Anyone else done with Oriley Auto parts?

[irishman999]

1)I bought a carburetor rebuild kit from these clowns, the gaskets looked cheap, did not seem to have alot of parts. The thicker rubber gasket that goes on top of the plastic power valve was to thick and bent the top of my carburetor causing a huge vacuum leak.
I found a GP Sorsen kit from Autozone that contained better gaskets, more parts, way better quality and most important everything fit. I even paid less.

2) Spark plug wire set i bought from Orileys came with 1 wire that is so short it barely even goes on, It rides right on the exhaust manifold. I Tried the wire on the closest cylinders just to be sure im not crazy, the one wire will not fit any cylinder.

3)I was in Orileys "performance section" for a pair of spark plug wire holders, found some cool looking Moroso clips with the package ripped open and taped back together, cost 15.99. I got to the truck and found it was missing half the kit rendering it completely useless. I tried to return the kit and explained what was wrong and the kid behind the counter accused me of lieing after they sold me an opened kit missing pieces. After that occurrence i took every part i could think of buying recently back to Orileys for a refund and replaced everything with parts from Autozone.

F*&$ Oriley auto parts!

[csbatey]

You should have not bought if it had been open! I buy all my auto parts at oreilly and never had a problem,Maybe its the one you are dealing with.

[RandyP]

O'Reillys quality has went down hill the last few years. I've had countless issues with them recently, anything from house brand parts being boxed in a MOOG package to sending me rights when I ordered lefts. My local O'Reilly is basically two doors down from my shop. I can not fault them on getting stuff to me fast, but their quality sucks lately. The front end rebuild on my truck was a nightmare basically due to them. If they were here once, they were here 50 times in a two day time frame.
We're seriously considering using Advanced Auto instead, especially after talking to several mechanic shops in town about O'Reillys.

[68 TT]

Originally Posted by RandyP

O'Reillys quality has went down hill the last few years. I've had countless issues with them recently, anything from house brand parts being boxed in a MOOG package to sending me rights when I ordered lefts. My local O'Reilly is basically two doors down from my shop. I can not fault them on getting stuff to me fast, but their quality sucks lately. The front end rebuild on my truck was a nightmare basically due to them. If they were here once, they were here 50 times in a two day time frame.
We're seriously considering using Advanced Auto instead, especially after talking to several mechanic shops in town about O'Reillys.

Ever since CSK merged with them it seems they have been replacing the better quality brands CSK used to carry with no-name junk brands and the prices went up. You can't even get a Stant radiator cap or gas cap there any more.

I have switched to Auto Zone because of it. Better prices and better quality brands.

[bitchin85]

the orielly by me is awesome.. its the only place around me where the people know their a$$ from a hole in the ground.. the people working at autozone and advance around me are completelly reliant on their computers.. one guy tried telling me that the thermostat housing on a long bed was diferent fron one on a short bed.. "but look right here! different part numbers!".. when he actually looked at them they were the exact same thing..

as far as price and always having my parts and being fast, i love orielly

[tucsonjwt]

I shop online and go to the local Checker/O'reilly if they are cheaper. I like the buy online and pick up in store option. Sometimes you can pick up a discount coupon online for them elsewhere and use it at checkout. They are the only place that had the door strap covers (Dorman) available, and they were the cheapest. I got some cases of oil last year at about $1 a quart.
The quality of all parts, especially aftermarket, has gone down rapidly in the last few years. I attribute most of this to Asian (Chinese) low quality imports. Even OEM GM parts are often imported. I got a Raybestos lower control arm assembly earlier this year from Rock Auto and the slot required for the brake line clip was missing - had to be hacked in manually. No store is consistently perfect.
I have learned the hard way that electrical parts should always be OEM. Spark plug wires should always be Belden only. Everybody has their own experience, but for buying commodity parts, like oil, filters, spark plugs, etc., I shop the cheapest place. Everybody needs to learn to be a savvy consumer and the bad apples will eventually go away.

[joe231]

I have been anti-oriellys for some time now. The ones around here are kids that seem to be backyard hacks. They don't have a clue what the store has. If they can't find it in the computer then they don't carry it, even though I bought the part in the past from them.
Lots of people knock auto-zone, but I've used them for years, and at least around here, they have more knowledgeable employees.

[78 Chevyrado]

I goto in order of competence:

Advance auto parts <- i always go there first if possible.
oreillys
auto zone <- but i dont go there ever. and napas too expensive.

[GMC91]

I got to my local autozone. There is only 2 employees Ill deal with there, one that knows just about everything about a chevy. And the other cause he will loan me any tool in the store for free and also gives me a 15% discount, even if Im buying a candy bar.

