Parts is parts.
There used to be a commercial on that used the words "parts is parts", but are they? Buying parts can often be confusing, expensive, and often extremely frustrating. Besides simply running out of interest in a project, finances and frustration are probably the biggest reasons why projects get sold, and especially sold for a considerable loss. The truth is, for some of us, old trucks are a connection to our youth, but sooner or later, the adult world catches up with us all. So, if parts are parts, then parts places are parts places, right? OH NO THEY AIN'T AND WE KNOW IT! The truth is, there are only a few major part producers for our old rides, and few "quality" suppliers. even worse, the people who staff most parts places have next to zero knowledge of what we want or do, and a good counter person (girls play too) and a well stocked warehouse are a blessing. Like most blessings however, sometimes they are hard to find. My intent here is to offer my opinions, facts, and experiances with parts people as I go. In the interest of disclosure, I have to tell you guys I worked for the N.H.R.A at the track in Indy, and a few years ago the track was sponsored by O'reilly Auto Parts. In the end, I owe them nothing, and they owe me nothing, so we are even in that respect. The first thing you ought to realize if you are going to play this game is, you need to rely on yourself, and usually have some sort of game plan before you tear into a project, and do some research. The bolt page is full of plenty of knowledge, but some suppliers also have forums or information pages you really should at least consider. Hemmings is another great site, as is the Hotrodders Message Board, and the H.A.M.B. (no, i can't tell you what that stands for).
After your research, then the fun starts. Usually that's at the counter of your f.l.a.p.s.. When i was a kid, Washington Auto Parts in Indianapolis was parts central. The place was dingy, smelled like old oil and grease, and at least one guy at the counter smoked a cigar.... constantly. You could get anything for anything there, and crossbreeding series of parts was a snap since those old guys kept that knowledge in their heads, and oil stained catalogues. Those places are nearly all gone. In the place of those great old historical businesses, came the flashy part stores, the computer, and the "kid". Now the "kid" needs a job, and the store needs an employee, so one would think everything balances out, right? WRONG! It seems in most cases the kid knows alot about smart phones and computers, but his (or her) knowledge of anything automotive is next to nothing. If he's into "performance", that usually means he's into vinal stick on stripes, flashy chinese l.e.d. lights, and fart can mufflers. Ask him about lift and duration. Ask him about an updraft carb rebuild kit. Ask him about a vacuum wiper control. Ask him about a ballast resistor. What you get is what i call the "parakeet look". You can talk to a parakeet, and it will look at you and act like it is paying attention. Sooner or later though, the parakeet will do what parakeets do, and that is.... take a fat crap on the paper. That is all you will get out of the parakeet, except to realize you just wasted that much of your life talking to a bird.
Most parts places, even those who specialize in flashy useless junk, still have catalogs, although it seems like more and more, the help wants to use then less and less. It also seems like most parts chains are less interested in educating employees, and are more into simply pushing wiper blades and batteries. It's all about the quick sale, the buck, and the knowledge that if one employee quits, the guy who works the drive through at Mc Donald's is more than qualified to work for them. As we have made progress in some areas, we have lost something of great value. Thankfully, it's not all gone, but like our old trucks, it seems there are fewer every year.
So. Let's kick a few things around.
The internet. Now i admit to being a computer midget. I visit a few websites, but mostly stay in my comfort zone. Although I've had both good and bad experiances with the internet, I still prefer to shop and buy locally when I can. The big advantage of that is, if it doesn't work, I don't have to ship it back and wait another week to get what I wanted. Another advantage, if it's broke, I just get a refund. It seems like fed ex, and u.p.s. have hired a legion of out of work foul tempered gorillas to jump up and down on packages, especially if they are coming to me. If it is damaged, be prepared to deal with "customer service". "Customer service" used to mean people who resolved problems. These days, it means people who do anything to get you so frustrated you hang up and go away. A recent experiance i had with federal excuse(fed ex) taught me when I have a problem, I have a problem. Sort of like the aforementioned parakeet look. Now to be fair, the part store also uses the internet to order stuff. Part stores SELL PARTS, but manufacture nothing. The advantage of the part store is, when my order arrives, if there's a problem, it's THEIR problem. My frustration is that i have to wait for another part to come in to replace the damaged one, but i ain't payin' for it, and i ain't dealing with somebody in Pakastan to resolve the issue.
