Biggest dummies you've encountered at a auto parts store

[1977f150xlt]

these stories remind me of the dummies at our local Canadian Tire (and other stores) (its kinda like autozone crossed with a Ace hardware store) anyways back last summer i went to the auto parts area of our local Canadian Tire, and said i need spark plugs for my truck, so i told him its a 77 F-150, then i said scratch that, i need spark plugs for a 302 motor out of a 1971 Torino, since that's what the 302w decoded out as, and they had bigger plugs in 71 then the smaller plugs of 77, so i tell the guy the fact i put a older motor in my truck and the 77 plugs won't fit, the young part guy (my age 19-20) says so its a Oldsmobile Torino? he looked at me like i was a Martian, and i instantly knew he had little too no knowledge of classic and vintage cars, i said no its Ford, why would i put a olds motor in a Ford truck? Olds 302? ( he must have thought Tornado?) and there is so many other stories i can tell of idiot part people, i know it can play both ways, and even customers can be equally stupid at times, but i find if it isn't in there fancy computer it doesn't exist, which is annoying, they tell me its not coming up on the computer, so we don't have it? i learned fast, i avoid people from my generation all together, and try to find that wise old guy at the counter, then i ask him, he runs it by the computer first, then he does something rare for part people these days, he goes under the counter or too the dusty shelf, and pulls out a part book! and looks up the part manually! 9 times out of 10 the book has the info the computer doesn't, you really can't blame the part guy every time, i mean they have been trained to go by the computer only, and if some fool entered the info incorrectly or forgot something then it becomes wide spread, its like the saying says, it only takes one bad apple to spoil the rest, sometimes i just request the part book or the keyboard, and search for the part myself, makes the part guy look like a fool, but i get my part, i wish we had more stores like the U.S. auto zone, its a much better environment to buy parts, over here in Canada they don't try very hard to find parts for older cars/trucks, unless its that nice older guy, even the hardware stores have them, they make shopping a breeze with there knowledge and wisdom, instead of people who have no clue whats going on in the store, its sad, but someday i fear, there will no longer be that wise old guy any more since people in my age bracket don't want to learn anything it seems, now i know there is some rare people like myself who want to learn, but generally a good chunk are like Zombies at there job, and it always seems like the part book is some kind of evil demon to them, they act like it doesn't exist, -Brent

[Smaug]

Originally Posted by fellro86

I found the kits in the books, not the computer. Not sure what the carb was, but it was a 4100 series, so maybe it was more of a holley, I only had what the customer had told me to go on there. Never claimed to be an expert in any sense... I do know that everything I found in the range he gave me was wrong, they were removable fuel bowls, and the one he wanted did not have removable bowls.

Probably an Autolite. My 65 Mustang has an Autolite 2100.

[daddy172005]

Originally Posted by 1977f150xlt

these stories remind me of the dummies at our local Canadian Tire (and other stores) (its kinda like autozone crossed with a Ace hardware store) anyways back last summer i went to the auto parts area of our local Canadian Tire, and said i need spark plugs for my truck, so i told him its a 77 F-150, then i said scratch that, i need spark plugs for a 302 motor out of a 1971 Torino, since that's what the 302w decoded out as, and they had bigger plugs in 71 then the smaller plugs of 77, so i tell the guy the fact i put a older motor in my truck and the 77 plugs won't fit, the young part guy (my age 19-20) says so its a Oldsmobile Torino? he looked at me like i was a Martian, and i instantly knew he had little too no knowledge of classic and vintage cars, i said no its Ford, why would i put a olds motor in a Ford truck? Olds 302? ( he must have thought Tornado?)

