Ever tell a guy he has a low tire? Nine times out of ten the guy will say either "I know that." or "no it's not. It just looks that way."
Another counter jocky horror story
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gathermewool
Site Donor 2025
Originally Posted By: TomYoung
Originally Posted By: gathermewool
Originally Posted By: TomYoung
Go ahead buddy, "wax" your Benz with rubbing compound!
He will, and simply knowing this should make you feel great!
Sort of, although I am a little bothered by the needless damage he'll cause.
Who knows, maybe he'll end up having to pay some one else to fix his mistakes in the long run. His arrogant attitude may end up benefiting some one else in the long run, so it won't be a total loss. At least that's how I'd think about it to feel better.
Originally Posted By: gathermewool
Originally Posted By: TomYoung
Go ahead buddy, "wax" your Benz with rubbing compound!
He will, and simply knowing this should make you feel great!
Sort of, although I am a little bothered by the needless damage he'll cause.
Who knows, maybe he'll end up having to pay some one else to fix his mistakes in the long run. His arrogant attitude may end up benefiting some one else in the long run, so it won't be a total loss. At least that's how I'd think about it to feel better.
gathermewool
Site Donor 2025
Originally Posted By: callbay
Ever tell a guy he has a low tire? Nine times out of ten the guy will say either "I know that." or "no it's not. It just looks that way."
As per usual, I was making some snide remark to my gf about some local with ginormous chrome dubs and tiny AR'd tires as we pulled up next to him at a red light. I noticed that his rear passenger tire was so low that he was soon to be one-dub-less, so I yelled out my window as the light changed. He yelled back, "Oh, word, son!? I'ma check that out at the gas station right now."
That last part was a dramatization, but he was still appreciative. Just because his hat was sideways, his dubs impractically large and worth half of what his truck was, and his accent more gang-banger-ish than his demeanor, doesn't mean he didn't appreciate a helpful hint.
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You guys are funny, the last piece of advice I gave in the oil aisle was a guy staring at two filter boxes Fram OCOD and Toughguard. I simply let him know the Toughguard the best choice of those two because its made better and went on my way.
Acting in accordance with what one believes is sufficient for an increasing number of Americans, regardless of what the facts are or experts may know.
I believe the oil weighting system has to be the most widely misunderstood concepts among shadetree mechanics.
I believe the oil weighting system has to be the most widely misunderstood concepts among shadetree mechanics.
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You did your best, it really is frustrating. I could feel your frustration, when it is about oil it just as well be a topic like politics or religion. Well maybe not quite that passionate but close...lol
ahh reminds me of the multiple times ive been in autozone, one time they were out of 5w20 synpower and i asked a guy at the desk if there was by chance any in the back and he proceeds to walk me to the back of the store and try to sell me on just about everything they had, made the mistake of telling him i used motorcraft beforehand and he literally said if you go back to regular your engine will blow up(im really not lying), you can only do semi or full now. i said thanks for the advice and grabbed a val white bottle and walked up to the counter where he proceeded to get every other employee there to tell me the mistake i was making and i just said ring me up so i can go ruin my engine already
another time i was pondering a few things in the car care isle and i overhear a group of 3 early 20's guys looking at diff oils and i hear one say... im a ford man and M1 is the only thing i will ever use its by far the best for fords take it from me i know what im talking about the valvoline may work in a chevy but not in a ford. I really dislike people sometimes
another time i was pondering a few things in the car care isle and i overhear a group of 3 early 20's guys looking at diff oils and i hear one say... im a ford man and M1 is the only thing i will ever use its by far the best for fords take it from me i know what im talking about the valvoline may work in a chevy but not in a ford. I really dislike people sometimes
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Originally Posted By: tinmanSC
I went to AutoZone near my house yesterday (location shall remain nameless) to take advantage of a sale they were having. In passing by the oil selection I overheard a conversation happening between two customers and one employee. I jumped into the middle of the conversation, I will admit, but the information being conveyed was totally outrageous and inaccurate, regardless of what had been said before. I think they were just making stuff up to sound knowledgeable. The employee was insistent that 5w30 oils were thinner than 10w30 oils, and that 0w30 oils were thinner still and that excess wear would occur of the engine was not designed for them specifically. He gave specific numbers! It seems that 5w30 oils are 50% thinner than 10w30, and 0w30 is another 50% thinner than 5w30. I couldn't help but jump in. I admit, I'm weak. I asked the employee if this was at operating temp or at cold temps. He insisted this was at operating temp because of "viscosity index." As weak as I am, I couldn't help but corrected him in saying that the "w" number was for cold starts, and the number after that was the operating temp viscosity and that there was no different between 0w30 and 10w30 at operating temp. Amazingly, BOTH customers came to his defense saying that I was incorrect! I actually gave them numbers on the viscosity of the oils and they didn't believe me. I have the home page of BITOG bookmarked on my iPhone and I pulled up the viscosity chart. THEY STILL DIDN'T BELIEVE ME. Even the employee didn't believe me.
