Oreileys for the win

Just my 2 cents.

My experience with Auto Zone, Oreillys, Bumper to Bumper and NAPA here in my area is that as usual it comes down to the experience of the staff and their mechanic background prior to being hired. Usually the experience comes with age. It's pretty hard around here to find a good "Parts Guy". I have known a few good "Parts Lady's" as well and again, generational specific. My sister is a pretty good mechanic herself as we all grew up on a farm. She ain't scared of getting oily/greasy and getting a few knuckle busters pulling trannys or engines.

Seems like if the younger folks below 30 yrs old (maybe 40 now days) can't punch it into their computer by answering several questions they say "Oh we don't stock that item". I give the majority of my business here to our local NAPA. A couple of the folks their have been in the business long enough that you can tell them what you need and they can go right to the back and get it. No computer! Now these parts are for the older cars/trucks like we are referencing here. Heck the NAPA guys here may have driven these cars in their high school days or early 20's.

If they do need a reference and can't find it in the computer, they go old school on it and pull out the catalogs and look the part up that way. Cause we all know the computer is correct every time, right! The NAPA and Bumper to Bumper here I think are the only ones that still receive hard copy catalogs and they probably have to request them. I switched to the NAPA when one of my good friends retired from the Bumper to Bumper store about a year ago. He was the go to for everyone else behind the counter if they got stuck.

NAPA here is usually a little more expensive than the others but less hassle and more confidence in the part being correct go a ways with me, especially since I live 30-45 minutes from any parts store. If I can I take the old part with me wherever I go. Again actual staff experience may vary, batteries not included.