returned CHINA CRAP stories & pics

[Mark_88]

Don't you mean "China Tire"? That store is a waste of realstate to even think you are going to get a good product for a car.... I have heard some bad horror stories from their auto section.... they make more money importing cheap waffle irons than anything else, so why try to compete with real parts stores.... all i will buy from the auto section is oil, light bulbs and belts.

That is true...and, sadly, they were one of the best many years ago...they even used to offer rebuilt engines (although not sure of the quality)...my Dad used to use their Lube Pit quite a bit...and he'd take us there on weekends to go "Wishing"...meaning we'd walk through the aisles and wish we could have the shiny new bike, gun (yes, they used to sell guns too), or fishing rod...

You must have a napa owned by a different company, the parts at the napas by me are at least 20% more expensive and the stuff is still made in china.

I will have to check their signage again...could be they are affiliated with NAPA but don't use the actual name...I know I saw that somewhere either in the store or on their sign...

But, so far, every part I've purchased from them has been at least 10 to 50% cheaper than Canadian Tire...

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

I've heard the argument many times about the tariffs, and I certainly don't disagree, but, so the tariffs on the imported crap are brought up to par with each other. The only thing that will happen is LongDong and Chingdo will charge more for their crap. Manufacturing in North America has gone for good. So, how many years would it take for North America, U.S. and Canada that is, to rebuild the factories that are no more?

Yeah, all of the sudden the cheap nearly worthless crap would cost the same as quality stuff.

We built the factories once, they can certainly be built again.

That is true...and, sadly, they were one of the best many years ago...they even used to offer rebuilt engines (although not sure of the quality)...my Dad used to use their Lube Pit quite a bit...and he'd take us there on weekends to go "Wishing"...meaning we'd walk through the aisles and wish we could have the shiny new bike, gun (yes, they used to sell guns too), or fishing rod...

Sounds a lot like what happened to Tractor Supply Company (TSC). Used to be you could order engine hop up kits, governer/throttle upgrades, custom seats... anything you wanted for tractors. Now they are pretty much a yuppy horse and bunny rabbit supply store.

Another cheap junk thing, Montana tractors made by LG of India. We have one in the shop right now, it had a new trans put in it under warrenty before they folded up, and has been opened up three times since because it keeps sticking into reverse. All the stuff inside the trans is weak and dainty looking, we had the trans top cover off of a 1940's Farmall H right beside it because the shifter was loose, much beefier on the 1948 25hp American warhorse than the 2008 60hp import job. As an added bonus no parts are stocked on this side of the pond that we could find so everything is a special order from India, the sad attempt at the English in the shop and owners manuals is very comical too read as well... it would be a lot funnier if you didn't have to decifer it though.

The guy got it because it was a lot cheaper than a comparable Deere... but not only can you find someone that knows anything about a Deere in this country but I can get just about any part the next day if I order before 4pm. CNH is the same way.

I am fairly sure the Montana will never be getting restored in 65 years as the H is... and that H almost has the hole pulled through the drawbar from extensive field work so it isn't like it has just been sitting around.

 

[veefer800canuck]

after i swapped from a fleetside to a stepside box, i had to shorten the filler neck about 4 inches. it worked, but it filled kinda slowly and the pump would kick off if you cranked it up too fast. some gas stations were better than others, but it was always a small problem.

i bought a stepside filler neck off ebay, and it turned out to be made of Chinesium.

the metal upper part that screws to the box inside the filler door would not align properly, and I had to modify it.

the cheap hose clamps holding the hose to the neck, and also the tank, were horrible. made of soft cheese. as soon as you tried to tighten them, they would immediately strip, so I re-used the OEM clamps off the old filler neck, and they were fine, even though the clamps were 17 years old.

in the end, i got it to work, but now, when it gets right to the top and the pump kicks off, it always pukes a little fuel out and onto the step of the box.

you can fill the first 3/4 tank fast, but have to back off when topping it off so it doesn't puke over at the very end.

sometimes you win, sometimes you lose. I'm sure my front brake rotors were also made in china, but no problems with them whatsoever.

