I hate going to parts stores

[thinger2]

Or, you look around and wonder if you're being Punk'D.

Yep. I thought about that too!
It really slows you down for a minute while you try to process just what in the unforseen unexpected mental disconnect just happened.
And Im sure the story rolled around the break room about how some moron called up trying to buy parts for a train air conditioner.
T.R.A.N.E fer ***** sake.

 

[RedneckWithPaychecks]

I had an experience I remembered that shows why I prefer to go to somewhere rather than call in.

This was in my short stint in Minnesota (I lived in N1imrod, MN of all places) and N1mrod to Park Rapids was around 30 miles. I lived there for a variety of excuses; but I was refurbishing the shed in the back yard and I had my rusty 1999 C3500 5.7 and needed lumber.
Called a lumber yard that I can't remember the name of in Park Rapids; Me: "Hey, I need four 5 foot by 5 foot sheets of plywood" employee #1: "What are you building" Me: "I'm building a utility shed that is 5' x 10', 10 foot front and 5 foot sides" employee #1: "What so there won't be a roof?" Me: "I already have the roof and frame, I just need to wall it in" (Before anyone says anything about me using plywood: this was a cheap way to wall it in before it started raining for 5 days) Employee #1: "We have 5' x 12' and 10' x 12' if that helps" Me: I'm thinking "how do I say 'That doesn't help at all' without saying That doesn't help at all". Employee #1 "let me transfer you to my boss".
I wait around 45 minutes, enough time to let the truck get the A/C going. Boss: "Hey this is Boss with Lumber Yard. I hear you need some plywood" Me: "Yes I do. I need whatever you can get that is 5 foot by 5 foot, and I need 4 sheets of it". Boss: "We don't have that exact size but I can hook you up with 5' x 8' plywood and have Jason cut it (whoever Jason is)". Me: That's perfect, how much? Boss: "We don't know but it'll be less than $1,000" Me: "Good. Thanks, I'll see that in 1-1.5 hours".

I get there with my daughter to pick up the wood from the lumber yard. "Jason" (the guy was named Ron), and cut 3 of them to 5 x 5 and left the other one 5 x 8. Then a forklift loaded with 5 x 10 oak beams and the driver says to me "Where do you want it?". "Wrong truck". "No, says Ezra on this ticket". "My name is Ezra but I didn't order that" "Oh, well it says here that you needed 5 x 10 oak beams for a utility shed". I said "I don't know anyone who needs that for a utility shed, but this Ezra doesn't need that much wood". Then it hit me; The first guy thought I needed that, so that's why a bill for some plywood was going to be less than $1000. I had to talk with boss about how employee #1 added that and I've wasted over 2 hours only to get 3 pieces of plywood and an order of 5 massive oak beams that I don't need.

For those wondering, the shed followed me to the hunting club and is being used as a "get out of the cold" building.

Really? N i m r o d is blocked?

 

[DeCaff2007]

... just because I'm young ....

And yet, according to your avatar, you know who Beavis and Butthead are. They first aired in 1993. I'm guessing that puts you in your early 40's.

Oh, and about that same post, I used to work at a parts store, as well. Most of the idiots that worked there were just as clueless as many of the customers were. I made it my mission to become not only knowledgeable about parts, but be able to locate them in an instant with minimal aide from that fvcking computer. I did just that. Co-workers came to recognize me as dependable, knowledgeable, and hardworking. Most importantly, however, if a customer had a question, 99% of the time I knew the answer and THAT was my overall goal. Too bad I woke up one morning and couldn't move my right leg to due a back injury. Don't know to this day how it happened, but that was the end of that job.

I think a person will find that if an employee knows their product and how to use/install it.... that they won't need the stores silly gimmicks to sell things. It will just happen.

Oh, and there's an amusing story that goes with this, too. We were busy as usual one night, I was on the clock, and my Dad came in for a visit. I was of course busy, running around getting stuff done. LoL so my Dad see's this and everyone else is standing around on their fvcking phones. So my Dad goes over to the Store Manager and says, "How come every time I come in here, my son is the only one working his ass off?" LOL the Store Manager didn't know what to say!

 

[Erik the Awful]

Lowe's is a joke. I ranted a couple months ago about ordering lawnmower tires and they got lost in shipping. FedEx owned up immediately, but Lowes insisted on keeping my money for a full month before issuing a refund. I don't go there anymore, and I certainly won't order anything from them online.

 

[454cid]

Lowe's is a joke. I ranted a couple months ago about ordering lawnmower tires and they got lost in shipping. FedEx owned up immediately, but Lowes insisted on keeping my money for a full month before issuing a refund. I don't go there anymore, and I certainly won't order anything from them online.

They're expensive and the search function on their website is abysmal. I also hate their store colors..... depressing gray and blue.

 

[DeCaff2007]

It’***** or miss for me. I’ve gotten into the habit of looking everything up online before going to the local stores. Comparison shopping Advance, Auto Zone, Oreilly’s & Napa. Advance Auto almost always has a 15-20% off discount code for online orders and you can pick up in 30 minutes if it’s in stock. I use Amazon and RockAuto too if not in a hurry and the savings is worthwhile.

Just now saw this post. Good effing luck getting that kind of service from the Advance Auto in town here. They are so short staffed that they have been closing the store an hour early. Not only that, the one guy in there has one serious chip on his shoulder.

On that same note, I had to visit that very store for an oil filter and catch pan for my daily driver. The guy behind the counter came up with the filter before I was able to get the back of the store, pick out my catch pan, and get back to the counter. At which point, two ignorant ******* hispanics played the "no English" card and took my spot in line. The counterman took action and told them he was helping me and they'd have to wait. As per sanctuary city ignorance, they just stood there and babbled off some nonsense.

He told them again and again. I stepped in and told them the same thing. Still playing the "no English" card, they still tried to hold the spot in line that they had just cut into.

Well, finally, the only other employee in the store rattled off something in spanish and the two ignorant ******** moved over to the next line.

A55holes.

 

[98chevy2500SS]

And yet, according to your avatar, you know who Beavis and Butthead are. They first aired in 1993. I'm guessing that puts you in your early 40's.

I’m guessing if I know who Led Zeppelin is that makes me 60? Not trying to offend anyone, I’m just kinda confused about that analogy. However, I agree a lot of parts counter people are just as clueless as the customer. Its the few that actually know a few things that get put in the same category as the rest. I’ve gotten better with time knowing how stupid these computers are, and the books seem to be more useful than the damn computer! lol.

 

[DeCaff2007]

....I’m just kinda confused about that analogy...

It's just how my brain works.

 

[User_name]

If it helps yall any, I'm only 21...

 

[xXxPARAGONxXx]

Looks like I'll be going to local parts store for spark plugs. ACDelco 41-993 are like $28 for a box of 8 on Amazon and eBay. Seems too good to be true. I’ve seen some YouTube videos that state there are plenty of counterfeits out there, so I guess I’ll need to see them in person to confirm their authenticity, and at the same time, eat the cost for the sake of certainty.