My experience is, dealer or NAPA,..............Shucks , Autozone etc. their for kids getting air fresheners for their lowered hondas. At least NAPA has quality parts and knowledgeable adults behind the counter.

 

Very funny, I often wonder were all these thin skinned sesative losers are coming from and how they ever get hired in such a guys industry. I lost two jobs cause I scared the help, I guess I can be scary I don't mean to be, but I like to just to get things done and I carry short blocks.

I think the auto industry is the last "guys" industry but I've worked with teenage girls that were much more usefull then some of the soft guys these days. If anyone wants to experiance the last vestage of a thick skinned no nonsence industry they should try selling used cars I've seen men in there 20's go home crying and never come back, just from the verbal rippings that are very common in that carreer, non-hackers only last days or hours. In many stores if your not willing to throw a punch for your paycheck you won't make one.

One of the best hires I ever made was a teenage girl that didn't know much at all, but wanted to learn, was great with customers, smart, and hard working. She has become a great counter person and left the Schucks I hired her at for a much better independent shop and done quite well.

Edit, I was just thinking that Schuck's got mad at me for yelling at an employee I caught steeling but not for phisicaly stopping a parent that was beating there kid in the store.

 

I gotta agree with the last " guys " industry. The sad thing is though is more and more shops are catering to these sniveling, whiney creatures that call themselves men. If they have a problem with a coworker rather than talk to that person they run to management. If you snarl at them for doing it they threaten to call a lawyer. These types are posers in my book. If I have a problem with someone I go straight to them. I expect the same in return. If a guy (or gal ) is mad enough and takes a swing at me they'll definitely get my respect if they didn't already have it. The posers who whine to management do not rate respect. In fact they don't rate the time of day.

I've also met some very knowledgable ladies in this business. In fact most of them can run circles around a lot of the guys.

 

Once again agreed, there was a time when we ridiculed tatle tails and other cowardly behavior. We need to bring that back it's not mean it's part of life and lifes lessons.

 

Sounds like this is an international problem. I live in Western Australia and have dealt with these idiots all over the country either in person or by phone.Why do these ****** think that if they don't stock it or can't get it means it doesn't exist.

 

Started working Nationwise, not bad had very good seasoned workers, when I was 16, didn't now much, but worked very hard at knowing all that I could! Was one of the "kids" at the parts store for awhile, but after awhile, with very few mistakes, started to get the repeat customers. Worked there for 3 years. After Parts America took over, I went back for awhile, did not stay very long, store manager was a joke, employees were young LAZY kids!

Went to an independent, this is where all my hard work paid off! This independent dealt 70% jobber or commercial sales, and used books to look up parts, like starting all over, using the books. But after a couple months, I was getting more phone calls than the store manager!! We did have some employees that were some hard workers, but we also had some that was real bad, they usually became parts delivery drivers.

Why can't some of there parts places have like 15-20 parts laying in the back during a hiring session, and say " Can you name 10 of these parts?" If they can't show them the door! I applied at several parts places, and there was only 1 store that gave any type of PARTS test, and that was Murray's, didn't get the job though cause I got every single one right, the manager said "Nobody has ever gotten all of them right!" figured I would have his job.

I haven't worked parts in awhile, but boy do I get ruby rednecked when I go in to buy parts. Can't get the wrong parts, cause I look them up before I go on the net. But you always have that 1 guy that thinks he knows everything. It seems like you are wasting their time when you go in and get parts. I had a whole list of engine gaskets and misc. parts one time, and after told him what I needed he kept forgetting stuff that I had asked for, and kept huffing and puffing as if I was bothering him!

 

These are the guys that lose my business right away. They seem to think that they are the customer instead of you!

 

Too bad these chain stores dont care enough to read a post like this and take notice. I am sure there are independants out there that do. And those same independants are also glad that the chain stores don't just drives their business that much more.

 

If the parts guy your talking to doesn't have a big note pad coverd with customer's vehicle and part numbers, and doesn't take notes as you talk to him then he/shes worthless, move on.

 

A good parts guys desk or work area should look like this.




and after work you can find him near here.

 

My first dealership job was at a dual line dealer who sold Freightliner and GMC. We repaired any and all makes of trucks. I worked steady 2nd shift with a very good, sometimes cranky, overworked parts guy. After 5 or so he handled both the customer and shop counters by himself. On slow nights I would volunteer to help him check in stock orders. It was much better than pushing a broom or getting sent home. He taught me a lot. I learned the basics of Cummins, Cat and Detroit Diesel parts systems along with a lot of other info. After awhile when I came to the shop counter on busy nights he would log me onto a computer or point to the books and tell me to find it myself.

Fast forward to today. I keep notebooks full of part numbers for common items. Many times I can hand the counter guy a parts order form with all the numbers I need. All he has to do is check stock. Makes the day a little nicer for both of us.

 

Opossum, you are defiantly are correct on that one. There has been many of times I would call a chain store and tell them what I need and what vehicle, and they told me to hold. Come back on the phone and ask me what I was looking for, and then again what vehicle. Nothing like repeating yourself 2-3 times for a price. I used a note pad for most of my phone calls, but I am also pretty good with part numbers and have a good memory.

 

I agree with not bashing chain stores just because they're chain stores. One of the local Zoneshas a few employees that know their stuff, one of which I worked with at Nationwise (he could get part #s out of the book faster than the rest of us could get it out of the 'puter.) The problem with the pimple faced kid is they're NOT trying to learn. The fact that they argue "X part is the one you need" without knowing everything else (sometimes even after you have told them) is testament to this.

 

Just responded to another post but this reply belongs here too....

Quote:
Originally Posted by Jules-SR
F-150 302 hard starting when warm or hot acts like its flooded, had same problem replaced every sensor no help.

I picked up a coolant sensor from ford dealer and replaced the after market one from napa. Three weeks and no more problems,it had gotten to the point that it was happening every time I went into a store and came right out.

The after market one was all plastic, the one from ford is just like the orignal brass bulb end and plastic elect.conector end. Hope this works for you, Jules


This was exactly the problem with my '92 F150. I had replaced the original coolant temp sensor due to a mistake by the parts guy...he gave me this part when I had asked for a temp gauge switch. After installing it I realized it was the wrong part, left it in there and put in the gauge switch later.

Anyway, that cheap plastic sensor lasted about 6 months...that's when the warm startup problems started. I gave up trying to figure out the problem and took it to a shop that charged me nearly $300 to determine the cheap coolant sensor was faulty. Another bad experience with a know-nothing parts clerk and cheap aftermarket parts.