O'reilly parts counter win!

[weq92f]

.
I have to give credit where it's due. I needed a thermostat housing gasket for my bbc truck ( long story ). I pull in there thinking I'll get that and maybe some of the Permatex Gasket and Sealer mentioned in another thread. The long haired kid behind the counter I'd seen before but not worked with. I noticed a small patch of grease on his cheek as he asked what I needed. Told him a thermostat housing gasket... he reached for the computer and asked for what vehicle so I said lets shoot for a 69 camaro w/ a big block. He digging around and say's ahh, the 90's are different...70, 454, OK... We've got a performance part!

Walks me over to the display behind the edge of the counter and shows me exactly what I'm looking for but the EXTREME version made of metal w/ rubber insert and a $20 price tag! He says you want that or the 2 dollar one in the back?

1.60 out the door. The Permatex on the shelf was an enormous jug of it for 12.99... I passed.

-klb

[1976gmc20]

I used to make them out of a cereal or cracker box

[Steeveedee]

Originally Posted by 1976gmc20

I used to make them out of a cereal or cracker box

When yer po that's what you do! I've made differential cover gaskets from cereal boxes before.

[weq92f]

.
I even keep a sheet of Karropak ... I wanted to go there to look around.

-klb

[72c20customcamper]

Originally Posted by 1976gmc20

I used to make them out of a cereal or cracker box

Model t head gaskets too ...showing my age but we used to work on them and model A’s in the garage

[WorkinLonghorn]

I went to CarQuest for a thermostat and it was something like $5.99. I asked just to be sure, if it included the gasket. "No that is separate" How much is it? "$6.95"
Not his fault the prices are crazy so I said "sorry to waste your time" as I turned to leave and the guy pipes up loudly "Yeah, you did!" smh

[Steeveedee]

Originally Posted by WorkinLonghorn

I went to CarQuest for a thermostat and it was something like $5.99. I asked just to be sure, if it included the gasket. "No that is separate" How much is it? "$6.95"
Not his fault the prices are crazy so I said "sorry to waste your time" as I turned to leave and the guy pipes up loudly "Yeah, you did!" smh

I've mellowed a bit, but back in the day, if someone said something like that to me, my immediate response to that comment would have been, "Yo mama!". I used to get in a lot of fights.

[1976gmc20]

Originally Posted by Steeveedee

When yer po that's what you do! I've made differential cover gaskets from cereal boxes before.

Or a long ways from town and a parts store. Or you drive fifty miles and they don't even have it

Some old guy taught me to cut them out by carefully tapping with a ball peen hammer over the part to be gasketified.

[Warrens69GMC]

And why parts people are tired of dealing people day in/day out....

[burnin oil]

Also why i use rock auto alot unless its an i got to have it item.

[vetnat]

Originally Posted by Steeveedee

When yer po that's what you do! I've made differential cover gaskets from cereal boxes before.

My dad has done that. He told me he always used Corn Flakes box.

[Boog]

But sometimes you gotta do it yourself.

[special-K]

Sounds like a good experience with one of many decent younger parts help that are still out there. We (I) have to remember that at times it is our (my) attitude that is (can be) the issue. They never know which of the multitude of requests will be coming their way or the level of knowledge of the person making the request. I don't care to deal with Advance, personally, but I do use them. Times when I need the part right now and struck out at my preferred parts house or during after business hours when only the big boxes stay open. But it's not due to counter help. I don't know why it is, maybe I'm in an area where there are more sons and daughters of automotive types or what, but with the various people who I have dealt with there (they do turn over a good bit) I have had generally good experiences. We don't have O'Reilly. Just a NAPA satellite, and Car Quest which is the old business turned Car Quest/then bought by Advance. That is my preferred business these days. Napa took a nose dive when a new manager took over with the attitude the store couldn't possibly have been run well before his tenure. Quite the opposite is the truth of it

Originally Posted by Steeveedee

I've mellowed a bit, but back in the day, if someone said something like that to me, my immediate response to that comment would have been, "Yo mama!". I used to get in a lot of fights.

I've mellowed out even more. How can that be when you hint you now would have just kept walking as I... might. There was a time when I would have walked right back up to him, pointed my finger at his face and asked, "Are you getting paid right now? I didn't waste your time", turned then walked. Hmmm... maybe I haven't mellowed that much. I believe I would still do that and only that. Back before I mellowed I might have thrown a few nasty words upon his character at him as well. They call that abusive behavior so that is what I have matured away from.

[1976gmc20]

We used to have a policy of tearing something down before driving to town and taking the old part into the store to get the new part. Otherwise you always come back from town with the wrong part

I guess that it's actually getting better about that than it used to be.

[davischevy]

Last week I needed a heater hose fitting 1/2' NPT, 5/8 hose, 3' long. Apparently they are rare. I went to Car Quest twice. They ordered the wrong one first and then told me there is no such thing.

I got on the O'Rielly website and started looking at heater hose fittings. After some research, there it is. It will be at the store in the morning.

[weq92f]

Originally Posted by davischevy

...<snip>...there it is. It will be at the store in the morning.

I've had similar experiences and like their store content and layout. Having options is nice...this is a good one.

-klb

[davischevy]

I picked the hose fittings up earlier. They had a little trouble finding them, but they are in my hands now.

[slomotion]

Originally Posted by 1976gmc20

..........

Some old guy taught me to cut them out by carefully tapping with a ball peen hammer over the part to be gasketified.

Yessir. Accurate, and easy. The only difference is, we'd lightly tap out the pattern then use a gasket punch to make the holes. Always had a few pieces of different weight gasket material around.
The trouble today is we're paying for the packaging - the gasket price is next to nothing.

[Steeveedee]

Originally Posted by Boog

But sometimes you gotta do it yourself.

I forget what part it was, but something for my '70 truck. It wasn't in the computer, so they gave me a paper catalog to look through. I don't give up easily.

[Steeveedee]

Originally Posted by slomotion

Yessir. Accurate, and easy. The only difference is, we'd lightly tap out the pattern then use a gasket punch to make the holes. Always had a few pieces of different weight gasket material around.
The trouble today is we're paying for the packaging - the gasket price is next to nothing.

I remember when I worked at a parts store, just out of the Navy, I was delivering parts. I took a valve cover gasket to a shop as one of my deliveries, and the owner complained how wasteful people in the US are (he was from Canada) because he could have made two more gaskets with the box!

[1976gmc20]

Originally Posted by slomotion

Yessir. Accurate, and easy. The only difference is, we'd lightly tap out the pattern then use a gasket punch to make the holes. Always had a few pieces of different weight gasket material around.
The trouble today is we're paying for the packaging - the gasket price is next to nothing.

The ball peen cuts out the bolt holes nice too. You just got to find the right spot to hit so you don't smash the material flat.

If you use a cereal box then the gasket is the packaging

[Rich84]

Originally Posted by Steeveedee

I forget what part it was, but something for my '70 truck. It wasn't in the computer, so they gave me a paper catalog to look through. I don't give up easily.

I went to a NAPA in Salem Ma. looking for a lightbulb for my daughter's Mini. Older gentlemen behind the counter looked it up in a parts book that was about 3 feet long. And there was about 3 others back there just like it, just like the good ol days.