O'Rileys enlightened today

[DEEPNHOCK]

That is a great point.
In order to 'control cost', and 'increase productivity' everyone has gone to the computer to manage their inventory, and increase their sales.
Too bad the byproduct (by design) was a lower pay scale as actual intelligence was a lesser requirement. Now that they have dumb'ed down the staff (not a slam at the hard working employee, but the truth about the industry), the brain is in the computer chip and the guy behind the counter is just a button pusher. In order to keep the turn rate up, the science of inventory management has shifted to where it is now something that even the jobber has farmed out. VMI (vendor managed inventory) has been a popular buzzword in all the big box venues as of late. Ever go into Home Depot and see the various factory rep subcontractors tending to the department dejour? Same thing is hitting the auto parts guys.
Treat your Stude parts guys well, as their importance will only grow as the mainstream suppliers wean Studebaker stuff off their shelves...
Sorry for the rant, but I have lived within this industry for a few decades...
Jeff[8D]

quote:Originally posted by Swifster

Computers have changed the way many do business and not always for the better. If I write a damage estimate on an older car, it has to be 'hand written', even if on a computer. This requires looking up the flat rate labor times out of a book and adjusting the labor times as required. Explain this to a insurance adjuster with less than 10 years experience and they have a 'deer in the headlamps' look on their face. I try to cut younger 'kids' at the parts counter a little slack. As I mentioned, curiosity has a way of keeping them interested most of the time.

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Tom - Valrico, FL

1964 Studebaker Daytona

[dictator27]

Its no different north of the 49th. I second JBoyles comment about using small local parts stores. I use one which has only three stores. The only things they use computers for is stock checking and billing. The parts look up is done the old fashioned way. They also know how to use a cross-reference, which is more than I can say for some of the younger parts people I've encountered. (Stude-who??)

Terry

[dictator27]

Its no different north of the 49th. I second JBoyles comment about using small local parts stores. I use one which has only three stores. The only things they use computers for is stock checking and billing. The parts look up is done the old fashioned way. They also know how to use a cross-reference, which is more than I can say for some of the younger parts people I've encountered. (Stude-who??)

Terry

[Swifster]

The unfortunate part is that most of the older 'mom & pop' auto parts stores are started to fold up. There's a great parts store in Roseville, MI (just north of Detroit) called Automotive Supply. They carried everything, and the guys all had years of parts experience. I went in around 1988 for an exhaust system for a '69 Plymouth Valiant I had at the time. I walked out with everything I needed in 15 minutes.

I'll tell you right now, if you have one of these small places near your, frequent them every chance you get. I don't think you'll find them around in another 10 years or so.

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Tom - Valrico, FL

1964 Studebaker Daytona

[Swifster]

The unfortunate part is that most of the older 'mom & pop' auto parts stores are started to fold up. There's a great parts store in Roseville, MI (just north of Detroit) called Automotive Supply. They carried everything, and the guys all had years of parts experience. I went in around 1988 for an exhaust system for a '69 Plymouth Valiant I had at the time. I walked out with everything I needed in 15 minutes.

I'll tell you right now, if you have one of these small places near your, frequent them every chance you get. I don't think you'll find them around in another 10 years or so.

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Tom - Valrico, FL

1964 Studebaker Daytona

[Roscomacaw]

I watched (sadly) as the last of the independent parts stores closed up here in Visalia about 5 years ago. They had a pretty good machine shop there too. All gone.[V]

Miscreant adrift in
the BerStuda Triangle


1957 Transtar 1/2ton
1960 Larkvertible V8
1958 Provincial wagon
1953 Commander coupe

[Roscomacaw]

I watched (sadly) as the last of the independent parts stores closed up here in Visalia about 5 years ago. They had a pretty good machine shop there too. All gone.[V]

Miscreant adrift in
the BerStuda Triangle


1957 Transtar 1/2ton
1960 Larkvertible V8
1958 Provincial wagon
1953 Commander coupe

[stude freak]

Well guys the O'rileys is a new parts house here in town and thought i would check them out. There open on weekends where my local NAPA parts are not
.The NAPA store is 2nd generation shop.I did business with the owners father for 30 years .Now the son has it and hes not as old school as his dad was.As a matter of fact the Autozone in Tupelo 25 miles from me is a great store there helpful in looking up old stuff.They also help sponser door prizes for out monthly cruises and are a sponser for our annual 'Blue Suede Cruise'.Reading these comments just make me realize its not the parts chain just the employeees in each individual shop.Maybe they need to hire us 'ole gheezers' in the shops .I bet some of us could just go get the part with out looking on the puter.Faster service.


David Baggett Mantachie,Ms.

[stude freak]

Well guys the O'rileys is a new parts house here in town and thought i would check them out. There open on weekends where my local NAPA parts are not
.The NAPA store is 2nd generation shop.I did business with the owners father for 30 years .Now the son has it and hes not as old school as his dad was.As a matter of fact the Autozone in Tupelo 25 miles from me is a great store there helpful in looking up old stuff.They also help sponser door prizes for out monthly cruises and are a sponser for our annual 'Blue Suede Cruise'.Reading these comments just make me realize its not the parts chain just the employeees in each individual shop.Maybe they need to hire us 'ole gheezers' in the shops .I bet some of us could just go get the part with out looking on the puter.Faster service.


