Which part store to work for

[Vern_in_IL]

If you are planning to get your ASE certs, Autozone has a great program.

If anywhere I would work at NAPA, so then *that guy* walks in with a U-joint from his tractor, you won't be rummaging through the boxes like an idiot on a Sunday afternoon.

 

[Rand]

I'd go o'riellys they are expanding.. and you are 1 seizure away from losing your license.

Could walk to work at 1mile.

 

[ram_man]

Originally Posted By: Trav
That could go for either one of the stores. It sounds great go to AZ work a while and get the corner office next to the toilet, nice dream but unrealistic. If the company was offering a management training program to him in writing it might be different.
Come on man this is a AZ store, a make a couple of bucks between jobs caper not a friggin career.



Well the interesting thing is the manager specifically said if I'm as good as it looks and she thinks she wants to push me to be a commercial sales manager. And since that would be more money than I've ever made and a lot less physical work and no tool bill it sounds like a nice goal.

 

[Chris142]

I worked at kragen back in the 90's. I liked the job and we really tried to help the customer... worked for azone a few years later and hated it. They didnt want to order anything. If it wasnt in stock they sent the customer packing. Plus I got sent to another store to pick something up. Got stuck in traffic and yelled at for taking too long. Most of this was bad management though.

 

[01rangerxl]

Originally Posted By: Trav
Go for the closest one. These places seem to change managers quickly and anything she said will probably go out the door with her. I cant see any sort of a career in this one, treat it for what it is a little extra cash and nothing more.


Working the commercial counter can actually pay quite well if it's a busy store and you are good at maintaining a customer base. That's a full time thing though and can be very demanding. You have got to be there for your customers.

Management does tend to change a lot, but these companies are pretty structured and predictable. I wouldn't count on the Auto Zone manager setting the OP up for a great career, but she might at least not be [censored] to work for. When I worked for AAP, the managers actually were in general quite good, supportive of employees, and the easiest I have worked for. I moved on to a higher paying dealer job, BUT, the dealer is chaos, all the time. Bizarre situations and general chaos happen all the time that would never happen at AAP. Also, the people that the chain stores tell "uhhh...that's probably a dealer item" come here. At least we don't have Mitsubishi anymore...that was a nightmare. I have never been so thrilled to lose a brand.

 

[Tony10s]

Originally Posted By: ram_man
Originally Posted By: Trav
That could go for either one of the stores. It sounds great go to AZ work a while and get the corner office next to the toilet, nice dream but unrealistic. If the company was offering a management training program to him in writing it might be different.
Come on man this is a AZ store, a make a couple of bucks between jobs caper not a friggin career.

Well the interesting thing is the manager specifically said if I'm as good as it looks and she thinks she wants to push me to be a commercial sales manager. And since that would be more money than I've ever made and a lot less physical work and no tool bill it sounds like a nice goal.


It is a nice goal man. I'm sure you will do great wherever you decide to work. May a blessing come your way in the form of a promotion.

 

[Rand]

Another good thing about o'riellys with new employees the cream rises to the top.

Assuming you are "cream" when the other idiots Millennials fail to show up.. you will get an instant leg up. Towards responsibility and promotion.

At my store we hired 30+ people in the last year I dont think more than 25% lasted a month due to not showing up for work. of those 25% maybe half made it to a year.

The whole every millennial is a unique person ... a "snowflake" if you will... is very sad but true especially in retail.

 

[Nick1994]

Originally Posted By: SirTanon
Interesting quandary you have there.

From your description, it basically sounds like the choices are between:

O'Reilly is MUCH closer of a drive, but is more or less just the 'bare minimum' job.

Autozone is a longer drive, but offers a lot more in terms of 'unspoken' benefit, as well as a far greater opportunity for 'merit reward' and advancement.

If it were me choosing between them, I'd definitely go for the Autozone job. In my mind, a job that offers a better 'culture' is always a better job, and it's even better if the opportunity for advancement is greater. The Autozone job appears to offer far more of both.
+1 SirTanon said it very well. AutoZone would be the way to go.

Off topic: SirTanon, speaking of jobs, they still haven't filled that position at Swift. Not sure why.

 

[user52165]

You don't state your age, but that is a significant factor. We have reached the high water mark in the life cyle of brick and mortar stores. The evidence is overwhelming. Sears used to be a major supplier for me. Haven't been in the one 6 blocks from me in years. On and on and on ..................

I am 73 and my buying habits have changed so quickly it is hard to believe.

The younger generation will be even more so. Fewer and fewer "youngsters" even want to or know how to fix their cars.

All my major car parts buys (Over $100) in the past few years have been on line.

I can't get a new starter from AZ, O'R, Pep Boys etc and all the rebuilds suck. Amazon has New - including OEM at 50% of dealer. Order at midnight and delivered 10 hours later. Not in all areas of the USA, but most in the major markets. And WM is not resting.

I can site many more examples.

Maybe not what you want to hear, but that is the world we live in.

OK you need a job. O'R is not that dumb that they would build a new store without doing their homework. Go for it. But be aware of where you and the market will be in 5 years, 10 years, etc.

 

[ram_man]

Originally Posted By: user52165
You don't state your age, but that is a significant factor. We have reached the high water mark in the life cyle of brick and mortar stores. The evidence is overwhelming. Sears used to be a major supplier for me. Haven't been in the one 6 blocks from me in years. On and on and on ..................

I am 73 and my buying habits have changed so quickly it is hard to believe.

The younger generation will be even more so. Fewer and fewer "youngsters" even want to or know how to fix their cars.

All my major car parts buys (Over $100) in the past few years have been on line.