 

[cody93]

heres my new situation, i go buy a new water outlet and thermostat for my truck after a rebuilt head, well it keeps running bad, not getting hot untill one day i decide to stick some carbboard over the rad to get it to warm up. when it did, i had good power. so i go flush out my system and install a new water pump, no luck. pull the t stat and notice its not seating worth a crap, held it up to the light and i could see a 1/8th gap between the t-stat oring and the outlet.... the danm hole is too big. and ofcourse, the housing says MADE IN CHINA.... seems like the same part for other years and same company no mater what vendor... time to break out the jb weld...

 

[Sonnyd]

As someone who has worked for NAPA for 9 years now...I'll say that most of you all are right. Especially, people wanting the cheapest part they can find. Most simply don't care, as long as it's cheap.
Obviously NAPA does not make parts, we buy from suppliers like everyone else. Suppliers change their suppliers, just like everyone else. You just can't get everything Made in USA anymore. I'll say, for the most part, if what we sell is made in China, it will say so on the outside of the box. Just because something has an American name on the box, don't assume anything. Chinese are great about Resurrecting old Quality USA names and putting crap inside...
There are Quality Chinese parts, they can make them with the Best, but usually companies want the CHEAPEST product they can sell, because, people for the most part, want the Part as cheap as they can get it. It's pretty simple, "joe shmoe" walks into the parts store for a part for his 15 year old POS car, does he want a 10.00 Ball joint, or a 50.00 ball joint...most times it's the 10.00 Ball Joint.... and then he will quibble about the price, because the other Parts store down the street has it for 9.50!
Someone making 50K a year here in the USA, isn't probably going to be making, a 10 dollar part like the guy in China making 2.00 bucks a day.....
I'll agree we have pretty much done it to ourselves as mentioned earlier in this post.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

I'll say, for the most part, if what we sell is made in China, it will say so on the outside of the box. Just because something has an American name on the box, don't assume anything.

I have seen USA on the box and China/Mexico on the part before.

 

[PanamaExpat]

I have seen USA on the box and China/Mexico on the part before.

That's not uncommon.... Sometimes it comes right out and says packaging printed in USA...

 

[a31ford]

Has anyone seen the movie "Gung Ho" with Michael Keaton, and George Wendt (Norm) (1986), DIRECTLY related to this thread...


Greg

 

[straycat]

So far I have not had any issues with anything made in China...tools, winches, etc. etc. Our beloved Ford company has been building parts outside the USA for a long time now....some motors, trannys, transfer cases. So if you want to complain...start there.

 

[robertc1024]

As someone who has worked for NAPA for 9 years now...I'll say that most of you all are right. Especially, people wanting the cheapest part they can find. Most simply don't care, as long as it's cheap.
Obviously NAPA does not make parts, we buy from suppliers like everyone else. Suppliers change their suppliers, just like everyone else. You just can't get everything Made in USA anymore. I'll say, for the most part, if what we sell is made in China, it will say so on the outside of the box. Just because something has an American name on the box, don't assume anything. Chinese are great about Resurrecting old Quality USA names and putting crap inside...
There are Quality Chinese parts, they can make them with the Best, but usually companies want the CHEAPEST product they can sell, because, people for the most part, want the Part as cheap as they can get it. It's pretty simple, "joe shmoe" walks into the parts store for a part for his 15 year old POS car, does he want a 10.00 Ball joint, or a 50.00 ball joint...most times it's the 10.00 Ball Joint.... and then he will quibble about the price, because the other Parts store down the street has it for 9.50!
Someone making 50K a year here in the USA, isn't probably going to be making, a 10 dollar part like the guy in China making 2.00 bucks a day.....
I'll agree we have pretty much done it to ourselves as mentioned earlier in this post.

You're probably right about all of that. From a consumer's standpoint, I don't necessarily want the most expensive part either. My F-150 puked an alternator (I think, final tests are coming in.) I go onto RockAuto and there are 20+ to choose from. Cheap-ass at < $100 and ones upwards of $350. I just want the one that won't quit on me and have absolutely no tangible idea which one to get. There used to be the day when you bought by brand name - Moog, Timkin etc. and you absolutely knew you were getting a good product. Now they've whored themselves out and are the "Forest Gump" box of chocolates. They are all retarded. You make a lasting company by making a lasting product. Most have sold their souls to quarterly profits.

