To add to this thread, a couple of years ago I asked the same 20+ year old
counter clerk at a local auto parts store about rear shock absorbers for a
Triumph TR7... He looked me square in the eye and said "Who makes Triumph?"
When I replied... "Triumph makes Triumph" he looked at me like I had just
stepped off a space ship and had a third eye in the middle of my forehead.
Needless to say, I didn't buy any parts that day. I understand that this
fellow probably wasn't born in 1981 when Triumph production came to an end
but you would think anyone with enough interest to work in the automotive
field would recognize major British auto manufacturers.
The reality is that all of us have more knowledge about the workings of
automobiles than 90% of the people working the auto parts counters today.
Craig Leinicke
Flashback Racing
On 3/28/13 3:35 AM, "Spitfire Racing" <spitfire_racing@twcny.rr.com> wrote:
> I can remember when there were some 9 auto parts stores in this area and
> everyone of them had people that knew their stuff and many were motorheads
> who contributed expertise and experiences over the counter. On top of this,
> they had everything imaginable even if it was on a back shelf under a layer
> of dust. Oh, and might I add that everything was Made in USA back then and
> it always fit. Now there are three "chain" stores that have 35 different
> smelling dash ornaments, wax and googahs and any part is from some third
> world country and two days away. There's a 50/50 chance it will fit and
> function.
> Welcome to the ugly new world. It's not confined to auto parts
> stores.........
> Me, I long for the way it was back 40-50 years ago. On many levels!
>
> Russ Moore
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: fot-bounces@autox.team.net [mailto:fot-bounces@autox.team.net] On
> Behalf Of gasket.works@gte.net
> Sent: Wednesday, March 27, 2013 11:03 PM
> To: FOT
> Subject: [Fot] Sadly a Sign of the times-
>
> I went to my local auto zone today. Behind the counter a clerk perhaps
> 28y/o asked me what he could get for me. I asked "Where do you have your
> timing lights?". He looked at me then calmly went to the computer and asked
> "What year and model?".
>
> I should have known better. I was there a couple of months ago. At that
> time I asked for rod bearings for a small block chevy. it was a different
> clerk similarly aged. He asked "What year and model?". I said "1972
> chevelle 350". He responds "front bearings?"
> "No- all of them" I say. "Both sides?" He queries. Then I get this "a ha"
> moment when I seriously believed we are doing an Abbott and Costello "who's
> on first". So I tell him " I don't think you understand" - "Engine rod
> bearings standard size". So he looks at me and says. "What's that?". I
> look at my son and then back at the clerk and say "I made a mistake I
> thought this was an auto store". We walked out.
>
> I am going to write to their corporate office.
>
> M
> Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile
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