David Baggett Mantachie,Ms.

[bob40]

Have a Napa and a CarQuest in my town.For many years it was Napa only and they had zero interest in anything old car related.CarQuest opened 2 years ago and is owned by a car family.Father was parts manager at the local Chevy garage,one son was a mech there while the other son was a Dodge mech.They all drive older restorations so their business in the old car hobby is strong.They also do one thing a lot of places dont do.They wont sell you a part if they think you dont need it.Their experience from dealerships helps them diagnose a problem and offer real life solutions.They more than make up for the lost revenue from just schlupping parts per request with a very loyal customer base.

[bob40]

Have a Napa and a CarQuest in my town.For many years it was Napa only and they had zero interest in anything old car related.CarQuest opened 2 years ago and is owned by a car family.Father was parts manager at the local Chevy garage,one son was a mech there while the other son was a Dodge mech.They all drive older restorations so their business in the old car hobby is strong.They also do one thing a lot of places dont do.They wont sell you a part if they think you dont need it.Their experience from dealerships helps them diagnose a problem and offer real life solutions.They more than make up for the lost revenue from just schlupping parts per request with a very loyal customer base.

[ROADRACELARK]

In a small town just north of Atlanta, I have a commercial account with the Advance Auto Parts store there. Been doing steady business with them for the last 5 years, their commercial account manager has been a tremendous help. "His" counter is in the back of the store away from the walk in public. He keeps me supplied with all of their old catalogs that allows me to look up and cross reference parts from other sources that they don't want to do. I have a catalog rack that matches most any parts store, only mine are no newer than 1980. This manager will order anything I ask him to over the phone, and with the commercial account, you don't have to go to the store to pay for it first. If you have the old books, you wouldn't believe what you can dig up. I can't count the times I've called in a number that was not in their computer but with his call to their main warehouse, they come up with the part. They not only sell their store brand parts, they have the major names available and most of the time at a major savings. Just my experience.

Dan Miller
Atlanta, GA

[img=left]http://static.flickr.com/57/228744729_7aff5f0118_m.jpg[/img=left]
Road Racers turn left AND right.

[ROADRACELARK]

In a small town just north of Atlanta, I have a commercial account with the Advance Auto Parts store there. Been doing steady business with them for the last 5 years, their commercial account manager has been a tremendous help. "His" counter is in the back of the store away from the walk in public. He keeps me supplied with all of their old catalogs that allows me to look up and cross reference parts from other sources that they don't want to do. I have a catalog rack that matches most any parts store, only mine are no newer than 1980. This manager will order anything I ask him to over the phone, and with the commercial account, you don't have to go to the store to pay for it first. If you have the old books, you wouldn't believe what you can dig up. I can't count the times I've called in a number that was not in their computer but with his call to their main warehouse, they come up with the part. They not only sell their store brand parts, they have the major names available and most of the time at a major savings. Just my experience.

Dan Miller
Atlanta, GA

[img=left]http://static.flickr.com/57/228744729_7aff5f0118_m.jpg[/img=left]
Road Racers turn left AND right.

[DEEPNHOCK]

Found a good FLAPS... (Carquest)

Have been searching for a good flaps since moving to Georgia.
Went into one today that impressed me...
Told him I had bought a pair of gas strut cylinders that wouldn't hold my lid up, and bought them at a different Carquest store.
He said to bring them in and he would exchange them for stiffer ones. Made me a copy of the spec page so I could look and see what I bought earlier.
How about that?
Then I handed him the lower radiator hose and asked him if he could match it up to something.
He did ask what it was for, and when I said an old Stude with a Chevy engine he didn't flinch.
He just went back and started looking.
Found me a perfect replacement, all molded right, and with a spring in it. Awesome!
He has a library rack of Chilton's manuals up front to look up 'how to' stuff and a catalog rack that looked out of the fifties.
Best part was they have a gas pump museum and petrolina collection in front. Makes waiting a lot easier...
Happy guy today...
Jeff[8D]



DEEPNHOCK at Gmail.com
Brooklet, Georgia
'37 Coupe Express (never ending project)
'37 Coupe Express Trailer (project)
'61 Hawk (project)
http://community.webshots.com/user/deepnhock

[DEEPNHOCK]

Found a good FLAPS... (Carquest)

Have been searching for a good flaps since moving to Georgia.
Went into one today that impressed me...
Told him I had bought a pair of gas strut cylinders that wouldn't hold my lid up, and bought them at a different Carquest store.
He said to bring them in and he would exchange them for stiffer ones. Made me a copy of the spec page so I could look and see what I bought earlier.
How about that?
Then I handed him the lower radiator hose and asked him if he could match it up to something.
He did ask what it was for, and when I said an old Stude with a Chevy engine he didn't flinch.
He just went back and started looking.
Found me a perfect replacement, all molded right, and with a spring in it. Awesome!
He has a library rack of Chilton's manuals up front to look up 'how to' stuff and a catalog rack that looked out of the fifties.
Best part was they have a gas pump museum and petrolina collection in front. Makes waiting a lot easier...
Happy guy today...
Jeff[8D]



DEEPNHOCK at Gmail.com
Brooklet, Georgia
'37 Coupe Express (never ending project)
'37 Coupe Express Trailer (project)
'61 Hawk (project)
http://community.webshots.com/user/deepnhock