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OT- ever notice that now days parts store help isn

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old

04-13-2005 11:18:37




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Local parts store has mostly young kids behind the counter and if they can't find it in the computer they can't find a part. One of those things that just gets my goat. Seems like every few years I have to train a new kid to be able to find me tractor parts and parts for my older cars etc.




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300Randy

04-14-2005 05:13:27




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 Re: OT- ever notice that now days parts store help in reply to old, 04-13-2005 11:18:37  
Ever had a young kid tell you that the old part you brought in from your car isn't the right part
because the computer says it isn't? Even took awhile to explain it to him.



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Nolan

04-14-2005 03:14:31




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 Re: OT- ever notice that now days parts store help in reply to old, 04-13-2005 11:18:37  
It's the person, not the store. I've had great help from folks at the parts counters of Trak, Advance and such. I've also had lousy idiots. Same with "good" name stores like NAPA and such.

I've had them refuse to sell me the spark plugs sitting right on the shelf behind them because the computer can't figure it out. I've also had them let me spend hours pawing through their inventory trying to fabricate something.

It's the person, and that's not different than it ever was.

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Davis In SC

04-13-2005 21:06:57




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 Re: OT- ever notice that now days parts store help in reply to old, 04-13-2005 11:18:37  
Not long ago, I was at a Chain Auto parts store trying to cross reference an electrical part (Delco) for a tractor. It was about closing time, & there was a young man that works there, but was off the clock, he had come by to pick up a friend that works with him. He took the time to look, & was able to find the part I needed. It was obvious that he enjoyed his job, I could tell he was proud that he was able to be helpful. Hope he stays at that store..... ..

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DRL

04-13-2005 20:21:12




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 Re: OT- ever notice that now days parts store help in reply to old, 04-13-2005 11:18:37  
I like the cartoon at the local New Holland parts counter. Shows a customer leaning over the counter pointing to an item on the shelf. The parts guy is peering at the computer. The caption reads: "You can point to it all you want. If it's not in the computer, we don't have it." Pretty much sums it up for a lot of places.



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NC Wayne

04-13-2005 18:38:14




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 Re: OT- ever notice that now days parts store help in reply to old, 04-13-2005 11:18:37  
Working on the older construction equipment like we do Dad and I both know that feeling all too well. To me though it seems like the dealerships are usually worse than the parts houses. I can understand the guy behind the counter at the local NAPA or Autozone not knowing what digging dogs are when it comes to an older crane, but when the parts guy at the distrubuitor doesn't know anything it's just plain ridiculous.

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WyoDave

04-13-2005 18:07:15




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 Re: OT- ever notice that now days parts store help in reply to old, 04-13-2005 11:18:37  
We must be lucky here than. Within 7 miles of our farm we have a John Deere dealer, Case/IH dealer, Agco/Hesston dealer and Ford/NewHolland dealer. We use them all for different machines. On newer equipment I've never waited for over 24 hours for a part. Sometime on the old equipment there is a delay, but they've always been able to find it. Also I've noticed all the help at the counter is pretty knowledgable on newer things, but it does take time on the old equipment. We don't own a parts manual for anything, and they can always figure it out by description. We might be lucky though becuase our area is still a farming community. I don't know.
David

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big jt

04-13-2005 22:47:16




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 Re: OT- ever notice that now days parts store help in reply to WyoDave, 04-13-2005 18:07:15  
7 miles WWWWOOOOOWWWW!!! I'm in NW Iowa. Used to have JD, AGCO Allis, & IH in a 17 mile radius and considered myself lucky. Now the radius is more like 35 miles and some brands with two but in opposite directions.

Makes having the parts book a neccessity for things like the combine. Also nice for hints on how something goes together.

You should count yourself as a lucky boy.

JM2CW

jt

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WyoDave

04-14-2005 08:11:39




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 Re: OT- ever notice that now days parts store help in reply to big jt, 04-13-2005 22:47:16  
I always consider myself lucky. Plus you have to realize in Wyoming there are little patches of farm ground surrounded by pretty much nothing. This makes the dealerships all conglomerate in one area. Town size of 5000 and it contains all the major brands. Not much else in the town, but a lot of farm support.
David



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big jt

04-13-2005 22:45:23




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 Re: OT- ever notice that now days parts store help in reply to WyoDave, 04-13-2005 18:07:15  
7 miles WWWWOOOOOWWWW!!! I'm in NW Iowa. Used to have JD, AGCO Allis, & IH in a 17 mile radius and considered myself lucky. Now the radius is more like 35 miles and some brands with two but in opposite directions.

