I too have spent my time behind the parts counter at NAPA. It's sad to
say, but the number one rule in retail is The Customer is an Idiot and
Must Be Told What They Want. Often folks will come in with only a vague
idea what is wrong with the car by symptoms only and no clue what the real
Yes, though sadly, the typical chain type auto parts store doesn't see
it that way.
A good parts person will spend 15 minutes with you figuring out why a
given widget doesn't fit your car when it's supposed to, and determine
the right one that does. Total profit to the store for that 15 minutes
Happens all the time!
Some parts stores hire people based on their ability to punch a keyboard
instead of parts knowledge.
I trade with a local NAPA store as well as an Advanced Auto store, what you
need to do is get the Mgr involved. The kids don't know how to think in
UNIVERSAL terms.
I found
Once upon a time (in a mysterious land that may never have even existed
except in our rose-tinted memories), these places employed people who knew
about cars. But, that takes experince and training, and monkeys who know
how to tap a make and model into a computer come cheaper. For 99.5% of
Rant mode ON!
I just went through this on Saturday at Autozone as well. The oil cap seal
on my Volvo disintegrated into chunks of hardened rubber. This is just a
flat ring of rubber. Not even particularly fussy as to exact size. $.75
from Volvo, but not on a Saturday evening when I NEEDED the
I would suggest that you do a bit of research on what
it is you need.
I think you need a Purolator electronic fuel pump for
European/Imported vehicles. (It looks exactly like the
one for domestics but the pressure out-put is lower).
Sorry I don't have the purolator part #.
I had a similar problem
In a message dated 06/18/2003 8:28:09 AM Pacific Daylight Time,
[EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:
Is it only me or do others get agitated when the golden words What Type
Car always seem to come out of the counter person. FT
I understand WHY they do it, since probably 75% of the people coming in to
At 11:26 AM 6/18/03 -0400, Fred Thomas wrote:
Just came back from Auto Zone trying to compare electric fuel pumps and
pressure regulators, I asked for a universal F/P P/R, the counter person
said What Type Car does this fit, sir I only want a Universal, well I
need
a make/model car in order to
