Date:         Wed, 16 May 2007 12:50:10 -0700
Reply-To:     Robert Fisher <refisher@MCHSI.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Robert Fisher <refisher@MCHSI.COM>
Subject:      Re: FLAPS?  not in my experience (No Van Content)
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Facetious List Acronym, Possibly Sarcastic?

I've found the people at the two rubber-stamp retail boxes here (AutoZone
and Kragen) to be adequate if you know what you're after and you hold their
hands when necessary. I usually go through the websites first and get part
numbers and so on before going there. The Napa and Big A in town are more
like old-fashioned / full-service auto parts stores but they're more
expensive of course, and while their employees know quite a bit more about
cars they tend to be lacking a bit in what most people would consider common
retail 'customer service' skills. Basically I'm more interested in
competency than manners.

I tend to go to the McParts stores for things I consider less critical or
easier to work on (like alternators or starters) which are much cheaper
there and for which I also get the 'lifetime warranty'. I go to the other
stores for better quality parts where I feel like it's wiser to spend the
money to do so, in cases where the component is more critical and/or harder
to repair such as internal engine parts.

I realize that 'you get what you pay for' is in full effect here; having
said that I've had decent luck with the Kragazone stuff, and the ability to
walk into any one of their stores and access your warranty history has paid
off for me as well. I had to exchange something under warranty at my dad's
place in Cottonwood that I had bought here; I just walked in with the part,
gave them my phone number and it was done. In contrast, my stepdad had a
Napa starter go bad while we were in NorCal and he had to buy another one
outright and go wrestle for his money back (as he didn't need an exchange as
the store preferred) from the local store. I understand that most Napa-s are
independently owned franchises and the company is not very
automated/computerized yet.

I buy my Vanagon parts from the local VW Jedi; he has a shop and a parts
store as well as being a gold-star smog station. It's more expensive to buy
from him than from the list vendors for the most part, but in general I
prefer to support locally owned businesses (as I have one myself), and this
guy has given me an extensive 'free' education over the years from patiently
answering my bazillion-plus questions. Having said that I will be buying
some stuff from the list vendors in support of that symbiotic relationship
as well.

It can't be easy staffing those auto stores. You're in a weird grey area in
trying to get people that have a certain amount of automotive competency for
just a little more than minimum wage when that same person could probably
make more money and get better hours with what they know working at a shop
or dealer. There are guys that can discuss engine minutiae all day that
would lock up completely when placed in front of a cash register. I can tell
y'all from my own experience as a retail manager that trying to find one
person that is at least average in say, four different areas can be quite a
challenge. Most of the people that can do that or better can sell themselves
for more than you can pay somewhere else that's a better working environment
to boot.

I figure it's better to make sure I know what I'm doing up front and walk
them through it than leave myself in the position of having to depend on
their people. Oh yeah- and open all boxes before you go to the register...
that's a big one.

Cya,
Robert

----- Original Message -----
From: "Don Hanson" <dhanson@GORGE.NET>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Wednesday, May 16, 2007 9:25 AM
Subject: FLAPS? not in my experience (No Van Content)


Why do we refer to these places like that?   Friendly Local Auto Parts
Store?  I've not found most of the countermen("persons?) very friendly at
all..In fact, they seem downright rude, in most cases..Occasionally you
might get someone who actually knows something about vehicles.  Sometimes
you get someone who even tries to be helpful, but in my experience you
usually get ignored for a while, and then some kinda attitude or just a
'blank stare"..
   FLAPS, my patootie!
  Don Hanson