Parts counter problems

[john hall]

I'm beginning to understand a bit better why so many folks on this and other sites request part# info. It seems when you go to a parts store--of ANY type, its luck of the draw as to whether the guy on the other side of the counter has a clue what you are looking for. Here is yesterdays story.

I was at TSC and called dad to see if we needed anything, he told me to run next door to NAPA and grab a filter for the 2072. I walk in, get in line, and wouldn't you know it, I got one of the kids. Told him I needed an oil filter for a Kohler M20. I got the biggest blank stare, you'd think I was asking for parts for a spaceship we have hidden away in Area 51. He asked did I know the part #, which I didn't. Decided he would ask another guy, who gave him a number. He pulls the filter and brings it to me and asks does it look right. Tell him I don't know. I ask why he doesn't just look it up, as this store is a REAL KOHLER DEALER. He says he can't, he needs the model. I tell him its an M20, he says no that's not the model, I need the # off the tag. I tell him that is the model, at least that is how my Kohler parts book labels it. I then ask can he look it up by manufacturer, thinking with this being a remote filter maybe its an actual Cadet part. Nope, can't look up anything by manufacturer. This store is also a STENS dealer, how in the heck do you sell aftermarket stuff if you can't look up something so simple as an oil filter? Anyway, I told him I would get the old # and come back. Go out to my truck and call the Cadet dealer a few miles away. For some reason he couldn't find a filter for a 2072. I said try an 1811, he says yep got it, I said I'll be there in 10 min.

Here is a positive parts counter story. I bought an aftermarket $500 radiator for a Deere farm tractor. It came with a piece of crap drain installed--Could not get it to break loose, handle finally broke. Dad stuck the new one in his pocket and decided to go by Oreileys to get one. They couldn't match it up with anything they had a listing on. Sales guy wanted to know what it fit, dad told him. Guy pull out his smartphone, logs on to Deere's website, get the part number, then proceeds to cross it over. Turns out he had one in stock all along. Guy went to a lot of work to sell a few $ item, but he demonstrated great customer service.

Guess I just hold parts guys to a higher standard, seeing that was what my dad did for the majority of the time he worked for IH--in the pre computer days where everything was literally dug out of the parts books. If they were a dealer for it, they did not rest until they found your part. They would not waste time on stuff they did not sell, but they carried several lines very well. I spent a few years there working part time as well so I understand its not always cut and dry searching for parts. Their parts books had tons of notes scribbled inside them whenever something was confusing, or if a particular customer had an oddball version not as common as most machines (ser # break).

[R Bedell]

Last summer, I looked up a part I needed for my service van. Locally, there are four Auto Parts stores in town. So, I get on the phone, with part number in hand and started calling the stores. Lo and behold, the Auto Zone store stocked the part I needed. I stated I would be right over. 10 minutes later, I walked into this Auto Zone. I stated that I just called 10 minutes ago and I need part number xxxxxx. Buffy....and I use that term with tongue in cheek...asked what make and model of vehicle I was working. I again gave your the "part number" that I wanted and she had no clue, the "deer in the headlights" look. I stated that I just called and her fellow employ stated that they had it. Gave her the part number again and got the same response. Finally the Store Manager stepped in. I repeated for the fourth time, that part number, and he went to the shelves and picked out the part and brought it to the counter.

This is positive proof....there is a "dumbing down" of America. And, it is just not Auto Parts stores. I see the same thing dealing with HVAC/R Wholesale Distributors.

[nra1ifer]

I agree with the frustrations mentioned earlier.

I have one local small-engine shop that I can still rely on. The guy that owns it looks like he'd fit right in on Duck Dynasty. He is always helpful, has a counter top full of parts books and repair manuals and certainly knows how to use them.

I was saddened the other day when I drove by and saw a real estate sign in front of his shop. I'll have to stop in and verify my suspicions that he's ready to retire.

[DeltaCub]

I have encountered that situation so many times! Recently I went to Fastenal to buy some woodruff keys, fine thread 3/4 lock nuts and a product called Lab Metal. All these products were listed as locally available from their website. So the local Fastenal is about 5 miles away and to the parts counter I go! Ha! I got the dumbest shit Fastenal employs... So with their info in hand, I proceed to buy the stuff. "We ain't got that" was his reply regarding the hardware...the nuts or the woodruff keys I ask?....crickets....I said do you know what a woodruff key is....again crickets...blank stare..."Nah, we ain't got those things...don't know what they are... can you get them I ask? Again "Nah, we ain't got those". This is a prime example of why Fastenal has closed two stores near me and why so many order product online. I went to McMaster-Carr ordered my stuff and more....it was here in two days!

Someone told me Fastenal has the 20/20/20 problem...20yr olds at the counter, earning 20k a year...average employment tenure...20 months.

[mortten]

Fastenal has very poor counter help. The rep that stopped in to the shop at work was better.

[OldSkull]

Who like to play "The teacher"? I was at my local hardware store (Rona) last week in the electric department looking to get what I need to power a variable frequency drive (VFD) from a 230V single phase source and the young men have no clue of what I was talking about. He even tell me he was actually getting a private college formation in electric industrial control and machinery.

G....Ok then...I try to explain how a VFD and a rotary phase converter work and he was totally lost, he didn't know we can only get single and 3 phases from our power plan, he was sure a 230V source was a 2 phases! I take the time to explain what I was doing and how I do it and he said he never knew it was possible to produce 3 phases from a single phase source.

This young man tell me he finish his scholarship and get his degree in one month, I think he his far from been ready but at least there is hope since this one was listening to me and not giving me the rolling eyes look. Getting someone who knows his game behind a counter his more rare then pope a$$ skin today.

[gsomersjr]

They could hire better people if they paid more but then they'd have to raise the prices to cover payroll and then everyone would have something else to complain about.

[ambrola]

Years ago I went to my local NAPA store to get a simple part. Was in the process of telling the parts counter guy what I needed and the phone rang. He picked it up, and left me just waiting. I swear I spent 10 minutes standing there. Finally, he finished the call and back to me. I just stood there with a red, pissed off look. I couldn't help it, I said why would you answer the phone when you have a customer with cash in hand just standing when you have no idea if the phone guy would ever buy anything? He began talking but I didn't hear a word he was saying I was so mad. Ever since that episode, I buy everything online. Not just mechanical parts, but things around the house.

[DieselDoctor]

It's too bad that the NAPA stores you both had problems with didn't educate (or care to) their countermen. NAPA has one of the most diverse product lines in the parts industry. In addition to auto parts, NAPA carries farm, lawn and garden, marine, heavy truck, industrial, construction, and on and on. If you would like to see their product line, go to their website and click on e-catalogs, you'll see the list. And yes you can look up an oil filter for a 2072 Cub Cadet by application in the Cub Cadet listings or the Kohler listing. Been there done that. Here's a link to the E-catalogs ---
https://www.napaecatalog.com/erack.p..._partnumber%3d

[Randy Littrell]

I bet they don't pay more than $10 or $12 an hour which is just a little more than McDonalds. You can't get good help at that price.

There are places hiring all over where I live, but they all pay those kind of wages. I wish I knew the answer to fixing this problem, but its not gonna go away.

I do my best to buy local, but its hard to do.




Randy