So berkeleying done with parts stores

I am so furious with parts stores right now. Less than 50% of the time I get the right part. I'm replacing the turn signal switch in the 67 LeMans. For those of you who don't know, GM turn signal switches require a complete disassembly of the upper end of the column with all of its E-clips, springs, threaded plates, linkages, etc.

So I finally get my old one out only to find that the new one is completely wrong. Way wrong. Now I have a disabled useless car sitting in the garage until I can find the right part. GM used the same berkeleying switch for 20 years. How hard can it be to find the right part? Seriously.

Grrrr. Rant over.

About as hard as it is for the cheapo ebay ball joints, your buddy buys and you agree help put in, get the diameter right so they go in without so much heat you ruin them and have to buy him good new ones.

I don't even bother with giving the parts monkeys an application now.

I use Rockauto's website, then give the parts goon a part number to look up.

95% of the time I get the correct part. The 5% is when the x-reference in the computer is wrong.

My local parts store tried to tell me that I needed to go to the dealer to get a clutch disc for a 1957 Corvette.

There's two spline counts and three diameters for Chevy clutches from the 1950's to the 1980's. I asked them for the clutch disc for a 1978 Camaro with a three speed. Guess what, they had it on the shelf.

Idiot couldn't even be bothered to look in the computer.

Many parts stores are now retail stores that happen to sell auto parts. They have a sales plan that relies much more heavily on merchandizing and multi channel (internet, apps) than expirience. There are good and bad stores out there, but they seem to be hit or miss. It seems that either they get it, and the staff if loaded with expirience, or they don't, and no one does.

Actually GM used a few different turn signal switches in those years. Just looking at resto parts places, there are 8 different turn signal switches used for 1964-72 LeMans/GTO cars, depending on what options your car has. But you are correct that most parts stores rarely have the right one. Dealt with that plenty of times myself.

Since I work at a resto parts house, I get to see both sides. Many times columns have been changed over the years and they don't know it. Then it is real fun to find the right switch for them.

i am on alternator #4 in a 3 week period. i can deal with the morons, but to sell me 3 alternators that are junk out of the box when i live 50 miles away from the store...

frustrating...

-J0N

The downside of reliance on data.

Systems are moving toward VIN based parts identification, even parts with chips that have to be programmed to match your VIN.

Your LeMans doesn't have a 17 digit VIN.

Data reliance allows machines to do the work. It enables companies to hire lower skilled workers. They no longer need the knowledgable salesman.

But they are loosing the knowledge base at the counter.

If you are going to drive an older vehicle, you are going to have to be patient and creative.

You could take it apart, find the parts numbers, order them, and expect to wait.

Or, you could say screw it, and install a dashboard switch or do without (not recommending).

The skilled parts counter guy is gone.

Honda owners have fought this battle for a long time … we can buy a parts store Chinese POS or we can suck it up and buy a Honda OEM for mega $$$ … or we can buy the internal parts (usually the coil or the igniter) …

at least the parts store Chinese POS's come with a life time guarantee … while that doesn't necessarily get you back on the road immediately it does, eventually get you rolling for a lot less $$

hind sight is great, but sometimes it's a good idea to pull the part first, and then go to the parts store .. so you can compare

Oh goody! Another parts store rant.

Blame yourselves for using them. You can order whatever you need online and have it faster than they can get it from the warehouse. What are you doing in Autozone in the first place? The grocery store sells Turtle Wax for less.

You can play the same game with dealers too. You would think they would know what the proper part is, but not always.

I always love the "it's all the same part" line. After slinging parts for 16 years both dealer and aftermarket that is a flat out lie. I believe old school programmers had a term for it: GIGO. Garbage In, Garbage Out. You give incomplete information or a half assed attempt hat is what you get in return.

SVreX wrote: The downside of reliance on data. Systems are moving toward VIN based parts identification, even parts with chips that have to be programmed to match your VIN. Your LeMans doesn't have a 17 digit VIN.

This could be bad news for everyone not in North America since our cars don't have VINs at all.

I used to use VINs saved from junkyard vehicles of the same models as mine for shopping for parts in the US or Canada, but now I just use RockAuto. You should see the look you get if you honestly tell the parts guy your car doesn't have a VIN.

Boost crazy nailed it, it's a service industry job now. Go easy on the minimum wage employee fresh off the street (within reason of course). If they get it wrong politely correct them and they may learn something. Be a d-bag and they learn nothing and hate you to boot.

Getting bad info/wrong parts sucks but it's not the employees fault they were hired off the street and given no instruction besides "it's all in the computer".

