Favorite parts store/source

I always go to Autozone first because the store in Valdosta, GA gave us a loaner battery on a trip to FL ~1991 when we just made it to their parking lot with the ignition missing in our 82 Aries. No charge, he said to just drop it off on the way back. Been loyal ever since. That car had the square-back alternator and the diodes failed like clockwork every 2 years, probably from poor air flow in the transverse engine.

On the flip side, I will never go to a Pep Boys again. Took my 65 Newport to one in Atlanta ~1996 for tires. Had just had it painted. When I returned, the car was sitting funny in the parking lot. It had a long scratch in the new paint. Engine wouldn't run. The service manager claimed they had no tool in their shop that could have scratched my car and knew nothing about why it wouldn't run. I found the carb gasket had blown out. Not their fault, but they wouldn't sell me a new one, saying they had closed the register. Told me to move the car that night or they would have it towed. Also made snide remarks about "old cars". I still remember the manager's name - Steve Bui. Hope they fired the jerk.