I can't get a new starter from AZ, O'R, Pep Boys etc and all the rebuilds suck. Amazon has New - including OEM at 50% of dealer. Order at midnight and delivered 10 hours later. Not in all areas of the USA, but most in the major markets. And WM is not resting.

I can site many more examples.

Maybe not what you want to hear, but that is the world we live in.

OK you need a job. O'R is not that dumb that they would build a new store without doing their homework. Go for it. But be aware of where you and the market will be in 5 years, 10 years, etc.


I didn't initially give that much thought but after reading that I have to say you make a great point. May be one of the most intelligent points I've read in awhile actually. Its crazy to think how quickly markets are shifting and how people shop has changes so drastically so quickly.

 

[blupupher]

Originally Posted By: user52165
You don't state your age, but that is a significant factor. We have reached the high water mark in the life cyle of brick and mortar stores. The evidence is overwhelming. Sears used to be a major supplier for me. Haven't been in the one 6 blocks from me in years. On and on and on ..................

I am 73 and my buying habits have changed so quickly it is hard to believe.

The younger generation will be even more so. Fewer and fewer "youngsters" even want to or know how to fix their cars.

All my major car parts buys (Over $100) in the past few years have been on line.

I can't get a new starter from AZ, O'R, Pep Boys etc and all the rebuilds suck. Amazon has New - including OEM at 50% of dealer. Order at midnight and delivered 10 hours later. Not in all areas of the USA, but most in the major markets. And WM is not resting.

I can site many more examples.

Maybe not what you want to hear, but that is the world we live in.

OK you need a job. O'R is not that dumb that they would build a new store without doing their homework. Go for it. But be aware of where you and the market will be in 5 years, 10 years, etc.


While this is true for many "home" mechanics, independent shops still rely heavily (and will continue to) on local parts stores. Being a commercial parts sales guy will still have a future for a long time (as well as possibly moving into a dealership with even more job security).
Also, even for the home mechanic, sometimes you need the part now, even a few hours is too long to wait, so you end up paying more for the convenience of that.
I also still buy some items in the local parts store, partially for convenience, partially due to time, partially for warranty reasons. In the past year, I have purchased batteries, alternators, and starters locally, as well as brake pads, rotors and bearings.
Price difference was minimal, but time and warranty are much better locally (as well as nationwide if traveling), as well as making sure I have the right part before I tear apart whatever it is I am working on.
If it is something I can plan for, then I will usually order online (just about to spend $500 or so on front end parts for my brother-in-laws truck, about $250 cheaper that sourcing parts locally).

 

[Mr Nice]

I buy parts from Amazon or AAP since I can use discount codes.


Ram_Man,
I thought you wanted to get out of the auto repair industry?

 

[Tony10s]

Originally Posted By: blupupher
... While this is true for many "home" mechanics, independent shops still rely heavily (and will continue to) on local parts stores. Being a commercial parts sales guy will still have a future for a long time (as well as possibly moving into a dealership with even more job security).
Also, even for the home mechanic, sometimes you need the part now, even a few hours is too long to wait, so you end up paying more for the convenience of that.
I also still buy some items in the local parts store, partially for convenience, partially due to time, partially for warranty reasons. In the past year, I have purchased batteries, alternators, and starters locally, as well as brake pads, rotors and bearings.
Price difference was minimal, but time and warranty are much better locally (as well as nationwide if traveling), as well as making sure I have the right part before I tear apart whatever it is I am working on.
If it is something I can plan for, then I will usually order online (just about to spend $500 or so on front end parts for my brother-in-laws truck, about $250 cheaper that sourcing parts locally).

Good post

 

[javacontour]

Originally Posted By: Tony10s
Originally Posted By: blupupher
... While this is true for many "home" mechanics, independent shops still rely heavily (and will continue to) on local parts stores. Being a commercial parts sales guy will still have a future for a long time (as well as possibly moving into a dealership with even more job security).
Also, even for the home mechanic, sometimes you need the part now, even a few hours is too long to wait, so you end up paying more for the convenience of that.
I also still buy some items in the local parts store, partially for convenience, partially due to time, partially for warranty reasons. In the past year, I have purchased batteries, alternators, and starters locally, as well as brake pads, rotors and bearings.
Price difference was minimal, but time and warranty are much better locally (as well as nationwide if traveling), as well as making sure I have the right part before I tear apart whatever it is I am working on.
If it is something I can plan for, then I will usually order online (just about to spend $500 or so on front end parts for my brother-in-laws truck, about $250 cheaper that sourcing parts locally).

Good post


And not everything online is cheaper.

Just replaced a rear caliper on my Protege5. I think it was $115 including the $20 core charge. Comparable calipers on RockAuto were the same, and I'd have to SHIP the core back instead of driving 2 miles to the parts store to get my $20 back.

So the points above are valid.

Sometimes it works the other way. I was able to get a new Delco/Remy alternator for my daughter's Corolla from Rock Auto cheaper than a new or reman unit from the local suspects.

And, no core charge.

The bottom line is one has to consider all the variables. In the case of the alternator, I heard the bearing noise and could wait a few days for the replacement to come in. For the caliper, even if it was drastically cheaper on-line, waiting would have meant needing another car to drive as I needed it fixed over the weekend. So if there were any savings, they would have been erased by the cost of a rental car.

So it seems there will be cases where you need the part now and the local store is your best choice.

 

[andyd]

Heh Heh I bought a brandnew starter from Amazon for $38 It looked just like the Ford starter but brand spanking new. A yr later is fine. Practically overnight delivery too.

 

[fdcg27]

Sounds like AZ is the pick here.
I hope that whichever of these jobs you decide on works out well for you.
Could even be a long-term gig with decent pay.
Best of luck to you!