O'Reilly's rant

[Southern_Trendkill]

That's why I get everything from NAPA and Summit.

 

[Ranger#1]

i just figured that for 7$ more id go poly bushings. worth evrey penny

 

[Shran]

shouldn't they be resposible for the new alignment? It was there defective part that caused the issue in the first place. They caused a major safety issue that could have ended badly if you were not paying attention.

I don't know, one would think so. I am definitely going to take it back...will probably ask about having them pay for the alignment. Anybody have experience in dealing with something like this before?

i just figured that for 7$ more id go poly bushings. worth evrey penny

Me too, and these are supposedly poly...but they are very hard and brittle. After seeing the insides of them it's pretty obvious that they are made of a material that should NOT be used for a bushing of any kind.

 

[4x4junkie]

Me too, and these are supposedly poly...but they are very hard and brittle. After seeing the insides of them it's pretty obvious that they are made of a material that should NOT be used for a bushing of any kind.

I once bought a set of RA bushings somewhere (I can't remember, Pep Boys maybe?) that were made of some hard rubberized plastic-like material (they were very light in weight too). I took them back because they didn't seem like they'd give (flex) at all. Wondering if those were the same ones you got.

Yeah, hit up Carquest. I've had pretty decent luck with their stuff so far (of course I usually try not to get the cheapest version of whatever it is I'm getting though).

 

[OilPatch197]

heh... I have always had good luck w/ O'reillys. for the most part, cheaper parts but in many cases better than autozone.

Back in IL , the Mattoon autozone was kind of sucky in their service and/or knowledge, it depended on who was working.

Here in Fishers, both Autozones that I have went to have been pretty decent. The nearest O'reilly's is kind of far a way, but it has been decent too.

AJ

I live in southeastern Illinois, this is the "autoparts" story:

1988: -NAPA (good experts that actually OWN classic cars themselves)
-Car Quest (a bunch of BS'ers, jokers, and squatters)
-Lincoln auto parts ("any part for any car" was their motto) (good)
- GM dealership (good been in buisness since the 40's)
- Chrysler Jeep dealership (but we drove GM cars)
- Western Auto (mostly hardware)


1995: much as changed in this little town of 5382....

-NAPA (removal of the bar stools helped keep the B.S. down)
-Car Quest (still bull shitters)
-GM dealership
- Chrysler
-Western Auto (no autoparts a bike shop going downhill)
- AC Delco "Blankenships" (that would undercut everyone else's prices for a sale! drove Lincohlin auto parts out of business, then Autozone drove them out of business!)
- AutoZone

now in a town of 5382 this is some really aggressive competition, I also forgot you had a Wal-Mart also. Autozone really knocked out the market with their "at that time" low pricing and cool new store.

Now:

2009:

-NAPA STILL the SAME knowledgeable people!! no more bar stools so no "squatters" in the afternoons.


-Car Quest (STILL a bunch of BS'ers, jokers, and squatters) Since it's now illegal to smoke they don't seem to smoke as much but the ash tray is still on the counter.... a "old time" store.

-Autozone: actually there are some dedicated people at this store, but it is random and sometimes insane, it's Autozone.

- Chrysler Dealership, bought out the GM store and moved in.

Anyhow, I have found that Autozone is like the Wal-Mart of autoparts... If you want service I have to choose NAPA or the DICKS at the CarQuest.... or drive 20 miles to a O'Reilly's, which is cheaper than a NAPA, but more skilled and better stores than Autozone.

Autozone's stores are stupidly designed, IMO the "checkout zone" does not work very good if only two peeps are working and they are at parts counter, at least O'Reilly's you can pay AT the parts counter, and they never run low on change either!

I was intimidated at some stores pointed the computer at YOU! It's like screaming "hey we hire peeps that have NO idea how to look up parts!"

Going to a auto parts store should be a fun experience, where guys can bs a LITTLE and chit chat, come up with ideals, like a barber shop.