Makes having the parts book a neccessity for things like the combine. Also nice for hints on how something goes together.

You should count yourself as a lucky boy.

JM2CW

jt

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Mark - IN.

04-13-2005 16:36:16




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 Re: OT- ever notice that now days parts store help in reply to old, 04-13-2005 11:18:37  
Isn't like the old days when were dealing with the local Ma and Pa outfit is it? I miss those guys. Stuff was a little more expensive because couldn't afford to buy in bulk, but being smaller made them more familiar with the products that they carried, which they had to be. With the Walmarts, Menards, etc that put Ma and Pa out of business, get what we pay for - not much.

A couple of years ago went into Menards looking for Marvel oil for some air tools, so went to the tool department, but couldn't find it. I located one of their "associates", a young high school aged girl and asked where I could find oil for pneumatic tools, and she asked me what "pneumatic tools" were. I replied "air tools that you hook to an air hose from an air compressor". She then replied "Oh, you're going to get specific on me", but didn't still didn't know what it was or where it was located. I found it on my own by going up and down the tool aisles and shelves. Wasn't her fault, we all started somewhere, but had guidence which went out the window with cheap prices and "part-time only" staff to keep the overhead and paid benefits down. TSC is no different.

Sure do miss Ma and Pa's place.

Mark

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Mike (WA)

04-13-2005 18:13:14




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 Re: OT- ever notice that now days parts store help in reply to Mark - IN., 04-13-2005 16:36:16  
I do recall going to a "Ma and Pa" hardware store in the mid '60's, when I was about 16, and was working on my car. I needed new bolts of some kind, and when I walked in, saw the owner's daughter behind the counter. About my age, drop dead gorgeous, and I figured she's be stuck for an answer when I said "hello". They had those wooden bolt bins from floor to ceiling all along one wall, with the sliding ladder. I told her I needed "6- 5/16 by one and a half inch bolts", and she replied sweetly, "cap screws or machine bolts?" Expertly sidestepping the fact that I didn't know the difference, I replied confidently, "Machine bolts". She slid the ladder down the aisle, went straight up to a bin, and my transaction was done much faster than I would have preferred. Naturally, I was much too timid to reveal to her that I had fallen deeply in love on the spot, and I never saw her again. Alas, the old hardware store is long gone (an espresso stand now occupies the spot), and now we have Walmart, where my requests are generally answered with, "huh?' Life goes on. . .

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Redmud

04-13-2005 14:09:16




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 Re: OT- ever notice that now days parts store help in reply to old, 04-13-2005 11:18:37  
Don't ever look down on a young man or woman that's willing to work, every able body has to start somewhere. A parts house is as good as any for a start. If their workin, they most likely are not tradeing their money for drugs.



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Pawel

04-13-2005 13:59:52




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 Re: OT- ever notice that now days parts store help in reply to old, 04-13-2005 11:18:37  
It depends - the dealer I go to is great, knows his parts like the back of his hand and he's probably only 4 or 5 yrs older that I am.

Then again, that's in Canada! :):)

God bless,

Pawel



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Vern-MI

04-13-2005 13:03:21




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 Re: OT- ever notice that now days parts store help in reply to old, 04-13-2005 11:18:37  
Not always true. I went to an independent and asked for a replacement valve for my 1920 Satley Racine Hit and Miss engine which originally used a Ford two piece welded valve. The parts guy looked and said there weren't any Ford valves available however he did have a Mitsubishi valve which would fit in its place. So I figured why not push the envelope a little further and ask if he had any gasket sets for my friends '47 Lincoln Continental V-12. He looked and sure enough there was one left. It was missing one of the exhaust gaskets but otherwise intact.

It depends on the store, owner and the commitment to the business. I could tell they liked what they were able to do.

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bearcat

04-13-2005 13:00:54




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 Re: OT- ever notice that now days parts store help in reply to old, 04-13-2005 11:18:37  
aaawwww shucks. Rusty, It aint the schools fault, we need to stop passing the buck, It all goes back to what they are/were taught at home. That's where I learned to work, as you did too. As for computers, that is where the world is headed, as told in Revelation. The computer is what will enable the "mark" to work. I agree, at least they are out trying to earn their way and some of them, probably most will turn out ok, just as we did. The shortcoming of the computer (software) is it is not flexiable enough to deal with the occasional oddball part that we sometimes want.

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Glenn F.

04-13-2005 12:57:29




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 Re: OT- ever notice that now days parts store help in reply to old, 04-13-2005 11:18:37  
Those positions typically command a VERY low wage. Long time employees with families to support will not be found behind a parts counter. You have to pay for good help.



