Buying auto parts - a story

Jim DeShon · Post by **Jim DeShon** » Sun Aug 06, 2006 4:33 pm

I decided it was time to start collecting parts together to tune up my 2001 Mitsubishi. I went looking for a distributor cap and rotor today. After going to NAPA, Kragen, & one other place, here is the results. NAPA said they had the cap but would have to order the rotor. That would take maybe a week

and buy the way $16.00+ for the rotor and $8.00 to pay to have it shipped to thier store from thier source ! I said I'm not paying for you to ship parts to your store that you do not have. Kragen, we have the cap but no rotor...NO ! the last one...35.00+ for the cap and $34.?? for the rotor ! Oh...buy the way...we'll have to order it. Go home on line order the parts

...I don't see much future in the retail auto parts business. ...J.D.

So Cal Mark · Post by **So Cal Mark** » Sun Aug 06, 2006 8:50 pm

Unfortunately the large retail chains have destroyed the mom and pop auto parts that specialized in hard parts. The retail chains focus on impulse buying with trinkets, waxes etc. All the big margin stuff. Sort of the same thing that's happened with the hardware business and big box dept stores. It's pretty tough to fix your car when you can't get parts. I have the same problem every day trying to find parts to get cars out of my shop. I use several sources and still have to wait. Everyone wants to stock the fastest moving parts and make the buyer wait for anything else.
And Fiat parts have become the same way.

perthling · Post by **perthling** » Sun Aug 06, 2006 9:03 pm

It's funny, people often query me on driving Fiats, saying parts must be hard to find/expensive. Yet I can get almost any mechanical parts shipped to my front door overnight from interstate and prices for my Fiat parts are generally considerably cheaper than the equivalent parts for my 2000 Mitsubishi Verada (Diamante).

spidernut · Post by **spidernut** » Mon Aug 07, 2006 6:29 am

And God bless our suppliers for it too!!!

mbouse · Post by **mbouse** » Mon Aug 07, 2006 1:08 pm

Lest we forget, big chain stores exist to make a profit. They will stock what is most in demand. If that happens to be the no-effort counter end glitzy glamour stuff, so be it. That way, they don't have to hire folk that know the products.

The Wally-Worlds will destroy the world, one independant operator at a time. My county has roughly 22-25,000 inhabitants. In my city alone, there are at least five National chain auto stores, plus Wally-World and Meijers. That does not include the chain auto stores in the three neighboring towns. The independant shops have all been absorbed or forced to close. There are no independants left.

None of those counter jockies in any of these stores has a clue what a Fiat is. I have to drive all the way to Kalamazoo to get someone to recognize that I ain't driving an MG.....

spidernut · Post by **spidernut** » Wed Aug 09, 2006 4:49 am

My favorite chain parts supplier question still stands. I explained that I needed some simple part like a radiator hose for a 1979 Fiat Spider. The bright boy behind the counter asked "Who makes a Fiat?" Chevy, no maybe Ford, ah maybe it was Hudson or even Kaiser...na musta been Hupmobile. Gheeeeez.

mdrburchette · Post by **mdrburchette** » Wed Aug 09, 2006 6:50 am

This reminds me of the time I took my thermostat to Autozone and asked for one for my Spider. The guy hands me an in-head thermostat. I told him it wasn't the right one and showed him mine wrapped in a towel. He told me I didn't know what I was talking about...that's not a thermostat for a Fiat, it's some kind of heater valve.
If you really want to screw with their minds, ask them for a general part, like a relay to do your headlamp relay conversion. If they don't have a specific car to look up, they're lost.

Mark_vaughn · Post by **Mark_vaughn** » Wed Aug 09, 2006 11:07 am

I have been very satisfied with my local Advance Auto Parts store. They can get most gaskets and brake pads, suspension parts, etc... Some parts they can even show you a picture of on the computer before they order it.
I think the main thing is to find the store with the car guys not the part-time paycheck guys. The right people will take an interest in your car and will remember you b/c you will probably be their only FIAT customer!!

Jim DeShon · Post by **Jim DeShon** » Wed Aug 09, 2006 10:23 pm

Parts people get really testy

when on rare occasions (having worked in the auto repair trade for a few years) you tell them the book is wrong. And...they are in fact, wrong sometimes. If I can in those situations, I just order the "wrong part" because it keeps the parts guys head from exploding.

...J.D.

mbouse · Post by **mbouse** » Thu Aug 10, 2006 12:52 pm

Lowest common denominator. That is all the chain stores are after, finding the lowest common denominator. If they could figure out how to replace the counterman all together, they would - and don't think that concept is not too far off, cuz it ain't.

If it took intelligence to sell mass quantities of highly profiable auto parts, they (chain stores) would then hire competent help. Then, they would start to look for ways to reduce costs by automating the process, thus reducing the required skill level of the counter man, fire the competent help and hire flunkies. Then they could cut their cost w/out sacrificing margin to beat out the competition. All the while hawking the more profitable glitz parts that no one really needs-but are convinced by mass media they want.

OH, wait a minute BATMAN !! This is exactly what they've done! Even our mail order buddies are going this way. Has anyone besides me noticed that the responses we are receiving via email and phone are not the caliber they once were?

So, what is the solution? YOU. Thats' right, YOU. When YOU find a good source for quality parts or service, YOU need to tell the rest of us via forums like this. YOU need to lend a hand to help our dwindling Fleet of Fine Fiats stay on the road. YOU know that inferior parts, as well as shoddy work by "professionals" eventually leads to quashed desires to continue to refurbish. We all know that AutoZone is selling mass market parts only, we all know that FRAM sells junk. What we need to know is where to turn, where to go get quality stuff. Share the wealth.

Jim DeShon · Post by **Jim DeShon** » Fri Aug 11, 2006 8:48 pm

I'm trying to get some sources together myself. Not only do I have Fiat parts needs but several other strange things to buy parts for including a very european Mercedes with europe only engine and metric dashboard and a British motorcycle that they didn't sell very many of in the US. I have the only one like it I have ever seen except on the internet. Fun, fun !!

...J.D.