I'm starting to feel old, I'm not, I'm only 28. But today I found myself repeating those famous old man words "I remember when..."

I remember when I could walk into the parts store and get what I wanted with out hassle. I remember when a guy who was probably older than God knew what I needed, where to find it, how to use it, and he didn't need any books.

What brings this on you ask? Today I went into a parts store and asked for a power valve for my carb, simple enough. The kid (who looked like he'd get fired from McDonalds for too much acne) asked me the model, no prob, I need a #65 for a holley.  "No" he said "whats the make and model of the car?" I tried to explain that it didn't matter what the car was, Holley is an aftermarket part that didn't come on the car.    But Jr knew more than me, as usual "Ok it a 83 pontiac grand prix"I replied.   What size motor he asked "350 chevy" "Uhm.."after staring at the screen for 5 minutes "I dont have a listing for a 350, are you possitive thats whats in the car?" "Well actually the stock motor was a 3.8"   "Ok I found that one, but i,m not finding a listing for a power valve"   By this time I'm ready to hit the kid but instead I ask for someone who didnt ride a moped to work. The manager finally came out and asked me what I needed, I told him, and he was back in 30 seconds with what I needed.

Its too bad all the small speed shops are going out of buisness, personally I'd rather pay 10% more and deal with a competent person than go into these chain stores and have to put up with someone who cant change their own oil!

Wheres the old guy who knows my car?

I want to hear your stories like this one. And i know it works both ways I want to hear from you parts guys too.

I had to get a rear main seal for a 727 and ended up going to five places, ordered a flex plate and got a fly wheel after waiting three days and nobody was sure of the correct at for the AMC tranny.  It was a lovely week.  I agree oh so much about the computer dependency, although since I have only used a cell for years now I can't remmember a single phone# so I understand them compleatly.  Luckily many of the chain stores hire there performance guys who usually know whats up.  Unfortunatly I haven't seen a locally owned parts store in years.  Well one but it is a state away.

Sounds like you went to the wrong parts store.  The problem with some of them is that they don't require that much automotive knowledge to get hired.  I work in the industry, and there are some horrible techs i've dealt with and some that really knew their ####.  The problem is that every store has different staff.  My store has great staff, but the other 2 stores in the area have horrible staff.  My advice, stay away from autozone like the plague.  Go to the bigger stores that have commercial departments.  The commercial guys will know what you're talking about, they have to to stay in business with shops.

I have had the same problem at the one of the big "parts" store. I went in to get a real main seal for my 383. Kid says, " what year, i say 77 Nova, but its not the orginal engine. He stands there for twenty minutes trying to tell me that they dont carry a real main for a 383. I finally got the manager, and he fixed me up pretty quick. I feel your pain, where have all the 'ole gearheads went?  

I don't have these problems. I still support my local speed shop as a lot of us here have. Allowing him to stay in business and give us somebody who knows parts, rather than end up dealing with dolts, trying to save a buck or two.

the last thing to go on my motor to be done was the carb........couldn't find the gasket.  I go to the closest store and tell the guy i need a carb gasket for a holley,  he goes in the back and comes back with a quadrajet rebuild kit.......I had nothing to say so i just left.  A friend had an extra gasket and that was that.

If you every need a spare I always stock up on gaskets, but thats funny they didn't just grab you a squar bore gasket, I somewhat understood on my seal but an every day item like a carb gasket, you should have turned him over your knee.  I'm not even that old, but wow thats bad, if it's a vacume secondary and you conver to a mechanical with the second eccelerator pump they arent much help either because the computer goes off the base plate or choke horn #.  I found that one funny a while back.  

LOL.  BTDT.

You've got to be smarter than the flunky parts tech.  Whatever part you're looking for...you've got to refer it back to the original year, make and model. 

Example:  Need an o-ring distributor/manifold gasket for a Gen 1 Chevy?  Then ask for an o-ring distributor/manifold gasket for a 1967 DZ302 Z/28 Camaro.  Then see if anyone raises their eyebrow!  They likely won't! 