 

[PanamaExpat]

You're probably right about all of that. From a consumer's standpoint, I don't necessarily want the most expensive part either. My F-150 puked an alternator (I think, final tests are coming in.) I go onto RockAuto and there are 20+ to choose from. Cheap-ass at < $100 and ones upwards of $350. I just want the one that won't quit on me and have absolutely no tangible idea which one to get. There used to be the day when you bought by brand name - Moog, Timkin etc. and you absolutely knew you were getting a good product. Now they've whored themselves out and are the "Forest Gump" box of chocolates. They are all retarded. You make a lasting company by making a lasting product. Most have sold their souls to quarterly profits.

You sure hit the nail on the head there. It's quite a crap shoot buying anything out there these days. Sometimes brand names and quality still matter like the difference between LUK and Exidy clutch components. But it really bites when you buy a $20 part and you have a cheap one at home that cost $12 and they are exactly the same right down to the mold marks.

 

[doorgunner]

Bought 2 Sensa-Trac gas shocks........

opened the sealed boxes.......


two used shocks.........


fortunately.....I had taken my meds previously


MIC/UIC...............

(Made in China/Used in China)

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

You're probably right about all of that. From a consumer's standpoint, I don't necessarily want the most expensive part either. My F-150 puked an alternator (I think, final tests are coming in.) I go onto RockAuto and there are 20+ to choose from. Cheap-ass at < $100 and ones upwards of $350. I just want the one that won't quit on me and have absolutely no tangible idea which one to get. There used to be the day when you bought by brand name - Moog, Timkin etc. and you absolutely knew you were getting a good product. Now they've whored themselves out and are the "Forest Gump" box of chocolates. They are all retarded. You make a lasting company by making a lasting product. Most have sold their souls to quarterly profits.

Timkin is still a pretty good brand as far as I have seen.

Generally if someone puts their name on it, it probably isn't too bad. It is the generic no-name stuff you really gotta worry about.

I wish I could remember what brand it was, we had two bearings come in that were supposed to be the same number, both had one digit of the number scratched out with a different number engraved above them. Somebody screwed up

Bought 2 Sensa-Trac gas shocks........

opened the sealed boxes.......


two used shocks.........


fortunately.....I had taken my meds previously


MIC/UIC...............

(Made in China/Used in China)

When the dealership my dad worked at got bought out but hadn't changed hands yet the owner borrowed a fancy stapler from a friend at a factory and starting returning the junk parts they took off of stuff back to John Deere as good parts in the boxes he carefully opened. For years afterwards once in awhile they would get used junk stuff back from the warehouse.

 

[Sonnyd]

I have seen USA on the box and China/Mexico on the part before.

Yeah, the box may be even printed in Mexico,..but it will say, "packaging" made whatever.... If it says, Made in USA....then the part will have been made here... I have seen no exceptions of that at NAPA..... Did find out something Positive yesterday. A few years ago, we changed our Bulb supplier from Federal-Mogul, which is not exclusively USA, but usually will be either Europe,/Germany, or USA, or more "higher end"..... to IECO which usually means China, Korea. I'm sure it was done to increase profit. They have been soooooooo Crappy, that we have switched back to Federal-Mogul, and the price is supposed to be pretty much unchanged...Just less profit margin...
Auto Parts are a "cut throat" industry, where "cheap" usually rules the equation. Sometimes there is much profit to be had. And like NAPA, the other Stores, all rely on "Shops" to make money, not the walk in customer. We couldn't keep our doors open, just selling to Walk ins, and neither could the others. Most shops are in for the bottom line price....They can't survive just on what they get for Labor, they make money on the parts too..so you can guess what they usually buy.....Doesn't matter, big shop, little shop, corporate shop..... Major Ford Dealer is one of our biggest customers..They usually buy the least expensive they can get, but not always...the newer the vehicle, the better part....
I doubt, we will ever get back to Made in USA, being the primary parts, it's just cost prohibitive....

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

I have a fan belt in my hand that says "made in Mexico" on the belt and "made in USA" on the tube. Nothing about being printed anywhere.

Not from Napa, we hardly get anything from Napa.