very knowledgeable down here in pcola. Helped with the rebuild of the LT1 in my z28. Now I go to them for the get haven't been let down yet. Only wish I could afford their two post lift!!

2006 Mustang GT
1993 Camaro z28 paxton supercharged(sold)
2005 Tahoe LT

 

[NIKwoaC]

Yea, parts stores around here have gotten so bad that I'm in the practice of finding the part number online and going into the store and saying "I need part number XXXXX". I don't even give them a chance to screw up anymore, because Lord knows if it isn't a brake rotor or an air filter, they have no idea what you're talking about.

 

[jrichker]

Most of the auto parts stores now days are mass market chain stores. As many have said before, if they can't easily find it in the computer it doesn't exist. NAPA and Bumper to Bumper are a bit better, the parts guys I have dealt with there actually have spent some time fixing cars. They seem to be able to find the less common items and don't come up with blank stares when asked for something different. There very few real parts guys left that can really tell you what fits what and how it works.

 

[CarMichael Angelo]

Yeahhh, Autozone is where I get brake pads and oil. Anything more sophisticated than that, and I get it online through their dedicated web site. When it is a whole kit like what you're asking for, Jegs/Summit.
O reillys has been more helpful when I've had to stray off of the "make/model/engine" qualifier. (like w/ the lift struts for the trunk, when fox mustangs don't come w/ lift struts for the trunk).

 

[srtthis]

i use to work at pepboys... it pissed me off a lot because we never carried anything people needed other then brakes and oil filters. and even when i needed something i couldnt even order it

but i do have a buddy who owns a napa up north and he's been able to get everything ive needed

 

[VibrantRedGT]

You can get oil, coolant, air fresheners, some oil filters, etc. I worked in the auto parts business for 15+ years as a sales / marketing rep. We set up distribution centers and stores with parts. Here's how it works. Say Master Cylinders and Calipers, we provide top 80% sales per region (even zip code sales). We make an offer to the customer to stock a certain amount based on the stores plan-o-gram (space). The warehouse stocking that store will have roughly 93.5% of sales for that region.

Cliff Notes:
A store cannot stock everything. The warehouse carries enough stock to restock store shelves plus another 13-15% of sales the store will not carry. That's why you hear "I can get it from my warehouse in a few days."

 

[Boosted92LX]

You know, while it is easy to order parts online- You can't put your hands on it and verify that the part is exactly what you need, and if you are in a time crunch you are left to the mercy of the shipping dept and UPS/postal service. Granted, I've had great experiences with Summit, but It can cost you days or weeks if you get the wrong part, or maybe you need one more shim, or somethng to that nature.

There is no reason not to offer choices in bearing brands other than to lose customers.

I had a problem once with oh really's and TRW/Speed pro roller lifters being ground waay out of spec. Some were .002 -.004 " undersize on the O.D. and wouldn't even hold prime. I had to take them back to the store when when I figured it out with a mic and show the manager what was going on. When I asked for a different brand, they didn't offer any other. So, I went over to ricer zone and they actually had a diffrent brand made properly that worked.

I would use NAPA but we have only one in the area, and they cater mostly to industry and local garages. They're only open bankers hours, and by the time I get off work, they're closed.

We could really use some help in my area parts store-wise.

 

[Boosted92LX]

You can get oil, coolant, air fresheners, some oil filters, etc. I worked in the auto parts business for 15+ years as a sales / marketing rep. We set up distribution centers and stores with parts. Here's how it works. Say Master Cylinders and Calipers, we provide top 80% sales per region (even zip code sales). We make an offer to the customer to stock a certain amount based on the stores plan-o-gram (space). The warehouse stocking that store will have roughly 93.5% of sales for that region.

Cliff Notes:
A store cannot stock everything. The warehouse carries enough stock to restock store shelves plus another 13-15% of sales the store will not carry. That's why you hear "I can get it from my warehouse in a few days."

Yeah, and I've been wrenching on cars for 25 years. It's WAAAAY worse than it used to be. I know how it works, it costs money to stock items that go unsold. To say that stores cannot stock every thing is silly when they stock junk and not actual auto parts. when you need actual mechanical parts who cares about stickers or air fresheners or neon lighting???

 

[VibrantRedGT]

Yeah, and I've been wrenching on cars for 25 years. It's WAAAAY worse than it used to be. I know how it works, it costs money to stock items that go unsold. To say that stores cannot stock every thing is silly when they stock junk and not actual auto parts. when you need actual mechanical parts who cares about stickers or air fresheners or neon lighting???

