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What happened to the real Parts Store?

posted in: rob's garage garage, news on July 04, 2009 at 02:32 PM

Old School Parts Store

Old School Parts Store

I can remember going to the parts store with my uncle (mechanic). The moment you walked in it had a distinct smell of old oil and grease. When you walked in they knew your name and knew what you drove. If you needed a part they knew what the part was and what it went on. They didn’t need a computer to look up your part. They went in the back or they pulled out a big book and looked up your part and made a few calls. Tell me about you favorite parts store.

tags: parts, chevy, oldmobile, mopar, old, store, dutsan, name, carb, battery, people, show, muffler, lights
10

Comments

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Doug's 1320 Garage
July 04, 2009 at 02:55 PM

I used to be one of those guys….It frosts my alls when I go somewhere now and the guys don’t know shit….harsh language for sure, But that’s the truth. I could even get by if the new guys new their stuff about new cars…they don’t even know that!!!!

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Rob's Garage Garage
July 04, 2009 at 03:03 PM

Exactly!!!!

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Turbo Joe's Garage
July 04, 2009 at 03:06 PM

Yep…I feel ya…being a “parts guy” around here (SoCal) is almost like a fast-food job. Point at the idiot screen and you’re now an expert.

I have been shocked (pleasantly) by Autozone up in San Luis Obispo. There are a few notable guys there who are actually car guys and will go “old school” and even look in a paper catalog if they have to (GASP!). Oddly, they actually seem to ENJOY their job????

Great guys up there and they’ve helped me a bunch on the Comet. It actually makes me not hate AZ as much…LOL

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Shade Tree Garage
July 04, 2009 at 03:09 PM

There was story on real parts stores last month or so in Hot Rod magazine. Very good article. There still some out there.

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firewisinger's Garage
July 04, 2009 at 03:24 PM

working in a parts store…as opposed to a parts house…has become another ‘joe job’ to more than a few people…they don’t have to ask you if you want fries with that…i’ve worked parts houses on and off over the years…it always made a great part time job while wrenching during the day…i kept more than a few people from buying parts they “think” they needed to get the job done…i love no-start situations…or they send their wives to get the part…without all the required info…
that’s pretty much grounds for divorce…or they want to go as cheap as possible…doesn’t work…or they don’t have a clue how to fix it…but they’re saving all this money by doing it themselves…scary…really scary…lol…you find a great parts house…you stick with it :)

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Rob's Garage Garage
July 04, 2009 at 04:03 PM
Reply to firewisinger's Garage on July 04, 2009 at 03:24 PM

I like your comments your are all over the place.

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firewisinger's Garage
July 04, 2009 at 04:07 PM
Reply to Rob's Garage Garage on July 04, 2009 at 04:03 PM

it’s one of those random days…lol :)

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jhar Garage
July 04, 2009 at 11:59 PM

I stopped going when the kid behind the counter couldn’t find my fiero in the Oldsmobile list. I now drive 20 miles to a NAPA that , hey they know what a carburetor is!!!

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Rob's Garage Garage
July 05, 2009 at 06:17 AM

Keep supporting the real parts stores.

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BPBOG Garage
July 05, 2009 at 06:13 PM

I Can Remember Those Days And Unfortunately In My Area The Real Part Store Has Been Replaced By Corporate Greed With Minimum Wage Computer Point And Click Salesmen or Women Who Only Push Wax And Steering Wheel Covers.
Sorry, Just My .02

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