[irishman999]

Alot of orileys problem is their customer service, for 10 bucks an hour i don't expect them to have a team of experts but i recall standing in line holding some heavy ass brake rotors for 15 minuites while 4 of them are screwing around behind the counter. No body seemed to care about the line.

Finally got up to the front, The kid first said he was not sure if he could turn "rotors that big", they were stock rotors off a 07 chevy tahoe.

Then he claimed he was not allowed to turn rotors with wd-40 on them, apparently they penetrate the metal and it makes the bit not cut? Wd-40 does not penetrate right? Every time i go in that place i get the wrong part, insulted or some excuses.

Did i mention crappy parts, i think i did haha.

[misternash2]

[QUOTE=irishman999;4074543]Alot of orileys problem is their customer service, for 10 bucks an hour i don't expect them to have a team of experts but QUOTE]

i worked at o'reilly's part time a few years ago. those guys don't get close to 10 an hour. i'll agree that some of 'em...all but the manager and dealer guy are completely lost. i had one of them looking through every book and website he could think of for a radiator cap for a 68 volkswagen. literally looked for 35-40 minutes. then he called the main help line. i got a really dirty look from that one. also try to get one of em to find parts for an 83 vette. equally funny. that said, i got a very long verbal warning about sending an acquaintance to napa for a thermostat because the ones they sell are JUNK. i still don't like auto zone and i'll go to napa if they're open and have what i need. and auto zone as a last resort.

EDIT: i got 8.25 an hour when i worked there. just an FYI.

[junkyardjohn]

I always try napa first. Maybe it's just me... But I lived in MI, Nevada & now in KY and I don't know why.. Maybe they treat there employees better.. Or pay em better?? But I never have to deal with 19 year old pimple faced know it alls that give me the wrong part 80% of the time & can't find my application in the computer. Yeh.. I'll pay a little more to get decent service & some decent advice when I need it. No counter person there (in any of them) has ever tried to b.s me or insinuate that I'm lying or don't know what I own. Sometimes saving 50 cents just isn't worth it to me. & Im kinda........thrifty. John

[irishman999]

[quote=misternash2;4074787]

Originally Posted by irishman999

Alot of orileys problem is their customer service, for 10 bucks an hour i don't expect them to have a team of experts but QUOTE]

i worked at o'reilly's part time a few years ago. those guys don't get close to 10 an hour. i'll agree that some of 'em...all but the manager and dealer guy are completely lost. i had one of them looking through every book and website he could think of for a radiator cap for a 68 volkswagen. literally looked for 35-40 minutes. then he called the main help line. i got a really dirty look from that one. also try to get one of em to find parts for an 83 vette. equally funny. that said, i got a very long verbal warning about sending an acquaintance to napa for a thermostat because the ones they sell are JUNK. i still don't like auto zone and i'll go to napa if they're open and have what i need. and auto zone as a last resort.

EDIT: i got 8.25 an hour when i worked there. just an FYI.

Ok so it seems like these parts stores are buying cheap stock from china, hiring high school kids and trying to make their stores efficient like wal-mart, I dont think its working or them. Volkswagen radiator cap is hilarious, he should have looked next to the plug wires for the 98 5.9 cummins dodge

[jake wells]

i go to federated or advance auto as they are the only ones with smart people around

[joe1982]

no complaints here, mine switched from kragan to oreily, and the only thing that i have noticed that changed was the floor.

[texasfunk]

never really had a problm wit the o'reillys downt the street, me and my dad have been going there for years and the guys there are a bunch of (no offense) older gentelmen who were HUGE hot rod guys back in the day and really know their stuff, havent had a problem yet, autozone on the other hand, went for some header gaskets the other day, he kept saying, "we dont have them or we moved them and i dont know where they are, sorry cant help you" just like that, my dad went right down the aisle, and there they were, he showed them to the kid "oh, i didnt know you meant those" my dad just said, can i speak to your manager please? shoulda seen the look on his face..

[joe1982]

Originally Posted by texasfunk

never really had a problm wit the o'reillys downt the street, me and my dad have been going there for years and the guys there are a bunch of (no offense) older gentelmen who were HUGE hot rod guys back in the day and really know their stuff, havent had a problem yet, auto on the other hand, went for some header gaskets the other day, he kept saying, "we dont have them or we moved them and i dont know where they are, sorry cant help you" just like that, my dad went right down the aisle, and there they were, he showed them to the kid "oh, i didnt know you meant those" my dad just said, can i speak to your manager please? shoulda seen the look on his face..

haha, i feel you on that one.

[63chevyll]

those parts guys are morons, i have only met a few who know what they are talking about,

they tried getting me on a comercial account but i cant stand dealing with those guys

[Zane M]

NAPA only for me.

