<MachineShop RemoveThis @hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:1152622832.503790.182310@35g2000cwc.googlegroups.com...
>
> : ) The last NAPA (Gold) part I ordered and installed which was a
> starter for my 88 Chevy truck, has a similar horror story, and I've
> heard about other problems from those who have purchased GM parts. My
> preferred parts supplier was out of stock and had just switched
> re-builders. Since I was a former air craft electrician I replace
> before it fails on the road and try to purchase quality parts... So
> who do you trust?
>
it gets hard these days. When I paid the bills turning wrenches, napa was
ok for front end parts, brake parts except master cylinders, never for water
pumps. I had a AC Delco suppler we used for Air Conditioning parts, alts
and starters, as well as sensors and tune up parts.
Western Auto was a fav for Alts and starters when customer couldn't afford
the better parts, and also brake parts as they carried Rybestos, but alas
Sears gutted that out fit, turned it into a parts house and now its been
bought by Advanced Auto parts, which isn't much better than Auto Zone.
AutoZone is the Wal-Mart of auto parts and the quality of what they sell
unless name branded is about the same as wally world. Everything made in
china. Brake rotors and drums stored on edge, even though the box is
clearly marked don't store on edge.
I look for a supplier with a booming commercial business supplying the best
of the your local repair shops. Auto Zone has some commercial, but it
seems to be the shops barely a step above shade tree most of the time.
I worked for AZ for about 18 months, when my health went sour 6 years ago
and ruled out being a mechanic or truck driver any more, while I learned a
new vocation. The place re-enforced my belief that the general American
public is the most ignorant consumer in the world, with an eye on price and
nothing else. Doesn't bother them that they might have to buy some thing
three times and end up paying twice as much in the long run, just that it
was cheap. which explains Yugos, Mitsubishis, Hyundai's, Nissan(now owned by
the French). Nor do they take into their account the time lost broke down
and changing a part three or four times, who cares it was cheap and it has a
life time warranty.(I know that was not your case)
I'll get off my soap box now.
Whitelightning
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