well, doesn’t officially count since the consumer can’t use them, but WorldPac is the shit.
Yea, including me and you probably didn’t even know it 
I’m kinda the whoever has the cheapest and has the parts in stock. It normally ends up being Advance though.
Should I start asking for a NYspeed discount when I come in?
I used to go to Kenwood Napa when Hybrid was open because Hank is knowledgeable and would take time to help me out more than the chain stores.
I value experience over price because if I have to go back to a store more than once the money made on that part has been lost.
When Hank went to work for Innovative I stopped using Kenwood because I like to have a relationship with my parts guys. They know what you need and take care of you. Every shop owner feels the same way. You need to be able to have a good working relationship with your part supplier and normally you get used to dealing with one guy you don’t like dealing with others.
So when he quit napa, I started going to all the chains around. Everyone was fucking oblivious because when you pay people 7-8 dollars an hour you can’t expect to get great service, experience or knowledge. It takes a great team of people to keep each other motivated to do a good job and not look like a slacker, that is something rare to find in a chain store.
Autozone is the fucking worst on the planet. I don’t know where their people come from or what comic book store they hire them out of but no one, and I mean no one I have ever dealt with from Autozone was knowledgeable or able to think for themselves. This is the McDonalds of auto parts stores. When you get tired of flipping burgers at McDonalds and you want discounts on sweet neon shifters for your sweet 83 Camaro you generally find your way to Autozone and fill out an application.
Carquest seems to the opposite end of the spectrum. It is filled with people who have spent a life time in the parts industry and have forgotten everything they knew and are soo tired of dealing with people that they are just plain fried. It’s rare to get a decent individual at carquest who has a clue, even though their age should somehow make you think they would be able to communicate to you in car terms but that is not the case. I have only once had a good experience with carquest and that was the manager at the transit road location in west seneca. He was passionate about his job, knew what he was doing and was committed to helping with problems. Other than this it would seem that Carquest is filled with soon to be Alzheimer patients. Carquest is the automotive parts industry retirement home.
Napa, well in general I have had a few mixed dealings with Napa. One they are expensive, however they have a very large assortment of parts in their warehouse on Wherle. However, the people that operate the counters at the wherle location are the most unprofessional, surly, self absorbed assholes I have ever had the displeasure of dealing with. This is not an isolated incident either this is years of dealing with the same people over and over. As a result I only use them as a last resort. I even hate dialing the number because I know that when I do I am going to get a pissed off, un helpful person or Cliff, who is a complete retard, if you ever call the wherle one and he answers do what I do. Hang up. Call again. The only person who is worth talking to there is Joan, she is the most knowledgeable and on a good day she tries to be pleasant but it’s a stretch.
Capriotto and other independants. I have rarely dealt with and to be honest usually don’t bother. They all get their parts from the same warehouse in tonawanda so if one of them says they don’t have it none of them will and it’s useless trying. Especially for anything import related.
Advance Auto was the only store of the chains that I actually enjoyed using. It wasn’t for the knowledge either. It was because of the policies and people. They have just as many retards working at advance as they do autozone. The difference is the service. The managers will always work with you and help you get things done. The systems are setup to help you get your projects done and on time. As a business owner they are very easy to work with. No hoops to jump through. It is very easy to keep a good working relationship with the people you choose to work with. The most impressive people I have worked with there was Adam who ran the Depew store (and is now at Niagara street). Adam is knowledgeable, not the most, but very well versed and if he doesn’t have the answer he doesn’t let you down with a well can’t help you. He ALWAYS goes the extra step to make sure that things get done and you get taken care of. Alot of the stores are that way some are not. The sheridan store is again a bunch of retards. I went in there to look some stuff up and it was like pulling teeth with the old bastards working there. The Cheektowaga store is a madhouse. Andy does a good job reeling it in but it’s even too much business most time for that. There have only been a couple people worth talking to at Cheektowaga, Andy being one, otherwise again it’s like talking to a wall. Very apathetic people. Which you wouldn’t expect considering the district managers are all at that store as well.
Auto part international, they are newer in the area and carry many european parts in stock. Knowledgeable people but over worked sometimes. Many fuck ups on a regular basis. A lot of cheap parts, in terms of quality, but otherwise might have what you need. Getting it is another story.
