Napa
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New User
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 19
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From: northwest florida
Napa
Has anyone noticed that NAPA's quality has gone down? I replaced a friend's master cylinder about a year ago and it has gone bad. Well he told me that the fellow that replaced it this time got a bad master cylinder the first time and had to return it for another one! In the past I have had very good luck with NAPA stuff, guess they have gotten cheaper to compete with the Autozone stuff.
Postmaster
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 4,004
Likes: 1
From: North of Boston MA
Like so many other things you buy these days, look at the box and see where the item was manufactured. I am sure you will find a lot of the aftermarket stuff being made in Mexico, South America, China or some other 3rd world hell-hole.
It's the only way any parts house can sell a replacement part so cheaply. You get what you pay for.
Quality seems to matter less to folks these days. What matters is price, not value. People seem to be content to buy a $10 widget every year than buy a well made $30 widget once and have it last 5 years.
JMO as always.
It's the only way any parts house can sell a replacement part so cheaply. You get what you pay for.
Quality seems to matter less to folks these days. What matters is price, not value. People seem to be content to buy a $10 widget every year than buy a well made $30 widget once and have it last 5 years.
JMO as always.
Junior User
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 87
Likes: 0
From: Savage, Minnesota
Napa has always been good to me, and yet, I still buy stuff their and it all seems to be fine. But, I agree with nitramjr. Half the stuff given at Christmas, was exchanged for a working one.
Elder User
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 734
Likes: 0
From: Lancaster, CA
I used to use NAPA all the time in the old days, but lately their parts are not as good as they used to be. I have had brand new water pumps fail. My last water pump lasted 6 months, it was made in Poland. The replacement they gave me was made in Japan, and didn't have a big shaft as the old one. I had a thermastat break at the bridge of the pin that caused the stat to close. It was in just two weeks. Most of the replacement parts are made in China, and some of the quality is in doubt. I now use OEM parts for my vehicles. They cost more, but I have less trouble with them.
Ed G
Ed G
Elder User
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 692
Likes: 0
From: Houston
I only buy American made and have had good luck with them. It doesn't matter which parts store I go to. If they don't have American made, I call someone else. I even found an American made radiator cap the other day at Autozone.
Senior User
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 233
Likes: 0
From: KC Metro
Autozone User Here
I always use Autozone and i've had good quality and actually find what i'm looking for.Most places they tell me they have to order it and I HATE THAT!!!Call me picky but when i'm working on something I want to finish that day not the next day.
Freshman User
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 31
Likes: 0
I gave up on all the parts houses years ago, I only buy Ford parts now, it's not worth it to wrench all the time changing out a lifetime alternator or starter. I can get one from Ford and it will last long enough for me...
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Fleet Owner
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 26,007
Likes: 575
From: Brentwood,CA
bottom line just be careful where the stuff was made. a rebuilt master cylinder failing is nothing new. that is why you never buy a rebuilt m/c. the problem is they honed them but bigger pistons are not made so a large o ring is used to make it work and most of the time it won't. i can walk down the isle of my local napa and a good 70% of the stuff says made in usa.
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Posting Guru
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 1,167
Likes: 1
From: miami florida
i get all the time where i work
i work for advance auto parts in miami,fl
it might be where it was made i say MIGHT
it can also be the person installing the product which has no idea do what they are doing. 85% of the time. so called mechanics. if your looking for an item that is rarely seen as direct replacement you will not find it at any store and you must order it if you happen to find one in the store most likely it was ordered and the person did not pick it up or wrong item. i worked for autzone for 2years before i went over to advance auto parts has napa gone down in it's quality parts yes in some cases.
to keep up with us or autozone,pepboys.
if you can buy ford products CAN BUY go for it. if you can't good luck in the hunt.
i work for advance auto parts in miami,fl
it might be where it was made i say MIGHT
it can also be the person installing the product which has no idea do what they are doing. 85% of the time. so called mechanics. if your looking for an item that is rarely seen as direct replacement you will not find it at any store and you must order it if you happen to find one in the store most likely it was ordered and the person did not pick it up or wrong item. i worked for autzone for 2years before i went over to advance auto parts has napa gone down in it's quality parts yes in some cases.
to keep up with us or autozone,pepboys.
if you can buy ford products CAN BUY go for it. if you can't good luck in the hunt.
More Turbo
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 673
Likes: 4
From: nortonville illinois
i only go to napa for the major parts like gaskets , rings, bearings, brakes, stuff like that . and yes things break every once in a wile but its better to go where i know they will replace it if it is a life time guarentee
un like autozone , we bought a starter there(only becouse it was a sunday ) and it was a "lifetime guarentee" broke about a week later the teeth were made of a soft metel and they wouldnt replace it. i kicked there door and left . i have only gone there for small things like a wireing kit or a chiltons manual since. i did however get the nerve to go back not to long ago when i ordered (a head gasket set i think it was) what i needed they said it will be about a weak to get here , so i asked where is it at they said well its in springfeild so i went, took and extra hour to get the parts, not a dang week! and now i havent been back and never ever plan on goin for anything.EVER
un like autozone , we bought a starter there(only becouse it was a sunday ) and it was a "lifetime guarentee" broke about a week later the teeth were made of a soft metel and they wouldnt replace it. i kicked there door and left . i have only gone there for small things like a wireing kit or a chiltons manual since. i did however get the nerve to go back not to long ago when i ordered (a head gasket set i think it was) what i needed they said it will be about a weak to get here , so i asked where is it at they said well its in springfeild so i went, took and extra hour to get the parts, not a dang week! and now i havent been back and never ever plan on goin for anything.EVER
Last edited by tude; Dec 29, 2005 at 04:15 AM.
Elder User
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 540
Likes: 0
From: Northern MD
When I go to NAPA, the counter guy always asks whether I want the "standard" or "premium" grade. I used to buy the standard grade for my 86 EXP, but got tired of replacing things two or three times. From now on, it's the premium grade for me.
i ain't rite
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 65,429
Likes: 5,509
From: Marlboro Mental Hospital.
when i go to napa, i always get the premium parts. they do not even ask, just give it to me. also i NEVER GET REBUILT. IT AIN'T WORTH THE AGGRAVATION OF A FAILED PART TO SAVE A FEW PENNY'S
FTE Legend
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 37,887
Likes: 20
From: North Central Rural Sask.
We deal with napa through our shop, and they are ok. Quality is ok, and if we do have problems we get it dealth with just fine. If we didnt do so much business with them, that might be a different story though.
Senior User
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 417
Likes: 0
Napa has never failed to make any problems I have had with their stuff right. I can't say the same for MoronZone. AZ's 'lifetime' warranty really means 'If we feel like it' I bought a starter there(It was late on a Sat.) I installed it, Started the car once. The nose casting cracked off the starter and dropped the bendix,shaft, and springs off on the ground. Took the parts back to AZ the next day. They refused to warranty the starter. Said it was 'customer damage'. Don't get me started on Wells electrical parts.
Elder User
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 799
Likes: 0
From: State of Misery (Missouri
My garage, uses multiple parts stores. Some are better at some things then others, and then other times, we seem to go through a streak where they get a bad load of parts in. It's not just one, and it's normally when they try to swap suppliers, and either the new supplier or the old one is trying to do it cheaper.