As far as problems with parts stores go as long as they continue to pay and treat the employees like a fast food chain this is increasingly what we all will run into. Who is to blame for this ...we all are. Buying from these catalog "superstores" . Not caring about real quality just lowest price. How many local speed shops are really out there compared to 10 years ago or even 5?  These mega stores put out flashy catalogs and sponsor all kinds of racing events but you know what? They are killing all of the local guys. Yes maybe they are cheaper and isn't swell how we all save a few bucks . What do you do though when what you get is the wrong part or need some help from a technical department? Hell these catalogs places are just order processors. Can they build you kit for your odd ball combination? We just have ourselves to blame. If you want good stuff? Go see the quality parts stores and tell these chains and mega stores to stuff it up their tail pipes. Oh and what happens when all of the local stores close and you need that simple gasket to finish your project some Saturday afternoon? Well it just doesn't get finished and then you pay for the part and the cost of shipping. Turns out to be not quite the deal it was.

I ran into that same problem getting a mufflers  for my s-10. The guy kept asking me what the make and model was so I finally told him.  Then he asked me what size engine so i told him 5.7 liter. Wound up just ordering some. This was an old guy too.  

"As far as problems with parts stores go as long as they continue to pay and treat the employees like a fast food chain this is increasingly what we all will run into. Who is to blame for this ...we all are."

If anyone bears blame, it's the local shop owner(s) who didn't have a vision and keep up with consumers' desires.  It's called free-market competition.  

* BTW, some small/local shops still thrive because they've figured out how to compete. 

There are lots of shops that try to do well and pay employees a fair scale then get undercut by the online warehouses. It is also the fault of the  manufacturers who for years stayed in business because of these little shops then they basically let these bandits screw the same people that put them where they are today. Maybe it is legal but that doesn't mean its right.  

It all doesnt come down to the big guy vs. the little guy. I stated before that im happy to pay more when I can get something local and get good service. And im sure most of you feel the same way. But its hard to find that service anymore.

What it really is is the trained guy against the untrained guy. How often has anyone called up Edelbrock, summit, PAW or any other mailorder and confused them with a simple question? They have peolpe specially trained to handle our stupid a$$e$.  But you go to any of these chains or even some of the few remaining private speed shops and there is a good chance your going to deal with somebody whose automotive training consists of "do what the computer tells you"

I know its not possible to put ase people in all the stores, but if they would just train their employes with adequit job knowledge than they would keep more people happy and do a better bussiness. I know its comparing apples and oranges but I see it this way, Im a nurse,and if I did my job like these people did theirs,people would be dead.

I noticed the problem when the chains got rid of the books.  The computer isn't set up for aftermarket/non-stock combos.  Even the dumbest, most ignorant counterman could find the Holley catalog way back when.

On the other hand, I've gotten a lot of wrong stuff over the years from "old guys" who thought they "didn't need any books."

In the old days, we got a lot of what they had in stock instead of what was correct.

My best "ignorant counterman" story, however, involves a dealership.  I popped an upper radiator hose for a rather unique diesel-powered car built in the '80s. It was not too far out of warranty and I was on the road.  I wandered into the local dealer, explained to the "factory certified" counterman (an "old guy" BTW) what I wanted, and he replied "They put a diesel in them?"

After fumbling around with the microfiche (remember that) for awhile and making some phone calls, he mumbled something about "a couple of days. " So I left.   The local Carquest had me one in about half an hour.

My favorite story was some 15 years ago. I was at a friends house and went to leave and my 1967 Camaro(which I still own) didn't want to start. realizing the starter had gone out my friend drove me to the local Chief Auto parts store. I go the counter and ask the kid that was helping me for a "small block Chevy starter" he ask me what car. I say it doesn't matter. He said I need a car to put in the computor. I tell him it's a 1967 Camaro. So then He asks what size engine. I relied 350. then he says I don't have a listing for the 350ci do they put those in 67 camaro's. I said it's a SS350 Camaro it came that way from the factory. So he asks is it a "2 door or a 4 door" we turned around and walked out laughing are A@@es off.