Let's deal briefly with parts costs and shipping. I need new brackets for my tail lights. As near as I can tell, the exact same brackets that Classic Parts sell, are about 2 to 3 dollars higher priced on Jim Carter's website. Go figure. if I were just ordering brackets, I would buy from Classic since they cost less, but since I'm ordering more of what I want from Carter, then pricewise it's a toss up on price due to separate shipping cost, and I also ordered new stainless light assemblies from Carter, so it all comes in one box. Generally, up to a certain weight, the shipping cost for 2 of something in a box is the same as 1 of something in a box, so a minor price difference is acceptable. If you are ordering a single item, then by all means, shop price if the basic quality is the same. Also, take a look at the return policy of the different vendors out there. Read that before you buy ANYTHING. Next, look at delivery times and consider if you need to be there to sign for, or unload what you have bought. I bought something on ebay recently, and when the u.p.s. guy couldn't find me at home, he delivered it to the post office. (they do that).
CRAIGLIST / LOCAL ADS.
I have bought and sold on Craigslist. Every single time I have gone to buy something on Craigslist, I have carried a gun. I once heard Craigslist described as "the wild, wild west", and it is. People have been robbed and murdered buying and selling on Craigslist, so I encourage you to use due caution when doing business with anyone on Craigslist.
EBAY.
I have bought and sold on ebay. I encourage you to again be cautious with who you deal with. pay attention to feedback scores and look at feedback comments. whatever it is you want, it usually can be found someplace else, so usually with shipping, and stupid paypal fees, you gain little to nothing using ebay except convienience. like I said, I have used ebay for parts, but try to use an established business. I mentioned I bought new parts tonight from Jim Carter. My total was $89.00. There is currently an auction running on ebay, and the very same setup is currently at $159.00.
How nosepicking stupid can a person be to pay nearly twice as much for the exact same item that could have been bought (with a warranty) from a reputable dealer? Remember, I told you to research. You can get catalogs for free or very cheap if you ask.
By the way, you get a 10% discount from Jim Carter just for being a member of the Stovebolt site. (I didn't know that when I ordered). As near as I can tell, Jim Carter is sometimes a bit more expensive than Classic Parts, but the 10% makes it pretty much a wash. Jim Carter is a supporter of the Bolt page, and that also gives his store a bit more traction in my book. In the end, support those who support us I think. Remember, not everyone has everything, so as many catalogs as possible for reference is a good thing.
J.C. Witney.
All I can say is, they ain't what they used to be in my opinion. shipping costs usually make even sale items more expensive, and i think maybe when they moved, they deleted many items they were once famous for carrying. either way, i'm done pretty much done with them.
Advance Auto.
They are my last resort. I'll leave it at that except to say in many cases, the "kid" works there.
Autozone.
The one locally (Noblesville) is pretty good. and becoming my favorite, I get pretty good service there and do shop there from time to time. They are a pretty friendly bunch, and the guys and women there seem to have far above more knowledge than I'm used to at a chain store. so far, so good with them.
NAPA.
Outstanding selection, and they are good at finding hard to find parts. A bit on the pricey side, but not a bad place to shop. The store in Lebanon In. (H&H) has served me pretty well over the years. You DO pay more, but it's usually worth it. Oh yeah, the NAPA in Westfield In. has done right by me also, and with napa, usually there's a manager/ owner on site to handle any problems, and a huge warehouse and selection.
O'Reilly Auto Parts.
I've had good and bad with them. I've learned to deal with one manager at one store, who understands what I'm doing and treats me like a valued customer. that manager is Ricky Downs, who used to be at the Lebanon store, but is now manager at the Westfield In. store. I can't say enough good about the guy, but as for their other stores, I simply avoid them. I've also figured out that in many cases, O'Reilly is higher priced for the exact same item. Although they offer a price match, I simply don't have the time to call every other outlet in town to find the cheapest price then go to O'Reilly. It seems to me like maybe the other guys ought to be matching THEM once in awhile.
Yeah, I know. Ain't this guy ever gonna shut up? Pretty soon, but not quite yet. To sum this up, I encourage you to take the time to get to know your parts guys and gals. It's to your advantage to have some sort of working relationship with these folks, for the simple reason being that a good parts guy can make your life much easier, and in at least some cases, save you time and a bunch of money. If you are going to use internet suppliers, then register on the site as a customer so you might be able to take avantage of discounts and special sales on parts. In the end, one of our biggest expenses will still be one of our biggest expenses, but maybe the bite won't be as bad. If you are still awake, I complement you on your endurance!
Last edited by koolkar; 02/19/2013 10:38 AM.
