Thread: What Parts Store Do You Use?

O'reilly's just entered the Northeast recently and they just bought a location half a mile from my house. The location they bought is across the street from NAPA lol. I love competition.

For local parts stores I usually use OReillys. I spend enough there to get discounts and the guys at this location know cars and not just how to type in a part on the PC. if that store doesn't have what I need the "hub" store in OFallon usually does, even some of the obscure parts. Never had an issue with them.

I've used Napa as well (axles, misc tools) and had good luck. I used to have a credit account at a CarQuest (I could buy all the parts I needed and pay at the end of the month) and they were good as well, but have since closed it out since there isn't one out in the sticks where I live. I didn't know they were bought by Advance. I guess that's one less place I'll go now. I typically don't go to Advance for anything important as most employees don't seem to know or care about cars and just piss me off, lol... When I ask for a part just give me the part. I don't care if the PC says it doesn't fit my vehicle.

NAPA is 80% wholesale and 20% retail so don't expect much on the floor. They'll have the parts you need but they just store 90% of the stuff in the back and top floor so customers can't steal much and to ensure that local shops get their parts. NAPA prefers to sell more to local shops because those guys are the ones making the stores paychecks.

Originally Posted by chris99gtp

I absolutely hate VATOzone. Used to have two good workers there that would help out. They're gone of course and now its basically me typing stuff in their computer for the parts. Oreileys is good, they actually have knowledgeable people.

Fixed!

Originally Posted by idrivejunk

I do. English speaking people generally don't go near Auto Zone in this town, ese. "Vato" is dude in Spanish.

Near me, theres two O'reilly's. One is a hub. But if you want a half case of VR-1 10-30 you'll prolly have to visit both. Luck of the draw at the counter, you may get a seasoned pro or a thumbsucker who drives to work on a learner's permit or a plasti-dipped scooter. I do the counter work online then go to the right store with a slip of paper. Sometimes the kiddos think I'm about to rob them, lol. Too much TV. I've always worked at a local shop so I tell them where that is, and they apply the shop's discount on a cash with tax ticket. Keeps my prices decent, and hell no I really don't want to buy any car parts I can't touch first. Ventshades maybe!

So-we have lots of O'Reilly's, one Zone, one Advance in my home town. I use O'Reilly's personally. At work we use them all. In the city where I work, a few years back NAPA went through town hanging their sign on anybody's building who would agree to being NAPA-ized. Place I was working at the time, a body shop, even considered being a NAPA. I'm like... do whut? But NAPA, as most stores do, has bargain and quality choices covered as best they can in their product offerings. AND an old pro who rarely works the counter but takes the calls from shops then oversees their delivery. That guy does the real meat n taters volume of business, knows his parts and can get them to you, take them back, whatever you need. If all they hired was punks they wouldn't be in business long.

Then how is Advance hanging around this long? Can't be because of the prices? I just don't understand how they stay in business.

All the parts stores closest to my house.

NAPA .5 Miles exactly

Orielly’s .6 Miles (soon)

Advance 6.7 Miles

NAPA #2 8.4 Miles

VatoZone 9.4 Miles

PepBoys 9.8 Miles

NAPA #3 10.3 Miles

NAPA #4 11.4 Miles

CarQuest 14.9 Miles



Had a CAP (Consumer Auto Parts) last year that was 9 miles away but they sucked and went out of business.



NAPA WINS! LOL

Originally Posted by idrivejunk

I do. English speaking people generally don't go near Auto Zone in this town, ese. "Vato" is dude in Spanish.

Near me, theres two O'reilly's. One is a hub. But if you want a half case of VR-1 10-30 you'll prolly have to visit both.

That is true, lol.. I have to use VR-1 in my 74 MG Midget due to the ZDDP content. Not exactly easy to find since I need enough for the engine and the trans. They were also able to get me enough Mobil 1 75W-140 gear oil that I needed for my 03 CV Sport when I changed the rear axle and bearing. No other place even had it. The guy at Autozone said he could get it but it would take a week and it was marked up about $45 more total. No thanks.

@ Pontaic Racer- Yep, I live in Old Monroe, about 30 min from the O' Fallon OReilly's hub store. Just far enough out that I'm in Lincoln county so I don't need an emissions check

Look at what I quoted. Read the red and orange

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=vato

In my area, all the autozone's are flooded with Spanish customers who have major riced out hondas so many people nicked named it vatozone lol

That is true