 

[zukirider21]

in northern nj we have everything in close reach so ive tried tham all. heres what ive found:

NAPA- good for oem replacement stuff.
carquest- within walking distance so i always go there for bolts, carb cleaner, etc. last minute "oh shit" parts. havent really gotten anything major thru them yet.
advance auto - by far the best "major franchise" around. VERY knowledgeable and friendly people. good prices too.
pep boys- horrid cheap garbage. employees are challenged with the spelling of "car". the same goes for autozone.

oh and as far as tools go, NEVER have i bought a tool from any of these places and nor do i plan on doing so. its all craftsman, sk, and snap on for me. no exceptions.

 

[Mudhound]

The O'reilys over in town has a decent staff IF you can get there on Wed. morning, otherwise, moron central.
Advance-if it ain't rice, they ain't interested. Bunch of F&F wanna be idiots (2nd gear, 5grand on the tach in a 35MPH zone...).
Autozone- MOST of the crew has an idea what it is for, what it should be doing, and how come it ain't. 2 BIG morons working there, but they know to leave me the F alone. Oh, and they actually have stuff in stock, on the shelf, for most of my junk, unlike the other morons...

 

[AgPete139]

The O'reilys over in town has a decent staff IF you can get there on Wed. morning, otherwise, moron central.
Advance-if it ain't rice, they ain't interested. Bunch of F&F wanna be idiots (2nd gear, 5grand on the tach in a 35MPH zone...).
Autozone- MOST of the crew has an idea what it is for, what it should be doing, and how come it ain't. 2 BIG morons working there, but they know to leave me the F alone. Oh, and they actually have stuff in stock, on the shelf, for most of my junk, unlike the other morons...

DEFENDING O'REILLY'S
O'Reilly's by my house is very reputable, and for everything stock, they are good and of average quality. I actually source most of my parts there, and I recently got the bar spring for 8.8 drums there when NOBODY (NAPA, A-Zone, or Advance) could find them. The guys at O'Reilly's are usually very knowledgeable as well.

Autozone Discontentment:
Autozone, on the other hand, seems to hire anyone (unknowledgeabe) off the street and they do not carry many specific parts. However, I do regularly go to them when I need brakes or hose, etc.

Original Poster:
For your F150, what kind of radius arm bushing did you go with? For things like that, I would rather not use the rubber but instead go with the polyurethane bushings.


Pete

 

[Mudhound]

So, it looks like everyone has a decent to good parts house of one franchise or another somewhat close to them. Oh, and congrats, I guess, for having a good "O" store within reasonable walking distance. Personally, I am not impressed with them around here at all. As for the Autozone having stuff on the shelves for a certain type vehicle, did you know that "most" partshouses will/can stock the shelves differently for an area, based on requests from customers? It's amazing what can happen alot of folks start asking for parts for certain vehicles (around here, it is mainly farming, so the ricers and other cars are not as well stocked for as trucks are.).

 

[nitrofan1]

shouldn't they be resposible for the new alignment? It was there defective part that caused the issue in the first place. They caused a major safety issue that could have ended badly if you were not paying attention.

I've been in the parts business for 25 years and currently at Advance Auto since 96. The way any warrantied part works is: Defects in materials & workmanship be it 90 day, 1 year or lifetime. If a part has an issue and it's the parts fault not an install or use issue the selling store has the right to repay the purchaser for labor or have the part sent back to the manufacturer for inspection. If that happens and the part was defective the manufacturer not the parts seller may refund labor. It is a very rare instance that the parts seller will ever give labor money for a defective part.

This is true for any and all parts stores. Though it is the reputation of the store selling lower quality parts vs good it's also on the buyer to purchase quality over price. You truely get what you pay for. Advance sells Moog chassis parts but also a Chinese brand called OE Brand. I always try and "upsell" to Moog because it's a 1 time fix. Same with u-joints, brakes etc....

One more thing. If YOU install the part and not a shop that you paid to have the part installed there will be no labor paid at all. That goes for all parts stores. No allignment, rental car, nothing. That's the way it's always been. We have the power not to spend our money at that store again which does hurt them. In the future if you value your ride please ask for the best part offered. That will solve the issue.

 

[97RangerXLT]

I live in southeastern Illinois,

What part of South East IL? I have a sis and bro inlaw in Fairfield, and a friend I work with is from Fairfield.

AJ