Giant Purple Snorklewacker wrote: Oh goody! Another parts store rant. Blame yourselves for using them. You can order whatever you need online and have it faster than they can get it from the warehouse. What are you doing in Autozone in the first place? The grocery store sells Turtle Wax for less.

Well, for example, the driver's side window regulator went out in the Suburban last month. I needed it that day as the window was stuck in the down position. So I checked Advance Auto (using the browser on my phone) and the local store 4 blocks from my house had them in stock, I drove over there and an hour later had the new regulator in the truck and working. WAY faster than even Amazon Prime same day shipping IF they even had one in stock in the Baltimore warehouse to DO same day shipping. Same withe the trans filter kit I put in the '85 2004R trans I'm putting in the kid's '79 Chevy truck. Why wait around for internet shipping for stuff like that?

Internet's great for a lot of stuff, true, and for a lot of cars, getting OEM or better parts online is the way to go. But let's not comletely rule out the local parts shops, either.

There's a small, family owned chain were I live. Great service and people who have been selling pars for 30+ years. Sadly, they have had to stock most chinese crap to compete with the O'vatozone's...

1. Modern parts stores are retailers that happen to sell parts. Look at all the E36 M3 on the counters. No different than the E36 M3 in the checkout line at Walmart.

2. Most auto parts guys are paid minimum wage. In my case, my self and my assistant are the only ones paid worth a crap, everyone else is at minimum wage or just above it. $7.55 an hour won't buy you an experienced, knowledgable employee. I try to hire the best I can, but these places simply don't offer the pay to get good people.

3. Or just skip the guy at the counter and order the stuff online and pick it up in the store. You get the exact parts you want, usually cash in discount codes online and get it cheaper than paying in the store, and you don't have to deal with Joe Schmo counter guy.

Chain stores exist for 1 purpose- fast delivery.

Even when I order parts from them, I always have them in hand within 12 hours (usually 4)

They supply repair shops, who want the parts immediately. That's the only reason they inventory anything.

AFAIC, it's always faster to buy from them.

It's usually cheaper to buy online, unless it is heavy, and the shipping cost kills it.

Lots of people overlook this. Online gets away with it a lot- they tell you the price, and you overlook the shipping costs. When you add them together, parts store is often cheaper.

Modern parts stores are both retailers and wholesalers.

I don't pay retail, because I have a business, and maintain a (small) "fleet". Same for repair shops.

WalMart doesn't sell wholesale.

Up here we have Canadian Tire, which is about an autozone equivalent. It's fine for regular maintenance stuff, but when you ask for a valve cover gasket for an SBC, they have to look up the make, model, and engine.

G_Body_Man wrote: when you ask for a valve cover gasket for an SBC, they have to look up the make, model, and engine.

All parts store computers require basic info before it'll give you parts listing (you do the same for rock auto.com, no one has complained about that one yet). You can't just type in SBC and get what you want. Of course the guys that have been around a while will know what you need without looking it up, but that's usually only one or two guys in the store. Basically what Bobzilla said, GIGO. Give Joe Schmoe a year/make/model/engine of something you know came with a SBC, you'll make it easier on them, your experience will much easier, and you'll get what you want.

Rare indeed is the case that I will choose to enter an auto parts store as opposed to ordering the stuff online. In the former case, I am met with idiocy and a low probability of success. In the latter case, I get what I want, at a good price, delivered to my very door. It's a no-brainer.

jmthunderbirdturbo wrote: i am on alternator #4 in a 3 week period. i can deal with the morons, but to sell me 3 alternators that are junk out of the box when i live 50 miles away from the store... frustrating... -J0N

Just a jandy tip to anybody else that experiences this issue...

Have them test any part that they can test BEFORE you leave with it. This counts for batteries and alternators.

G_Body_Man wrote: Up here we have Canadian Tire, which is about an autozone equivalent. It's fine for regular maintenance stuff, but when you ask for a valve cover gasket for an SBC, they have to look up the make, model, and engine.

Early or late perimeter bolt or center bolt? 5/32 or 7/32 cork or rubber or viton?

curtis73 wrote: GM used the same berkeleying switch for 20 years. How hard can it be to find the right part? Seriously.

Funny, AMC bought their columns from GM, and I had at least four options (different part numbers) for my Javelin's switch when I did it (tilt or non-tilt, column or console shift)...

Javelin wrote:

G_Body_Man wrote: Up here we have Canadian Tire, which is about an autozone equivalent. It's fine for regular maintenance stuff, but when you ask for a valve cover gasket for an SBC, they have to look up the make, model, and engine.

Early or late perimeter bolt or center bolt? 5/32 or 7/32 cork or rubber or viton?

Crap, I forgot that they changed the valve covers. Whelp, time for me to wear the dunce cap