One of the customers actually brought up that his father had taught him all about oils and his father had been a mechanic for some years. Ug.
This conversation had been going on for about 10 minutes at this point and I just gave up, shook their hands, walked to the register, paid for my items and left. It was very frustrating having information about something and not being able to get through to someone to have them even think of the possibility that they have knowledge that may be inaccurate.
EDIT: I kinda feel better about this now that I posted about it. *exhale*
Don't worry because they feel like you and will be discussing it with others and I bet they will find somebody who knows oil like you and set them straight....and they will remember you at that time and know YOU were right!
I went to AutoZone near my house yesterday (location shall remain nameless) to take advantage of a sale they were having. In passing by the oil selection I overheard a conversation happening between two customers and one employee. I jumped into the middle of the conversation, I will admit, but the information being conveyed was totally outrageous and inaccurate, regardless of what had been said before. I think they were just making stuff up to sound knowledgeable. The employee was insistent that 5w30 oils were thinner than 10w30 oils, and that 0w30 oils were thinner still and that excess wear would occur of the engine was not designed for them specifically. He gave specific numbers! It seems that 5w30 oils are 50% thinner than 10w30, and 0w30 is another 50% thinner than 5w30. I couldn't help but jump in. I admit, I'm weak. I asked the employee if this was at operating temp or at cold temps. He insisted this was at operating temp because of "viscosity index." As weak as I am, I couldn't help but corrected him in saying that the "w" number was for cold starts, and the number after that was the operating temp viscosity and that there was no different between 0w30 and 10w30 at operating temp. Amazingly, BOTH customers came to his defense saying that I was incorrect! I actually gave them numbers on the viscosity of the oils and they didn't believe me. I have the home page of BITOG bookmarked on my iPhone and I pulled up the viscosity chart. THEY STILL DIDN'T BELIEVE ME. Even the employee didn't believe me.
This conversation had been going on for about 10 minutes at this point and I just gave up, shook their hands, walked to the register, paid for my items and left. It was very frustrating having information about something and not being able to get through to someone to have them even think of the possibility that they have knowledge that may be inaccurate.
EDIT: I kinda feel better about this now that I posted about it. *exhale*
Don't worry because they feel like you and will be discussing it with others and I bet they will find somebody who knows oil like you and set them straight....and they will remember you at that time and know YOU were right!
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A similar situation: I hear conversations at a paint counter in a store I sometimes do business with. The clerks refer to a label, I mean after all if it says so on the label then they consider it Gospel. LOL Sometimes the paint clerk will ask me to advise a DYI customer. When I explain the proper way to do a job they look at me like I have two heads, and tell me their better way, which is usually totally wrong. Then it ends up in a discussion I'd rather not be in. Now I tell them I'm in a hurry. I've run into oil conversations, spark plug conversations, you name it at AAP, the info given out is mind numbing! I walk the other way, no profit it in it for me.
Just reading stories like this gets me bothered. Some types of people just put more trust in what appears to be good, trusted advice rather than the intellectual products of using their own brains. The average consumer has no time for thinking!
Well, sometimes entering in a discussion/argument with store lemmings and their civilian lackeys proves to be a benefit.
Like the other day when a guy was in O'Reilleys and was setting up his van for two batteries. The store doofus had him convinced they should be in SERIES, not parallel!
It was rather easy to straighten them out.
The guy followed me around like a puppy and asked a dozen other questions.
Like the other day when a guy was in O'Reilleys and was setting up his van for two batteries. The store doofus had him convinced they should be in SERIES, not parallel!
It was rather easy to straighten them out.