Pep boys…LO fucking L
In the end. Good people are hard to find. When you find someone who knows how to get you taken care of it’s like the clouds parting and a ray shining down on you. As a business owner this is the one thing you want to have because time is money and fuck ups cost double.
So if I were to rank them after all of my years I would say Hank at kenwood napa, considering he is now working there again, hallelujah. Adavance auto parts (use common sense if the person seems unsure it’s because they are) good selection, price matching, good people mostly and fast shipping and easy return policies. Everyone else is a crap shoot and should be used as a last resort.
I generally buy on price/quality. I don’t really care how much the person behind the counter knows about cars. When I go in I know what’s broken and what I need, so as long as they know how to look up a part number and read well enough to find it on the shelf I’m happy.
If I need something right now, usually autozone since the times when I need something right now napa always seems to be closed.
Autozone/advance are like the same store to me. It’s hit or miss if you’re going to get someone who knows what’s going on. But like mike125k said, if you know what part you need what does it matter. Anyone can punch in a make/model/year and pull a part off the shelf. I’d have to drive right past Autozone to get to Advance so that’s why I end up at Autozone more.
This is basically the same for me. The nearest advance and Autozone are a block apart, but I always go to autozone first. They have a better Lend-A-Tool program (they lend more out) and their alt/starter tester is newer, and less likely for the worker to mess up (just had this with the advance guy and a starter I picked up)
For my blazer though, I usually try to get to Napa (only one here, again with sucky hours) as they have the older, more knowledgable staff for vintage vehicles. They used to be next to my mechanic, which worked out great cause he could pick stuff up for me, but they have both moved locations.
Pep Boys handsdown has the best rice.
Autozone experience
I had to get a t3 turbo gasket for my turbo (honda) , so i go in there and i say “I need a t3 turbo gasket for a ford/dodge/whatever.” They ask me what car its going on and i say a honda, but thats irrelevant… its from a dodge truck.
so he starts typing in HONDA. :picard: I SAID ITS FOR A DODGE
“oh… well what year and model”
It doesnt matter, it just needs to be a turbo diesel truck
“well i need to know the year and model, they are different”
No they fucking arent. 89or whatever+, all t3. :picard:
Sorry, you will have to call a dodge dealer for that part :bush:
The autozone i go to has friendly people, but they are stupid as shit
Like i said, i only go there for floormats, or air fresheners. And i bought a tstat from there once, surprised it still works
and oil… i used to get eneos or w/e from swerve, but i just use conventional in my cavalier, and they have pretty good oil/filter package deals
Napa, because I have a hookup at more than one location, and they are good at getting what I need asap if its not in stock
I use Advance Auto Parts. They always take care of me, usually give me a discount for being in there so much over the years, and know me by name when I walk in.
Napa on wherle because I get a discount there for some reason. I just hate arguing when I realize I originally said the part is for an Integra but you didn’t have it listed under there so you are now trying to convince me it won’t work.
They have never screwed me over though in the past five years 
Autozone in NT. I live in the city but deal with Jamie ( a dude) at the NT store ( I use and abuse the warranty system there). its worth the drive up. Im 2 seconds from joe at Napa, I really should start using him more, but last time i checked napa had a pretty poor availability for euro trash and that’s mainly what i work on.
If i cant get it at AZ i just use the internet (autohousAZ, TDIparts, or Egay)
i like advance, autozone and pepboy because they are cheaper comparatively; napa, car quest are overpriced. and smaller local part stores just purely suck period.
autozone
+1
if not more
Hank at Napa, otherwise Advanced Auto. They got a really nice crew there, very easy to deal with, esp. on returns…
Advanced in cheektowaga cause its close and the 3 or 4 guys i always end up dealing with in there always try to help me as much as they can.
I tired getting a job at autozone for some extra cash. I think I was over qualified because I had an automotive degree and relevant experience. It seems as if the big name stores only want people have no clue whats going on to work there. pretty stupid if you ask me.
napa/carquest. Advance and Autozone kinda feel like “Innercity Auto”
Dude, it’s a parts store, not a turbo Honda shop. If you know your parts are from a dodge say that in the first place.