I can understand that people that work at auto parts chains are not trained personnel or professional mechanics. I also realize that they dont rebuild parts or know every part of every vehicle, but at some point, they have got to step up.
This is a little note that i wrote to O'reilly's Feedback.

"I purchased a power steering pump a week ago, on a Saturday night. Was not given a choice of any, so thought only 1 was available. I was told that i could pick it up the following day, Sunday, at 8:30pm. I went in to get it and they said, "oops, the parts truck broke down", so i picked it up Monday night. I installed the pump on Wednesday, and it failed by Friday night. I looked on the website and found a list of pumps that were never offered to me. The one i was given was labeled as a replacement for a specific part #, that i was never asked. The clerk that i talked to said that i was probably given that pump because the supplier was being discontinued and that they try to get rid of current stock, so they can carry the current vendors merchandise?! So i ordered a different one, and was told i could pick it up tonight at 8:30pm. I called at 8:15 because i will walk 30 minutes to the store. I was told that the guy that ordered it forgot that it was Saturday, and it wont be in until 2:30pm on Sunday!!! I am on many truck forums and i will be sharing my experience.

Thank you for your time."



But i lied, im only on this forum...

 

Sounds like you guy flunked burger flipping 101
and went on to try his hand at auto parts.

It's really too bad we as the end user have to
go in with more info then the guy behind the counter.

But we do.

Sean

 

Instances like this that are really annoying, because it gives counter people a bad rap... I happen to be a counter guy at a NAPA store. Doesn't help that I'm in HS still...

Now don't read that as a complaint about you. It's a complaint about the un-educated people who get hired on as cheap labor.. You have every right to be pissed. I would be too, and would make the same sort of comments. There's a reason I never shopped at Autozone or O'Reilly's

-Jameson

 

Well the only thing I have to say becuase I have worked at O'reillys is their computer system is **** more often than not the suggested part by the system is wrong so I learned to use the parts books from the manufacturers first if there was any doubt or visually matching parts terrible computers

 

Wasnt too many years back a local parts house/machine shop was bought by NAPA. There were 2 salesmen working there who had been there as long as I can remember.If you needed something they could remember the parts number and walk straight to it without ever using puter. Of course those days are gone now. I can see where it would be difficult to remember all 793,000 different sensor part numbers that cars use now. The NAPA store now doesnt carry fel-pro, timken,etc. They can get it but they push their brand. And the machine shop has pretty much turned into a place to get axle bearings pressed on. I doubt they could grind a valve, install a guide or anything that takes thinking.

 

With the internet and FTE part # guru's like ND and mike o0o0o0, how can you NOT go into a parts store with a ton more information that the counter help.

I feel you pain Jklnhyd, same lesson twice for me, but I had a 30 min one way drive with a clutch (11" or 12" question) and a drag link situation.

Bad enough I trusted the "lady" lol, when she said "yes that's the correct one" and I never opened the box and I trusted the computer and the parts puller. Fail x2 on me.

So now I spend time of the parts store web and FTE and make sure I am armed to the teeth with the correct part #'s and I dang sure cj parts #'s, open the box to double ck.

You should of seen the look when I threw the wrong parts back across the counter, when the lady said "oops wrong part got pulled". I trusted them twice, NEVER AGAIN.

Hope it works out, hang in there.

 

I am a real fan of the local napa store in town. I get jobber pricing,and the people there know their stuff and their computer program is great! Lots of 3d pics so you can compare parts right there.

 

There's only one parts store I trust to go to when I need parts, and that's actually a Bumper to Bumper store 30 mins away from me. The guys in there have been there for literally countless years (or so it seems), and yep they find a part I need that's NOS laying around in their upstairs inventory.

But...since we are bashing on O'Reillys I'll add in. I needed a headlight switch. I went to O'Reillys to order one and was told it would be in that afternoon and they'd call me. 3 days LATER I get a call saying it was in. The best part? Its the really cheap POS switch that doesn't work at all...the BWD one. But again, that's all I was offered. Never going there again.

 

No bashing O'Reilly's by themselves, it was Auto Zone that messed up the clutch order and O'R that goofed the drag link. I would say it was humans that made the mistakes.

I now shop at a old local ma and pop parts place and just wait for the big parts to come in. But I have never walked out of there mad either. lol

 

I have also learned to just go to websites like Rock Auto and search out the parts I need and then compare with the other Parts chains, but I make sure I have the part numbers for those chains before I go in there to get the part.

 

I have to walk further, but i found a Napa that i didnt even know was here, lol. The website even tells me which ones are in stock at the store. Going to get it at 9:00am


Yes, i understand computer/human errors. The part that broke the camels back was the second time the part was "oops, tomorrow". The staff at the local store seems to be only interested in pounting fingers and assuring me that it wasnt that individuals fault. The "wadn't me!" is usually a learned response

 

All major parts store websites have websites where you can look up available parts, and even check stock for local stores. O'Reilly is one of them. You should always do this research first and go in a step ahead of them. Find the part you're looking for online, then tell them that's what you want. Sometimes their website will say something is in stock when it in fact isn't, but they'll be able to order it. Don't rely on the person behind the counter to do the selection for you. Some will pick the cheapest one on the list because they assume that's what you want (which is usually the worst choice).

 

I use O'reilly for most parts I use at my shop . I mean a LOT of parts . But they have good people and bad . You need to know to talk to for the proper parts .

 

True in all accounts. However, most times they don't even give an option for the "good" stuff. So maybe I'm more irritated at that. I suppose I haven't had too much luck at the large "chain" stores like advance or auto zone either. They usually just have cheaper quality parts IMO.

 

I think it's funny that when I was reading this thread at the bottom of the page was a O'Riellys ad LOL