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Missing American Hero: The kindly, knowledgeable auto parts counter man
Posted on 10/20/25 at 10:58 am
Posted on 10/20/25 at 10:58 am
The older gentlemen working the parts counter at NAPA or Car Quest who not only knew about the parts he was selling but also knew something about vehicles and what it took to keep them running.
And the big book parts catalogs that he would flip open to find the part number before disappearing to the back before returning with the item you needed (that he would often open and explain to you).
We have lost so much.
Watching a modern day clueless customer ask Juan how to fix a car is the blind leading the blind.
And the big book parts catalogs that he would flip open to find the part number before disappearing to the back before returning with the item you needed (that he would often open and explain to you).
We have lost so much.
Watching a modern day clueless customer ask Juan how to fix a car is the blind leading the blind.
This post was edited on 10/20/25 at 11:09 am
35
Posted on 10/20/25 at 11:00 am to weagle1999
Nechanic shortage and pay gap. The ones with the knowledge went to work in service centers for 2-3x the pay.
Posted on 10/20/25 at 11:04 am to weagle1999
Same for Home Depot. Used to have those knowledgeable older retired guys working part time. They could advise you on what you needed and how to fix stuff. The people they have now know less than i do.
This post was edited on 10/20/25 at 11:06 am
Posted on 10/20/25 at 11:06 am to weagle1999
Anyone with access to YouTube should be able to work on their car within reason, just replaced the Vapor Canister Purge Valve on my car within 20 minutes but would've cost me $300+ for a stealership to replace.
Posted on 10/20/25 at 11:07 am to weagle1999
The Oreilly's where I used to live had a younger dude working there who knew a little bit about everything. He was a redneck with a big beard and old ratty truck. I drove POS vehicles so I was in there a lot. Over the years he went from the rough looking redneck to painting his nails and wearing makeup. He still knew his sh*t, though.
Posted on 10/20/25 at 11:08 am to Napoleon
Of the big chains, O’reilly’s seems to have some people in there who know a little.
Autozone and Advance are just throwing bodies at it.
Autozone and Advance are just throwing bodies at it.
Posted on 10/20/25 at 11:08 am to Napoleon
quote:
[M]echanic shortage and pay gap
I don't know. It's kinda hard to blame it on a shortage of mechanics. Cars today require computer technicians rather than mechanics. None of the techs in the service department seem to know much about servicing a vehicle unless the OBD computer tells them what to do. Anything beyond an electrical issue is well beyond the repair capabilities of a whole lot of folks working in service departments.
Posted on 10/20/25 at 11:09 am to EvrybodysAllAmerican
quote:
Same for Home Depot. Used to have those knowledgeable older retired guys working part time. They could advise you on what you needed and how to fix stuff. The people they have now know less than i do.
Saw some old guys at Home Depot. I was thinking, "I bet I could run this idea about creating a self-made anchor rig to fit a blind to a curved window "
They couldn't have given less of a shite.
It worked though, so frick 'em!
This post was edited on 10/20/25 at 11:10 am
Posted on 10/20/25 at 11:09 am to weagle1999
I have always wondered how these middle aged dudes behind the counter at the auto parts store made it in the world. I don’t know what kind of salary they’re pulling, but it can’t be much.
Posted on 10/20/25 at 11:11 am to weagle1999
Yeah, but he has been replaced with tons of knowledgeable youtube mechanics that will help you diagnosis the issue, recommend the parts, and do a step-by-step video of how to perform the repair.
I'll take the latter of those two.
I'll take the latter of those two.
This post was edited on 10/20/25 at 11:12 am
Posted on 10/20/25 at 11:12 am to weagle1999
A lot of lesbians at the auto parts stores these days
Posted on 10/20/25 at 11:14 am to Swamp Angel
quote:
None of the techs in the service department seem to know much about servicing a vehicle unless the OBD computer tells them what to do.