and there is so many other stories i can tell of idiot part people, i know it can play both ways, and even customers can be equally stupid at times, but i find if it isn't in there fancy computer it doesn't exist, which is annoying, they tell me its not coming up on the computer, so we don't have it? i learned fast, i avoid people from my generation all together, and try to find that wise old guy at the counter, then i ask him, he runs it by the computer first, then he does something rare for part people these days, he goes under the counter or too the dusty shelf, and pulls out a part book! and looks up the part manually! 9 times out of 10 the book has the info the computer doesn't,

you really can't blame the part guy every time, i mean they have been trained to go by the computer only, and if some fool entered the info incorrectly or forgot something then it becomes wide spread, its like the saying says, it only takes one bad apple to spoil the rest, sometimes i just request the part book or the keyboard, and search for the part myself, makes the part guy look like a fool, but i get my part, i wish we had more stores like the U.S. auto zone, its a much better environment to buy parts, over here in Canada they don't try very hard to find parts for older cars/trucks, unless its that nice older guy, even the hardware stores have them, they make shopping a breeze with there knowledge and wisdom, instead of people who have no clue whats going on in the store, its sad, but someday i fear, there will no longer be that wise old guy any more since people in my age bracket don't want to learn anything it seems, now i know there is some rare people like myself who want to learn, but generally a good chunk are like Zombies at there job, and it always seems like the part book is some kind of evil demon to them, they act like it doesn't exist,

-Brent

If you wish you had a store like Auto Zone then it must really be bad.

[1977f150xlt]

yeah we got Napa and other stores, but they don't seem to carry as many parts over here in Canada as there American counterparts, and if they do, its like pulling teeth, only a few places around here you can actually get some parts with ease, also some of the smaller stores up here tend to try and rip you off, local performance stores will really gouge the price if your not paying attention, and i don't think Autozone is that bad of a place, mind you i have only been there 5 times in the past getting parts when i cross over into Michigan, most U.S. part places seem miles ahead of our Canadian stores, mind you i do run into dummies at the American auto stores as well, but in Michigan at least it seem there is a part store on every corner of Port Huron, Michigan, its a gear heads dream, we have only a few sources for parts, then your stuck with local places that for the most part are good, but just like the big guys, they can get ya with there high prices,

-Brent

[Old93junk]

The wrong part from NAPA is probably better than the right one from Autozone. Autozone is a waste of good real estate................Unless you need air freshener or spinning rims.

[fellro86]

Depends on the store and their employees... need to be careful about blanket statements like that. We don't have any spinning rims, let alone any rims, and the air fresheners take up very little space. so I guess I am a waste of an employee... I do know some Autozones that qualify for that statement, but I have also been impressed at other stores when they have been able to walk back and get mag lugs for my 86 F250 with 9/16" studs without going through a bunch of bs too. (not my store either)

[Old93junk]

Originally Posted by fellro86

Depends on the store and their employees... need to be careful about blanket statements like that. We don't have any spinning rims, let alone any rims, and the air fresheners take up very little space. so I guess I am a waste of an employee... I do know some Autozones that qualify for that statement, but I have also been impressed at other stores when they have been able to walk back and get mag lugs for my 86 F250 with 9/16" studs without going through a bunch of bs too. (not my store either)

Well its a blanket statement that blankets our 2 local AZs, I imagine you are correct, the management and employees will make a big difference from store to store, so dont take it personal!.............BTW, our AZ does have those spinning rims wheel covers, most often seen lying on the side of the road shortly after purchase.

[spikedog]

Originally Posted by fellro86

Depends on the store and their employees... need to be careful about blanket statements like that. We don't have any spinning rims, let alone any rims, and the air fresheners take up very little space. so I guess I am a waste of an employee... I do know some Autozones that qualify for that statement, but I have also been impressed at other stores when they have been able to walk back and get mag lugs for my 86 F250 with 9/16" studs without going through a bunch of bs too. (not my store either)

The Autozone here in Rock Springs is a good one. Cheer up, some people are just here to vent.

[Econoline 150]

Originally Posted by spikedog

The Autozone here in Rock Springs is a good one. Cheer up, some people are just here to vent.

And for humorous purposes. You have dummies on both sides of the counter.
Even at my age it never ceases to amaze me how stupid people are. Mark Twain said something like Theres nothing common about common sense.

