ive been slowly but surely putting this 410ls ive got back into like new shape....this weekend was painting and brakes on the left side (Oriellys didnt have the right side cylinder)

picked up my parts for the left side, and got home, started putting everything back together after painting and realized the cylinder didnt come with new plungers....and the old ones were beyond use in my opinion....

so back i went, curious why they didnt include the plungers, they didnt have an answer for me.....but started looking them up, couldnt find, checked all ford rear ends, and came to the conclusion that they did not stock them, and didnt show any that could be ordered....in other words, not obtainable....

so i left.....and on a whim, pulled into advance auto around the corner.....walked in, set the old ones down on the counter, guy said, yea, i got those, didnt even have to look up a part number....walked in the back, came out 30 seconds later with a brand new perfect matching set.....

i use to hate advance, and love oriellys....now they are a bit closer on the scale....but like i said, this is the first time they let me down, so i'll give them a second chance....besides, i love how i can shop online and pick up in the store with them

 

It totally depends on the people at the store imho, Ive had good experiences with the local pepboys and advanced.

Then again when its not sunday or after closing time I buy most of my parts at my parts supplier. Not the cheapest but they know me, can get what I want and never an issue.

 

The only way you will get me into oreillys around here is if its after 7pm, thats when the bumper to bumper closes.

Around here, my list of parts stores goes (in order of preference)

Carquest (closes at 6)
Bumper to bumper (closes at 7)
Napa (Dont go here because they are way too pricy)
Autozone (Never go here)
Checker (closes at 9)

 

Around my neck of the woods Oreilys is normally the best choice, Autozone has a bunch of high school aged kids usually that dont anything more than what their computer tells them. Carquest and Napa are also good choices in my book

 

Oriellys has let me down a couple of times. I love advance auto after having an experience almost identical to yours. Only my issue was a tranny filter. You would think they would have those in stock but they couldn't get the right one for my 2wd E4OD. I was pretty hot when I pulled the filter and it wasn't the same as the new one. I had to make another trip up there and they didn't have the right one. I stopped in at advance and they pulled it right out for me. Plus the guys at advance are very helpful with everything. At least at my local advance auto.

I guess it does depend on the people working there.

 

In my town carquest is by far the best and napa and oriellys are the same. napa is pricey and oriellys doesnt have much or the people are idiots. When they first came to town I went in for a serpintine belt, when I set the old one on the counter the d-bag at the counter said "we dont sell snowmobile belts here". I said OK and walked out. Now I only go there if it's past 6:00 or if I need something that seems way too pricey at the other places.

 

I usually use the local advance, but I always price check autozone first. I rarely use o'reily because they never have anything in stock.

We have 2 autozone's and between those and advance I can pick up anything I need for the 250 or my jeep without ordering.

 

I drive an extra mile to pass o'reily then come back to autozone! The high schoolers at o'reily's by me are..... anyway, after checker changed to o'reily, I changed where I shop!

 

ya know, i told the guy, hey, were talking about one of the most common rear ends in the world, literaly millions and millions of them out there and you guys dont keep stocked up on pieces parts like brake kits and the such......

response was that they only keep one in the store, so if someone buys it on a friday, the next truck isnt in until tuesday .......wtf ??

 

hmm. I'd strongly give Autoboner a second thought Fellas I've had not 1 not 2 not 3 but 4 Professional ASE certified mechanics that Autobones Parts are Autocrap!!!! in other words they won't use parts from Autobone or Advanced either one not because of personel but rather the quality or lack there of, of their parts. NOW that said I've used both in the past but on their word I've started using Oreillys for the most part. if the parts guys you deal with are Brain dead FxxKTARDS than go online document the parts numbers and associated prices and head to the store.

That said they didn't have any qualms about Pepgirls or Napa or Carquest

 

lol, i will admit....when i first walked into advance, the young kid working the register asked me if that 8.8 liter was a 4x4 when i asked him to look up a rear end cover......i **** you not

 

O'Reilly is usually my first choice. There are about 6 of them in the Des Moines area, but there's only one of them I will deal with. I literally have one right down the street from where I live but they're usually so busy that they don't take the time to make sure you're getting what you need the first time. I once dealt with them on some brake pads and they had to order them in from the warehouse- at 8:30 AM they said they'd be in by 11 AM. Came in at 11:15 and surprise surprise- they weren't there. So they promised they'd be in by 2 and luckily they were.

The one I prefer to do business with tho, I've always had good luck with. I get what I need the first time- unless I make the mistake in giving them the right info. Plus the employees there are knowledgeable- at least with my F150 and the few other vehicles I've needed parts for.

However, one thing I've noticed about Autozone versus O'Reilly is that, in some cases, what would be a special order part for O'Reilly, Autozone carries in stock. When I had to buy a new blower motor resistor for our old jeep, O'Reilly had to order it, but Autozone had it in stock.

It really just comes down to the store and the people working there. I would probably do more business with the O'Reilly down the street but they are ridiculously busy most of the time and just don't have the time to deal properly with their customers. They're not rude or anything, just too busy to take the time.

It's funny too, because my employer carries a 15% discount at NAPA. Problem is, for what NAPA wants for a part, by the time that discount is applied, it's still cheaper for me to go to O'Reilly. Besides, I always joke that NAPA stands for No Auto Parts Available because it seems like they never have what I'm looking for.

 

Dumbasses work everywhere.

I was getting lucky at Autozone for a while.. But lately they have let me down with their idiot workers. They were recently in the newspaper for employees taking parts off the shelf's and dirtying them up and returning them saying they were defective and getting cash back..
The 2 people doing it were arrested.

Ive been liking advance more lately. Its farther but the old guy that works there is very good with parts.

But I still use Autozone cause its closer. Whenever I need something I just bring them a part number or find it myself..