Annoying car part day

[metricmonkeywrench]

The morning started out with a simple goal. The family truckster was idling a bit rough and for the life of me I couldn’t remember when the last time it was that I did plugs and an air filter. I had a mileage notation on my garage whiteboard on plugs but I couldn’t remember if it was when I did them or when they were due. Oil changes come when the light bings on so that’s no help. So I put together my shopping list- 6 plugs, a gasket set for the split intake, air filter and a cabin air filter for mama.

Off I go to my local close by parts store and the frustration begins. The store only had the plugs and gasket set on hand and could of course order everything else. Not wanting to pay twice they checked with a sister store 3 mi away who “had” everything but the cabin air filter. When I got there they only had 4 of the six plugs, the gasket kit and of course no filters. So back to the first store to get what I could. After the sticker shock of what plugs for modern engines go for I headed home. Oddly enough a brief stop by Wally World netted me both the air and cabin filters. I just hate having to go to multiple stores to get simple stuff.

It’s a bit frustrating to know of a time where you could just walk into any car parts places and get normal service parts in store, but it appears those days are dead or dying and it’s no wonder online providers are eating brick and mortar stores lunch these days since all they seem to have is oil, filters and batteries on hand.

It is almost leading me down the road to start ordering and stocking a service or two’s worth of parts to keep on the shelf to avoid delaying issues like this, though there are some issues with that as well. It’s rather sad I would like to support my local businesses, but if they don’t have what I need when I need it online will likely continue to win out.

[Winger Ed.]

In the old days, each US auto maker had basically 3 chassis and most things worked on all of them.
So it was practical for a parts store to keep an inventory that covered 90% of the cars on the road.

Now days, there are about 25 distinctly different chassis.
The days where 10% of all the different part numbers fit 90% of the cars on the road are long gone.

If any part doesn't sell well--- it's not affordable for the store to stock it.


Example:
In the old days, 7-8 oil or air filters fit almost everything.
Now days--- take a look at the common display of them at the parts store.
It's the same with everything.

[slim1836]

I too like to buy locally, hate to buy online not knowing when or if you will receive in days, weeks, or if ever. It used to be, you would call your local chain auto store, and if they had most parts, they would call the next closest store and have them send missing items the same day, and day after, and you would pick them up. Supplies are drying up; things aren't getting better either.

It's the trickle-down effect, you being the end effect. These times truly suck, they don't look better anytime soon.

Slim

[rancher1913]

try being a farmer/rancher, i keep 2 or 3 filters on hand for everything and double that for fuel filters. problem was i did not label them as to what they fit so i have to play match the numbers each time.

[metricmonkeywrench]

Winger- Though I do get the supply chain and philosophy of what to stock or not, I did leave that out of my OP as that part has been discussed thoroughly enough. I’m not dealing with a AMC Pacer or a VW Thing where parts need a specialized source, just a common penstar product that have thousands of that model still running around.

I’m just growing annoyed and weary of either having to go to multiple brick and mortar stores or having to deal with the fickle online buying where credit cards are required and your purchases are tracked.

[farmbif]

a year ago I had to replace coils, plugs and braked on ford f150. local stores wanted $78 each for the coils x8. ordered the stuff online. highest quality name brand coils and plugs $164 shipped and the highest quality ceramic brakes and high performance rotors $155 local store cost was about 3x.
just saying you can save a lot by shopping online for just about everything these days and delivery is usually in just a few days

[Misery-Whip]

I call the parts store and order what they dont have, and have them hold what they do have in stock. They usually have it that afternoon, or next morning.

Been doin buisness at the same parts house with the same guys for 20 years.

[john.k]

Back in the day ,the local Mack Trucks place ,the lone parts guy would have what he figured you wanted on the counter waiting as you walked in .......next stop was IH ...the parts dept was crowded with angry owners waiting to get to the parts counter to talk to a confused kid who seemingly did little else but shuffle tattered parts books and try to get the right "microfice" for your truck or tractor....."But I talked to someone on the phone!"

[Winger Ed.]

I’m just growing annoyed and weary of either having to go to multiple brick and mortar stores or having to deal with the fickle online buying where credit cards are required and your purchases are tracked.

I prefer instant gratification myself.
But such is the world we live in.

I order online from our local guy, about 5-6 miles away and it shows if a part is in stock.
If not, they'll almost always have it the next day by noon. I pay at the counter, and leave.