Bingo! Same conversations we use to have with owners. They were worried about getting Soda and Candy machines in the stores since parents come there with kids. My local Advanced Auto sells Beef Jerky. If you want parts they'll have to get it from the warehouse. Your average store use to stock $2.5 Million in inventory. That number has cut in half. For those products that have core charges, cut in half again.

 

[NIKwoaC]

Yeahhh, Autozone is where I get brake pads and oil. Anything more sophisticated than that, and I get it online through their dedicated web site. When it is a whole kit like what you're asking for, Jegs/Summit.
O reillys has been more helpful when I've had to stray off of the "make/model/engine" qualifier. (like w/ the lift struts for the trunk, when fox mustangs don't come w/ lift struts for the trunk).

I don't even bother with oil at the parts store anymore. They started selling the big jugs in 5 LITER sizes instead of 5 QUARTS, so every damn time I'd change my oil, I'd have a little more than 1/4 quart extra that I'd just throw away. I've never owned a car that required more than 5 quarts, and even if I did, I'd buy a 5 quart jug and a 1 quart bottle(s). 5 liters of oil in the USA is useless.

On top of that, half the parts stores don't stock Motorcraft filters. Wal Mart does, so against my better intentions I buy all my oil change stuff at Wally world. They carry 5 QUART jugs of all the good oil brands, too.

 

[N8Dogg98]

I don't even bother with oil at the parts store anymore. They started selling the big jugs in 5 LITER sizes instead of 5 QUARTS, so every damn time I'd change my oil, I'd have a little more than 1/4 quart extra that I'd just throw away. I've never owned a car that required more than 5 quarts, and even if I did, I'd buy a 5 quart jug and a 1 quart bottle(s). 5 liters of oil in the USA is useless.

On top of that, half the parts stores don't stock Motorcraft filters. Wal Mart does, so against my better intentions I buy all my oil change stuff at Wally world. They carry 5 QUART jugs of all the good oil brands, too.

+1, but I never throw oil away... the Mustang takes 6 quarts and I'm too much of a cheap ass to buy single quart bottles. Therefore, if I need to change the oil I buy 2 5 quart jugs and keep the 2nd jug for the next oil change. They want damn near $5/quart if you buy in singles, while the 5 quart jug of Motorcraft syn blend is like $18.00

 

[NIKwoaC]

+1, but I never throw oil away... the Mustang takes 6 quarts and I'm too much of a cheap ass to buy single quart bottles. Therefore, if I need to change the oil I buy 2 5 quart jugs and keep the 2nd jug for the next oil change. They want damn near $5/quart if you buy in singles, while the 5 quart jug of Motorcraft syn blend is like $18.00

I've considered that before, because my Fusion requires 4.5 quarts, BUT everything I've read about oil indicates that it has a shelf life and as soon as you expose it to air, the clock starts ticking. Oxidation happens and the oil starts to deteriorate, that's why they say you need to change it every XXXX miles or X months. So I've always been unesy of the thought of putting "old" oil in my car.

Though, I have no idea how "old" oil needs to be before it truly has broken down enough to have a measurable effect on performance, so it could be a moot point, I don't know.

 

[N8Dogg98]

I've considered that before, because my Fusion requires 4.5 quarts, BUT everything I've read about oil indicates that it has a shelf life and as soon as you expose it to air, the clock starts ticking. Oxidation happens and the oil starts to deteriorate, that's why they say you need to change it every XXXX miles or X months. So I've always been unesy of the thought of putting "old" oil in my car.

Though, I have no idea how "old" oil needs to be before it truly has broken down enough to have a measurable effect on performance, so it could be a moot point, I don't know.

How can it oxidize if it's in an air tight container? I realize there is some air (1-4 quarts worth) within the bottle, but would that small amount of air be enough to cause it to oxidize? I doubt it, especially considering the oil gets used up within a year or two. Cooking oil for example may be on your shelf for several years before being used up, yet it still seems to work fine when you cook with that last tablespoon...

 

[NIKwoaC]

How can it oxidize if it's in an air tight container? I realize there is some air (1-4 quarts worth) within the bottle, but would that small amount of air be enough to cause it to oxidize? I doubt it, especially considering the oil gets used up within a year or two. Cooking oil for example may be on your shelf for several years before being used up, yet it still seems to work fine when you cook with that last tablespoon...

Ha, I don't know what to tell you man, other than I'm pretty sure you can't use olive oil to lube your engine. I'm just telling you what I've heard/read from people who know a lot more about oil than I do. Like I said, I have no idea how long it has to be exposed to air to cause a measureable effect. Consider though, that oil is a petroleum product just like gasoline, and gasoline can definitely go bad if it sits unused for a year or two.