The guy followed me around like a puppy and asked a dozen other questions.
Yummy... Looks like that rumor I started is really beginning to pay off. Leaves more of those fine Oh-Dubs for me.... 
Originally Posted By: gathermewool
Originally Posted By: TomYoung
Go ahead buddy, "wax" your Benz with rubbing compound!
He will, and simply knowing this should make you feel great!
For extra enjoyment, just imagine him using an orbitalsander polisher to speed up the process.
Originally Posted By: TomYoung
Go ahead buddy, "wax" your Benz with rubbing compound!
He will, and simply knowing this should make you feel great!
For extra enjoyment, just imagine him using an orbital
Originally Posted By: mechtech2
Well, sometimes entering in a discussion/argument with store lemmings and their civilian lackeys proves to be a benefit.
Like the other day when a guy was in O'Reilleys and was setting up his van for two batteries. The store doofus had him convinced they should be in SERIES, not parallel!
It was rather easy to straighten them out.
The guy followed me around like a puppy and asked a dozen other questions.
Well, that would have been fine if the van had a 24 volt system.
Well, sometimes entering in a discussion/argument with store lemmings and their civilian lackeys proves to be a benefit.
Like the other day when a guy was in O'Reilleys and was setting up his van for two batteries. The store doofus had him convinced they should be in SERIES, not parallel!
It was rather easy to straighten them out.
The guy followed me around like a puppy and asked a dozen other questions.
Well, that would have been fine if the van had a 24 volt system.
JHZR2
Staff member
Sometimes its just not worth it. I was in an AAP the other day and the gu behind me buts in to ask the counter person why when he "retrofit" his car from R12 to 134a, that it only took one can and no more is going in.
When I asked him if the system had been evacuated and what steps he took to prepare the system, I was told that I dont know what Im talking about and so I walked away. He didnt like being questioned I guess.
When I asked him if the system had been evacuated and what steps he took to prepare the system, I was told that I dont know what Im talking about and so I walked away. He didnt like being questioned I guess.
Hello,
While tire shopping a fellow interjected, "You only have to balance the front tires." WOW!
I once saw two young girls looking at tools with pained expressions on their faces. I gave them a quick primer about metric vs. inches, long vs. short handle, 6 point vs. 12 etc. They were so grateful.
At a PEP Boys grand opening sale I saved an old man from buying 10 quarts of Penziol straight 40 weight for his Toyota.
I deserve the Nobel Prize for that one. Kira
While tire shopping a fellow interjected, "You only have to balance the front tires." WOW!
I once saw two young girls looking at tools with pained expressions on their faces. I gave them a quick primer about metric vs. inches, long vs. short handle, 6 point vs. 12 etc. They were so grateful.
At a PEP Boys grand opening sale I saved an old man from buying 10 quarts of Penziol straight 40 weight for his Toyota.
I deserve the Nobel Prize for that one. Kira
In 2005 when I first started driving, I was in Murray's and overheard part of a conversation that an employee was having with a customer. When the customer finished the conversation and headed towards the register, he said enthusiastically "Yep, that's why I always change my oil every 2,500 miles with synthetic blend!"
Although some people are more reasonable. I was once buying oil in Wal-Mart and an older woman asked for my help using the electronic oil filter finder. She had a Ford, so I recommended the Motorcraft filter for her application, which was only like 80 cents more than the cheapest filter, the ST. I explained the benefits of it; she took the filter, thanked me, and walked away. But then again, people who don't know anything about oils/filters are easier to convince than those who "think" they know something.
Although some people are more reasonable. I was once buying oil in Wal-Mart and an older woman asked for my help using the electronic oil filter finder. She had a Ford, so I recommended the Motorcraft filter for her application, which was only like 80 cents more than the cheapest filter, the ST. I explained the benefits of it; she took the filter, thanked me, and walked away. But then again, people who don't know anything about oils/filters are easier to convince than those who "think" they know something.
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You know what is even more amazing? We all see plenty of people unknowinging using inappropriate 50W oils, strange additives, too-long or too-short OCIs, junk Fram filters, etc.
In spite of all this, somehow their cars just keep on running mile-after-mile. Makes you wonder if we are the crazy ones....
In spite of all this, somehow their cars just keep on running mile-after-mile. Makes you wonder if we are the crazy ones....
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