The next store is a fair distance away, and my F250 gets about 11 miles a gallon.
I don't spend a lot of effort chasing around on the off chance another store might have what I want.
So I plan a little ahead and just make one trip to town for everything I think I need.


It's not too different than it was in the old days.
In Virginia, we had a NAPA store way out in the sticks. There never was many customers in the store.
But they'd have a big bunch of boxes they'd take to the bus station every day. The buses went to outlying places
and dropped the parts off. Sort of like a 1st generation of what UPS is with their drop off and pick up points.

[1Hawkeye]

I learned when getting filters, oil, or wipers for vehicles its always cheaper to go to wallyworld then the auto parts place and by at least 60 to 70 % most of the time. To give an example a cabin air filer for a chevy hhr at the autoparts place was around 35 bucks the same exact one at wallyworld was 7 and change.

[sigep1764]

I like instant gratification of my shop having what I need. Most of the time they are great. I give them gift cards for Xmas and they find what I need. They also know I do most things on my own and will tell me when there are cheaper options online. This is why they get my business when they can. I have an uncommon motorcycle and when they order an oil filter for me, they order two. The oil is special too and they keep a case for me. Same with the extra large SBC oil filter I like. Coils last week for my wife’s car were $54 apiece, needed 4. The sent me to car parts.com for them, $65 including shipping for all 4. They understand they’ll get most of my money and in order to do so, they help.

[schutzen-jager]

I learned when getting filters, oil, or wipers for vehicles its always cheaper to go to wallyworld then the auto parts place and by at least 60 to 70 % most of the time. To give an example a cabin air filer for a chevy hhr at the autoparts place was around 35 bucks the same exact one at wallyworld was 7 and change.

just the complete opposite at Walmarts here - they only stock spark plugs for lawn mowers _ filters are always more than the parts store - batteries are still competitively priced for most vehicules -

[dverna]

I do most of my shopping on line. I live 25 miles from the "big city" of 4000 people.

[Finster101]

There really are few "local" auto parts stores anymore. They are mostly all big chains such as Autozone or Advance. I hate them. If the computer is down you are out of luck. Good only for waxes, oil and snake oils to cure all types of mechanical maladies. I remember going in when the guys used catalogs and for common stuff did not even need those.

[MaryB]

When I drove old junk I always kept a stock of common parts on hand. Now I have free oil changes as long as I own the car, and a 100,000 mile no time limit warranty. So only things I will have to pay for are air filters and plugs... and plugs are actually accessible! Same for the air filters, easy to swap(yes even the cabin air filter!). I drive so little now that the car will outlive me.

[frkelly74]

MaryB, What are you driving? I think I might want one of those. We have a Kia Soul 2011. It has been very reliable for 170,000+ miles. The next issue will be replacing the timing belt which I have ordered ahead. I have never had to go through any hassel getting parts when needed. Ball joints, brakes and alternator have been the major replacement jobs along with the timing belt. Advance Auto, Auto Zone, O'Rileys are my go to parts places. The one singular advantage to urban living is there are multiple places you could walk to if you had to.

[n9tkf]

I do most of my shopping on line. I live 25 miles from the "big city" of 4000 people.I use Rock Auto, parts delivered right to the door and lots of options. For parts I need right away the NAPA about 20 minutes away is my go-to store.

[compass will]

I plan ahead and use rock auto :)

[MaryB]

MaryB, What are you driving? I think I might want one of those. We have a Kia Soul 2011. It has been very reliable for 170,000+ miles. The next issue will be replacing the timing belt which I have ordered ahead. I have never had to go through any hassel getting parts when needed. Ball joints, brakes and alternator have been the major replacement jobs along with the timing belt. Advance Auto, Auto Zone, O'Rileys are my go to parts places. The one singular advantage to urban living is there are multiple places you could walk to if you had to.

A 2017 Escape I bought with 15k miles on it. Added the no matter what warranty because I am getting to old to work on cars. Dealership offers free oil changes on all used purchases over $20k, I paid $21k. Had it 3 years and been very reliable.

[jimlj]

Local parts store.........zit faced kid says "uhh, we don'd have that but we can get it next Friday. Would like some injector cleaner or paper shop towels?"
Rock Auto can get you the same part for 1/3 the price by next Friday.
Amazon can get you the same part (if you search through the china junk) for about the same price as Rock Auto tomorrow.
The old days of all Fords taking the same oil filter, spark plugs and points are long gone.

