Who's the Best Auto Parts Store??

[MDJEEPER]

This may be like asking which color somebody like best, but....

Which auto parts store has the best parts at the best prices??

a) NAPA

b) Auto Zone

c) Advance Auto Parts

d) My local mom and pop store

e) They're all about the same

f) I never use a retail store; I shop online only


So, what does everyone think...

 

[Old Dog]

I can't say, I use them all, depends what I'm buying.

 

[LongHorn]

In Brenham, Texas. I'd have to say NAPA, but it's a very old privately owned store.
So it does not necessarily reflect on other NAPA stores .

 

[IOPort51]

I guess it boils down to the fact that most of the time going to a parts house is an ordeal, as in not a lot of fun.
I find it saves me a lot of time if I can find the part number before I call them.
But what the heck the people are usually trying so I cut a much slack as I can with out laughing out loud.

 

[MDJEEPER]

I can't say, I use them all, depends what I'm buying.

That has been my experience thus far as well. I have mainly been using stuff from Advance Auto Parts because there's one located about 5 minutes from home. However, NAPA seems to have the advantage when ordering parts...They seem to be able to get most stuff in overnight, when the other other local part houses want 3-5 days minimum.

 

[elwood blues]

Because all NAPA stores are independently owned, all of the places I've lived I generally end up going to NAPA. Even though NAPA stands for Never Any Parts Available, and it takes them a couple of days to get anything you need, most NAPA stores that I've been have decent enough counter monkeys that generally know cars.

 

[dalefan88]

since i work at advance auto parts ill go with oriellys lol just kidding. ill pick adavance auto. if i cant get it at work i go to the local jeep store or the net and i love craigslist.

 

[mylittlecj5]

I spent 1 1/2 hours at O'Riellys today with the only counter guy worth a damn in this town trying to adapt some brake lines over. He didn't have it all in stock, so I took the numbers over to Advance and had them look them up. Their computer didn't show the right parts, so the guy stood there with a blank look on his face, until I asked to look at his Brass fitting assortment. Ended up finding what I needed 6 foot up a wall, after he spent 10 minutes on the ladder sizing things up by eye...I got up there and had the part in 30 seconds flat....Nice that they printed the stock number I needed to interchange right on the package!

 

[Cheepjeep85]

advanced is about 5 min from the house as well. plus most everybody in the store knows there stuff, and i know em all on a first name basis. used to be autozone had the best prices but here lately advanced has been cheaper on everything ive asked for, i know because i get online and check prices before i go shopping if i have time.
advanced and autozone both have next day parts service. their isn't a napa within 30 of me. oreily's is ok, prices are comparable. pep boys is a joke, i think they believe eveything they sell is made of gold.

a little back story on pepboys. the thermostat locked up in my s10 at work one day, pep boys was within walking distance so i go down there ask for a thermostat, and my jaw dropped $17 for a thermostat. normally $8-$12 anywhere else, i won't be going back to pepboys.

 

[nitor]

I was putting a new master cylinder on my '85. I took the end of one of the brake lines that had twisted off into an Advance Auto Parts store that's near me. Without even looking at the end, the guy behind the counter said that was a dealer item. I didn't argue with him, I just went over to the NAPA store and found it myself off of the brake line display they have. I wouldn't buy anything electrical at Auto Zone or Advance either. Every time I do, it goes bad. I bought an alternator from Advance. It started squealing. Took it back, they gave me another. Installed it and the next day the same thing happened. Went to NAPA, got an alternator, installed it and haven't had a problem since. Sometimes I'm not sure if those guys that work at the Zone and Advance know what an automobile is. Unless they read the sign on the front of the building I'm not sure some of them know where they are.

 

[nitor]

At Advance or Auto Zone, if something isn't in the computer, they don't know where to find it. They don't know about the parts catalogs, and don't know how to use them.