[460429_freak]

well my rant with my local AZ was this the larger AZ quoted me plugs wire for my escort for I belive 20 bucks(price may be wrong) for lifetime... so I went to my local AZ (I live 20 miles fom any town 40 miles to the "big town") and asked for the same plug wires yeah got them that will be 30 bucks plus tax... WHAT!!!! cape AZ has them for $20 ...counter guy oh that must have been the 1 year NO so I proceede to tell him check cape's stock lo and behold cape sells them for $20 for lifetime... then he pop's off oh I gues I can sell you mine for that... you will or I will go to oreilly's!!!...

I really mess with the guys on my dodge truck org. a 76" 400 auto now it's a 440 stick with 82 model axels
with chevy drive shafts and points running 502 caddy wires...

but I got to give them some credit some guys are good I took in my u-joint (broke) out of the dodge it has been sitting 10 years so I have forgot the part # this guy got out the paper books and measured my ujoint and got the specailty joint I needed while the first clerk just looked in udder amazment...

my other car to have fun with them is my z-28
403 olds motor ... (they didn't come with that motor)

and really for fun when I get parts for my inlaws ford truck... usally when the kid is being a smart ares...

what you need

a clutch set

for what

a 1978 for f-250 4x4 4 speed with a 460....

there is no listing

I know now will you listen to what I need
usally that gets the manager... then I tell him what I did tell him what years to get the parts from and we are both happy except for the smart arse kid....

but I do have a auto part store that I go into ...

what you need tune up kit for my 350 chevy all they ask do you want the premuim cap and rotor or the stanard.. or even if I ask that for my 360 400 460 ect them ol boy's work on cars and know there stuff...

want to have fun ask them for sparks plugs for your 6.9 or 7.3

[Aftrmidnite]

"I need a new Oil Pan Plug" Oh, what happen to the old one? "It went down the storm sewer" I'd get enough info off them to report them, store said, not to do that any more, so I quit.

[fellro86]

I have heard reports of customers doing that over storm drains... they thought they were drains for the store...


Had one in today, was "testing" to see how well a can of WD-40 sprayed.. all over the floor were everyone had to walk...

[mercman86]

Had a dummy come into my shop's parts dept this afternoon looking for a distributor cap and rotor for a late model MerCruiser V8 with thier "Thunderbolt" Ignition system. I looked them up and pulled them off the shelf. I said the caps 35.00 and the rotors 12.00. His jaw about hit the floor: "WHAT?!!! ALMOST 50 BUCKS FOR A CAP AND ROTOR?!!!" I said, yea thats what their goin for. Then he said "Got any slightly used ones i can have for nuthin?" Sensing that this guy was a total jackass, i jokingly said "sorry, i wish i did, but the garbage already got taken away!" He chuckled and said that he needed to "shop around" and would call if he wanted them. Beleive it or not i saw him poking around our garbage cans on his way out!!!

[Old93junk]

Originally Posted by mercman86

Had a dummy come into my shop's parts dept this afternoon looking for a distributor cap and rotor for a late model MerCruiser V8 with thier "Thunderbolt" Ignition system. I looked them up and pulled them off the shelf. I said the caps 35.00 and the rotors 12.00. His jaw about hit the floor: "WHAT?!!! ALMOST 50 BUCKS FOR A CAP AND ROTOR?!!!" I said, yea thats what their goin for. Then he said "Got any slightly used ones i can have for nuthin?" Sensing that this guy was a total jackass, i jokingly said "sorry, i wish i did, but the garbage already got taken away!" He chuckled and said that he needed to "shop around" and would call if he wanted them. Beleive it or not i saw him poking around our garbage cans on his way out!!!

Guess he just could not get it through his head that ANYTHING for a boat is EXPENSIVE!......Inboard/outboard motor parts set you back good, no matter what.

[fellro86]

And had you given him any used ones, likely would have been back bitching because they didn't work...