[Rapier]

It is going to get worse, that is your car, wait until it is your house. Same story with you furnace, just went through that, two weeks for a pressure switch. The new federal, we will save you, furnace air switches, have a fresh air furnace switch. No switch, no heat. Every single one will die sooner or later and they are different by make.

[MT Gianni]

In 1998 if my employer kept a part in inventory for over 18 months the tax was equal to the cost of the part. Keep in mind that a 12" line stopper fitting was around $6,000 and if gas was blowing you had a choice of installing two of those or shutting down the town and an estimated 1 million dollar relight. At that time they paid 1/6 of all the taxes in the State of Montana. A break up happened and they now currently only pay 1/16th. They are a corporation and don't pay taxes, just collect them and pass them on.

Parts are not cheap to keep on hand.

[Brassmonkey]

I never understood the need to have 50 different brake pads for 50 different cars with the same amount of power, the same amount of weight.



They seem to be getting back to the same part on multiple cars, but ford through us a curveball requiring that part to be registered to the car something only a dealer can do.

Every Subaru I ever touched and looked at seemed it was built to be serviced, maybe the name Fuji heavy industries has something to do with that.

One thing I like about Toyotas I can reach into any of them from the 80s to the 2020s and grab the hood release because it's in the same location is the same size and shape on every Toyota and Lexus.

A few years back almost got asked to leave a parts store after getting the right part that was made wrong. I didn't even want the part. I wanted new brushes for the starter because that's all it needed but nope would you like a pack of M&Ms, or a soda or beef jerky how about a hot wheels car or a garbage flashlight? a ten cent packet of anti-seas for two dollars? Gaudy stick on plastic chrome? We got lots of that. Actual car parts? Yeah it's gonna be a couple days.

[gwpercle]

A 1968 Chevelle was my daily driver - pride and Joy ...from 1979 until 2022 ,
we kept road worthy and running fine for 43 years .
The problems I was having ...near the end ... Junk Chinese Electrical Parts .
Any and all parts from USA and even Mexico were good or at least usable .
China parts didn't work out of the box ... A brand New Part and it is made so poorly that it doesn't work .
I needed a simple on-off light switch . Ordered a part from a known big name car restoration company , part wasn't made right (Made Wrong ...heard that before ?) and didn.t / couldn't work the way it was made ...
called co. and fellow went to warehouse and checked every light switch in the boxes they had ordered... from a China co.... not one switch workd ... Not One . Said they weren't going to return them ...shipping cost too much ...got my money back but guess what ... a buddy ordered one a month later ...they were still selling the bad switches !
What's this country coming too ! Buying junk and knowingly selling it ...
us old car guys (Moterheads) just aint that stoopid ...that stuff isn't going to work .
We need Americans making decent goods not Chinese Trash .
Rant Over
Gary

[Winger Ed.]

We need Americans making decent goods not Chinese Trash .

Well, at least it's cheaper than US made stuff.

On the other hand--
Americans will make anything anybody wants--- however; getting people willing to pay for it becomes problematic.

As a society-- it's our own fault.
Look at how many people run down to Harbor Freight as their first choice of where to buy tools.

It's like 'going green', electric cars, gun control laws, or any of dozens of other ideas: 'It's for thee,,,,,, but not for me'.
If a few people feel that way, no big deal. When the majority of the population does- it gets us to where we are now.

[MaryB]

USA made isn't that much more expensive when you factor in how long it lasts. Sure I pay more up front, say double. But when that part lasts 10 years vs 9 months for the piece of Chinese garbage...

Ran into it at the casino where I fixed slot machines. One manufacturer started buying Chinese made power supplies because they were half the cost. I popped one open and it was missing many parts, others were the wrong value... the Chinese will "re-engineer" it to save 5 cents on production and they don't care if it makes it garbage. It is to expensive to ship stuff back to China while they ship here for pennies because the government pays the difference. We told that slot machine vendor they owned us 200 USA made power supplies or we would see them in court. They found them and went back to using them. In a slot machine every part has to be registered, change a value the gaming board MUST BE notified. If we made a mod at the casino we had to write up a report on why we did it, what the mod was, and what the outcome was... which always landed in my lap because I was the chief electronic tech making those mods. When we opened up a machine and found a power supply that shouldn't be there we had to report it to the gaming board. Got that company in big trouble, they paid some hefty fines over it!