 

[BajaEdition]

In the last town I lived in, and until about 5 years ago when the one here had to shut down trying to compete with the fast food style auto parts stores, I used to like the Mom and Pop store as they seemed to work harder for the business. Now I use Napa the most, and for a couple of reasons.
They seem to be able to get parts ordered before 10 by noon and before noon by 3, they have a great selection of parts books, not just a computer where we find a lot of parts for the old stuff I work on, (ever try to get a part for a 66 Alpine Sprite) And they have a nice tool catalog for specialty tools that are of a quality that they are not use once items, such as hub pullers etc.
I do use Kragen and Auto Zone a lot however as both are within 1/2 a mile of the house and I can get common stuff from them on a run in and out basis.

 

[fishinfool98]

Napa for the win
Bought a puller set from shucks and got home to open a box that was used with a few bent parts took it back to them they said that I had done it because when they rent tools out they always inspect them when they come back in
Looked at the guy and asked him why I paid full price for a brand new part that was used ( he looked clueless)
ended up getting my money back after going round and round with the manager for 30 min

 

[dalefan88]

At Advance or Auto Zone, if something isn't in the computer, they don't know where to find it. They don't know about the parts catalogs, and don't know how to use them.

i agree with you on that. i deal with the shops all day and i think im the only one that opens the books. all the kids will get the performance ones out to look their stuff up but thats it.

 

[Cheepjeep85]

i think it varies by store and location the guys at my local advance are very knowledgeable they have the catalogs and know how to use them, and the manager around there knows his stuff. but i agree big chain stores seem to hire their fair share of dumbasses i guess im lucky.

seems to me that when guys that work there make a career out of the place they tend to know the business better, but the highschool kids, and chicks that work there its just a job like working at mcdonalds or something.

 

[BajaEdition]

i think it varies by store and location the guys at my local advance are very knowledgeable they have the catalogs and know how to use them, and the manager around there knows his stuff. but i agree big chain stores seem to hire their fair share of dumbasses i guess im lucky.

seems to me that when guys that work there make a career out of the place they tend to know the business better, but the highschool kids, and chicks that work there its just a job like working at mcdonalds or something.

that is what it boils down to

 

[nitor]

i think it varies by store and location

I agree. My local Advance had a guy that was really good. They promoted him, sent him to his own store someplace.

 

[jswatson0917]

For most stuff I will go to advanced But I also go there knowing what I need I have one close to the house plus they offer a 10% Military Discount.

 

[IOPort51]

This is an actual phone conversation.
Me: I need a wiper motor for my jeep it is an 81 jeep CJ5 .
parts house: and what year Jeep is that?
me: 1981
parts house:and what model?
me: CJ5
parts house: what size motor?
Me: does it matter?
parts house: some times.
Me: AMC 258 i6 / 4.2l
parts house: which window?
Me: front?
parts house: Is this like a Cherry O Key? (pronounce like karaoke)
me: what?
parts house:Is this like a Cherry O Key? (could you possibly be thinking of a Cherokee?)
me: what is a Chery O key? I have no idea what you are talking about. it is a CJ5 .
parts house:I have no listing for a 89 CJ5 .
me : 1981 Jeep CJ5
parts house: OK which window?
me: front?
parts house: I don't show window motors for an 81 CJ5
me: how about a wiper motor?
parts house: Thats $XX.XX plus $XX.XX core.
me: is it in stock?
parts house: no
me: how long?
parts house: two or three days.
me : thanks I'll get back to you.

Would anybody like to guess which McAuto parts this conversation was with??

here is a hint, O Reilly's didn't have it in stock but they will have it before noon and NAPA wants about $35 more for the same motor.
the world is such an amusing place.

The funniest part was "Is this like a cherry O key

 

[susie]

I like NAPA. They arent always cheaper, but my guy Corey knows his stuff. And he knows who I am, and knows that I am a little ditzy, but he is so nice to me. And they usually have what I need. If they dont, he has it there within 24 hours.