The real issue there is factory written troubleshooting trees and correction procedures. If you don't follow them, you don't get your warranty reimbursement from the manufacture and the local service center has to eat the cost.
Really good mechanics can use this to their advantage because SRT's can be long enough that a good mechanic might be able to bill out 40+ hours of repair work in a single 8 hour day, but a young guy starting out MUST do it by the book. By the book usually means parts changing.
Posted on 10/20/25 at 11:14 am to weagle1999
Posted on 10/20/25 at 11:19 am to Swamp Angel
quote:
Anything beyond an electrical issue is well beyond the repair capabilities of a whole lot of folks working in service departments.
Electrical issues are some of the most difficult problems to solve on a modern car/truck.
Posted on 10/20/25 at 11:21 am to weagle1999
There are still a few of them around at the NAPA and O'Reilly stores I go to. I know enough about cars to where I don't need the expertise, but for a clueless customer, that sort of thing is much desired.
The folks I've encountered at Auto Zone and Advanced are functioning retards who are apathetic and lazy. There was actually one night in which I was doing a spark plug job for a friend and needed a different-sized spark plug socket than the one I had. It was 7:40 and the Auto Zone down the street from my house closed at 8. I pulled up, the door is locked, and the jabroni sitting inside looks at me and just shakes his head. That was a rare crash out moment for me.
The folks I've encountered at Auto Zone and Advanced are functioning retards who are apathetic and lazy. There was actually one night in which I was doing a spark plug job for a friend and needed a different-sized spark plug socket than the one I had. It was 7:40 and the Auto Zone down the street from my house closed at 8. I pulled up, the door is locked, and the jabroni sitting inside looks at me and just shakes his head. That was a rare crash out moment for me.
Posted on 10/20/25 at 11:25 am to EvrybodysAllAmerican
quote:THIS!!!!!
Same for Home Depot. Used to have those knowledgeable older retired guys working part time. They could advise you on what you needed and how to fix stuff. The people they have now know less than i do.
so frustrating. i usually have a rough idea at least of what i need but the times i've had someone come up to 'help' is just lost time for me waiting for them to go away or politely tell them 'i'm good'.
clueless doesn't even begin to describe it. i've described the part i need before and notice it on the rack behind the 'expert' while they're busy telling me how they don't sell that.
eta PARTICULARLY with plumbing or electrical. my lord. they have zero training.
This post was edited on 10/20/25 at 11:27 am
Posted on 10/20/25 at 11:28 am to weagle1999
I miss knowledgeable counter workers at dealers. They are completely useless, they must have a vin number.
Luckily one of the parts guys at Acadiana dodge jeep has been doing it for years. I was buying parts from him from Lafayette Motors around 25 years ago. I'm going to miss him when he retires.
Luckily one of the parts guys at Acadiana dodge jeep has been doing it for years. I was buying parts from him from Lafayette Motors around 25 years ago. I'm going to miss him when he retires.
Posted on 10/20/25 at 11:33 am to weagle1999
Hi.. I need a 235/75/15 inch tire.
What's it go on?
1941 37mm anti tank gun, what's the book say?
What's it go on?
1941 37mm anti tank gun, what's the book say?
Posted on 10/20/25 at 11:37 am to weagle1999
Now days, if it's not in the 'puter, it does not exist with young folks at the counter.
Posted on 10/20/25 at 11:38 am to WWII Collector
my O'Reilly's is really good. Young guy there even replaced my battery the last time I bought one.
Didn't even ask him. Bought it and he said hold on one minute for me to grab some tools and I'll swap it out for you, to save you the trip back to give us the old battery. Great service. I tipped him $20bucks which he initially declined but I insisted he take.
Didn't even ask him. Bought it and he said hold on one minute for me to grab some tools and I'll swap it out for you, to save you the trip back to give us the old battery. Great service. I tipped him $20bucks which he initially declined but I insisted he take.
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