[oldblue1968chevy]

oriellys #1 Autozone # 2 Advanced #3

Napa and carquest are in a league of their own, there so $$$

[spinem]

Originally Posted by irishman999

1)I bought a carburetor rebuild kit from these clowns, the gaskets looked cheap, did not seem to have alot of parts. The thicker rubber gasket that goes on top of the plastic power valve was to thick and bent the top of my carburetor causing a huge vacuum leak.
I found a GP Sorsen kit from Autozone that contained better gaskets, more parts, way better quality and most important everything fit. I even paid less.

2) Spark plug wire set i bought from Orileys came with 1 wire that is so short it barely even goes on, It rides right on the exhaust manifold. I Tried the wire on the closest cylinders just to be sure im not crazy, the one wire will not fit any cylinder.

3)I was in Orileys "performance section" for a pair of spark plug wire holders, found some cool looking Moroso clips with the package ripped open and taped back together, cost 15.99. I got to the truck and found it was missing half the kit rendering it completely useless. I tried to return the kit and explained what was wrong and the kid behind the counter accused me of lieing after they sold me an opened kit missing pieces. After that occurrence i took every part i could think of buying recently back to Orileys for a refund and replaced everything with parts from Autozone.

F*&$ Oriley auto parts!

these guys tried to sell me brake like accessories in place of correct pipe thread.....

4 visits to make the correct trip for spark plug wires.....

go to napa. they sell quality.

[joebuick]

AUTOZONE,,, for me 4 sure. WE do not have an oreillys just a NAPA and a carquest. The reason I like Autozone is their warrenties. Napa will tell you,,,HUH? when you try to take something back. Heck, Autozone will even warrenty their brake pads if you get the lifetime warrenty ones. Also electrical like starters or alternators. Try that at Napa or other parts stores.

[Reinovator]

Hay I have been a Partsman for Autozone, pepboys, Napa. dodge and toyota
there are two major problems in the large chain's, remember this is not the rule just an observation, the major chains are mostly in it for the numbers, and some time they don't care if the part aren't perfect.
and most of them are run by bean counters not people who have turned a wrench.
The best advice as a former partsman I give you guy's is use the competition in your area to your advantage. Autozone and PepBoys had polices of price matching. Quality is always what your after.
in 35 years in the Automotive Industry I've seen parts house's come and go I've been reamed. and I've made some great deals.
O'Riley is going through Big changes, I am not defending them.
They will rise to be a good part's supplier or they will fall.

Name drop, if your having a problem with a part get your money back and go down the street. or as in my case show them a print out from a web site of their competitions same part and ask them what they think. some time you can get an up graded part and a discount the next time you come in.

I only have to deal with Parts Plus Or Napa. luckily they Know I was a partsman. and I live in a smaller community now. they live here too and want a pay check. One of the managers used to be one of partsman I used to deal with in SLC when I had my shop and managed a couple of others.

You need to train a partsman to your needs.
It works for the part's house and you.

Don't be afraid to drop a line to their main office if you have consistent problems. This is, some times, how you get the lazy brother in law transferred
out of your area.
good luck everyone. use the competition to your advantage not theirs.

[joebuick]

Hey Guys,,, very interesting thread and opinions from one end to the other.. which is good.It seems that all of us have had some bad experience with parts from ALL of the different parts houses,,,,and some good ones. I know I have. But the most important thing to remember is "How you are treated when the part fails prematurely and you try to return for replacement." I can remember when trying to return a high dollar alternator or a starter to Carquest or Napa and they just give you a sad look and point to the sign over the counter that says " ABSOLUTLY NO RETURNS ON ELECTRICAL PARTS" Mad,,?? angry,,??? you bet!!! I switched to Autozone when they came to town for that reason. I also have had some failures with the Autozone brand,,,,but I always buy the lifetime warrenty parts and I do not have any panic attacks when I do have to return anything. That to me means a lot.
I am like one of the guys here that checks out the website before hand and I know what I need, the autozone part number, how much it costs, and even a brief printout of how to replace the part when I walk in the front door. ( just in case I get one of those people that know their way around a computor, but don't know sh** about cars) I like the one about the air freshener,,,,. I also love to go to one of THEIR computors while they are busy and do my search and have it all ready for them when they get to me,,,sic. The look on their face makes my day.
Would the guy who said he used a feature on one of the parts store's website to cross reference what other vehicles used same part please let me know who and where,,,?? thanks

[dropd80s]

Originally Posted by joebuick

Would the guy who said he used a feature on one of the parts store's website to cross reference what other vehicles used same part please let me know who and where,,,?? thanks

I don’t know if it's the same one the other guy was talking about, but ac delco's parts catalog on their website has a vehicle list on most every part on their site to cross-reference to other vehicles. I think they have a cross-reference page you can enter part numbers and it will give you a list of everything it fits also.