Re: [Amc-list] NAPAONLINE

[Russell Neyhart <rtneyhart@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Many years ago, in a town not far away, I sold foreign auto parts.  It 
was a small shop with only two of us working there.  We didn't do much 
walk-in or telephone retail service, mostly shops calling us.  In short 
order, we were the ones who were getting calls first because we were 
knowledgeable, courteous, and delivered parts promptly (or advised the 
customer if we couldn't).  We had a microfiche machine, a computer for 
invoices and inventory, and a cash box.  Most of the time I would be 
delivering parts 70-75% of the day, with the balance being restocking 
and working the counter.  This was before the Internet, so word-of-mouth 
among local garages was our advertisement.

I think this is what makes me a much more demanding customer at times.  
It's so nice to find a counter person who will go the extra mile to help 
you find something and not just be a mindless boob pressing buttons on a 
keypad and coming back a few seconds later with, "We can't get it."  I 
went to a local parts store (another I had worked in some time ago) to 
get hatch lifts for my Eagle.  Oddly enough they are listed as also 
fitting a couple years of Mustang II.  The younger of the two fellows I 
spoke of was looking up the parts, but was having trouble.  The older 
fellow looked them up and found that the listings go to 1987.  I related 
the story of how there were only a few 1988s and that more than likely 
the 1987 parts would fit with the disclaimer that I was willing to 
chance it.  Well... they fit like a charm and now instead of the hatch 
falling on my head, it goes up by itself!  Oh yeah... God forbid someone 
would turn around and look up a part in the book.

For on-line sources, I have found Rock Auto to be excellent.  
CarParts.Com (JCWhitney) and Advance Auto Parts Web sites are somewhat 
useful in researching parts.  NAPAs Web site is worthless.  I usually go 
to the store that found me the hatch struts or Advance Auto.  I got the 
ignition upgrade parts from Advance.  The fellow behind the counter 
there was excellent and not put off that my Ford parts were for an 
ignition upgrade for an AMC.  I also like to use some manufacturer Web 
sites for cross referencing parts or just seeing what's out there.

A good parts person is as good as a good mechanic in my opinion.

Russ (from Pa.)
1988 Eagle  

Tom Jennings wrote:
> On Tue, 1 May 2007, Swygert, Francis G MSgt 436 CES/CECM wrote:
>
>   
>> Ahh... so it's not just the site, but how the on-line part of the
>> business is run! That clarifies things a lot! Mark Price has done a lot
>> of business with Rock Auto, and I've done some... never any problems
>> there, but they appear to have set themselves up with Internet business
>> a primary concern. I'm not even sure they have any storefronts... maybe
>> one or two at the warehouses like J.C. Whitney. But Rock Auto isn't
>> JCW!! They don't carry a lot of the cheap accessory items, they are just
>> like a normal parts store, only on-line.
>>     
>
> It does seem to be true, rockauto is online-only and NAPA is
> obviously brick and mortar.
>
> But it is absolutely true that good software costs less than
> bad software in the long run, and often the short term too. And
> in this case, good software would make NAPA a FORTUNE -- first
> gain back the $$$ they're LOSING with their LOSER ecommerce and
> at least try to approach what rockauto does in ease of access.
>
> If I could make up orders that I could send to my local store
> for fullfillment -- IT WOULD KICK BUTT. AutoZone does this.
>
> NAPA's in-house network can tell me "in stock" vs. "we have one
> of those in the Downey store" 5 miles away vs. "that's a special
> non-refundable order item from Chicago 5 days delivery". Why
> isn't that online?
>
> I imagine -- I do not know -- that NAPA HQ is run by good solid
> car parts business people but wouldn't know good software if
> they're kids handed it to them. They probably see it as new
> fangled hippy sh*t the dork kids in the backroom want. Wake up
> guys! Those dorks will sell your parts for you!
>
> They need a ghost of auto-parts future to take them on a tour of
> what will happen if they don't get their act together. AutoZone
> parts suck, but they are solid on getting their crap to you,
> and with pretty much unknowledgable help (shudder).
>
>
> (I will say this much good about AutoZone: they do carry parts
> for our old cars; they really do cater to the home-car-nut.)
>
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