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hay

04-13-2005 12:48:35




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 Re: OT- ever notice that now days parts store help in reply to old, 04-13-2005 11:18:37  
the youngsters need to learn to read parts catalogs like i had to years ago. had to manually look up everything. although it would help if they had some mechanical knowledge in autos also.



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Mike M

04-13-2005 12:36:10




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 Re: OT- ever notice that now days parts store help in reply to old, 04-13-2005 11:18:37  
I also noticed that the older ones think they know it all and won't even try to look. At least you can train the younger ones. This parts business is not what it used to be.Computer catalogs suck ! Lots of listing problems.Nobody wants to stock anything. They change the design of everything every year so nothing interchanges. And don't forget that your customers are never glad to see you as this means they are broke down and need to spend money. I have spent the better part of my life on both sides of the counter and neither side is a good place to be.

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RustyFarmall

04-13-2005 11:59:04




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 Re: OT- ever notice that now days parts store help in reply to old, 04-13-2005 11:18:37  
It's not just in the parts stores, it's everywhere. I have my own opinion on why things are that way, but I won't go there. In short,be patient with the young folks, they have to learn it just like you did. At least that young man or lady behind the counter is trying to earn their own way. Too many today just want a free handout.



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old

04-13-2005 12:22:11




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 Re: OT- ever notice that now days parts store help in reply to RustyFarmall, 04-13-2005 11:59:04  
That is true to a point most of them won't even try to find the part unless its in the computer. But ya at least the are working



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Jon H

04-13-2005 13:11:38




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 Re: OT- ever notice that now days parts store help in reply to old, 04-13-2005 12:22:11  
I know what you mean,but you can help the situation by having all your information(numbers,model etc) and old part if possible in hand. Most new parts persons are more than willing to help/learn,and if you calmly and gently steer them to what you want,then things will go better and quicker for you and the parts person. You do find the ocasional old one who's ego will not allow him to work with you ,and the ocasional new one who doesnt give a snort,just wants his pay check. Good thing is that both of those are few and far between.
The best parts people are the ones that went from the shop floor to the parts counter. They usually have an interest and working knowledge of how things go together and why they work/dont work.
I have had the unfortunate experience of being in line at the parts counter when a customer blew up at a poor new parts kid and got him so shook up that he went from slow to almost unable to function for the next hour. A deal like that makes me want to plant a boot deep in the end opposite of where all the noise is coming from.

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RustyFarmall

04-13-2005 12:33:13




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 Re: OT- ever notice that now days parts store help in reply to old, 04-13-2005 12:22:11  
I think you can blame it on the school they went to. So intent on teaching kids how to use a computer that they forgot to teach the kid how to read a book.



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Mike M

04-13-2005 12:48:23




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 Re: OT- ever notice that now days parts store help in reply to RustyFarmall, 04-13-2005 12:33:13  
More like trying to cram Algebra down their throats too early (3rd or 4th grade ? )without even being tought addition, and subtraction.Which is actually something they could use in an average daily life.



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Steve(OR)

04-13-2005 16:22:18




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 Re: OT- ever notice that now days parts store help in reply to Mike M, 04-13-2005 12:48:23  
Mike - I don"t know how long it took you to learn to add and subtract, but here is a curriculum that expects them to git"r done by second grade. The best way to lose a kid"s interest is to bore him to death with stuff he"s already learned. 3rd and 4th grade isn"t too early to start developing more abstract concepts.

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Mike M

04-13-2005 17:15:12




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 Re: OT- ever notice that now days parts store help in reply to Steve(OR), 04-13-2005 16:22:18  
The proof that the Curriculum in place does not work is at most every cash register in the country. Take away the digital display on the register and see how many can give you the coeerct change.



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John M

04-13-2005 16:34:11




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 Re: OT- ever notice that now days parts store help in reply to Steve(OR), 04-13-2005 16:22:18  
..... ...and thats just math!I feel bad when my 9 yr old explains basic algebra nad trigonometry to me!



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Greg C

04-13-2005 20:08:54




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 Re: OT- ever notice that now days parts store help in reply to John M, 04-13-2005 16:34:11  
True story here, I went to a chain store in Omaha a couple of years ago, and as I was ringing up my sale, the power goes out. The girl at the counter (about 17 or 18) had just gotten the total when the power went out killing the register. She had to call a manager to make change for a twenty.I asked her if they still taught math in school,she said "Yes, but they let us use calculators." HOLY CRAP!!! I'd have gotten a detention for being caught with a calculator in my math class.How depressing.

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