O'Reilly's Auto Parts

[Roadmarks]

Howdy,

I thought I'd pass along a positive experience with the O'Reilly's chain.

I needed a wiper motor for my '71 C10 and had shopped most of the on-line sites. I'd had good luck with O'Reilly's before, (complete turn signal/flasher assy for less than $35.00!) so I thought I'd give them a try. Sure enough they could get it and the pump, too. Motor - $49.99 with a $10.00 core, rebuilt by Cardone with a 1 year warranty. Pump by Anco, 26.99, no core, same warranty.

Both parts are 1/2 to 1/3 cheaper than on-line. No other local vendor listed them.

We here in North Carolina pay tax, but it is a LOT less than the $26.00 shipping I was quoted by a popular on-line vendor!

O'reilly's is pretty new in this area, but their prices tend to run 1/3 cheaper than NAPA and Auto Zone, and 1/2 of Car Quest's prices!

I don't work for them or own stock in them. I just thought my observations might help others.

best wishes,

Les

[fine69]

Ok, then why the thumbs down symbol?

[Shane]

Originally Posted by fine69

Ok, then why the thumbs down symbol?

exactly what I was going to ask ...

[Roadmarks]

I guess because I'm a dumba$$ and hit the wrong key! Sorry!

[Roadmarks]

Fixed now!

[kcsa75]

O'Reilly's is very popular in this area. In fact, they're all over the place. I agree the prices are great. The only downside is they have a lot of Dumbasses working in the stores. If you know what you need, you're usually OK. Otherwise, you're taking a chance.

I have a Car Quest just down the road from the house. I find the prices are comparable and being they are litterally attached to a regional distribution center, it's very rare something is out of stock, even on Sunday!

[nickp51chevy]

Originally Posted by kcsa75

O'Reilly's is very popular in this area. In fact, they're all over the place. I agree the prices are great. The only downside is they have a lot of Dumbasses working in the stores. If you know what you need, you're usually OK. Otherwise, you're taking a chance.

I have a Car Quest just down the road from the house. I find the prices are comparable and being they are litterally attached to a regional distribution center, it's very rare something is out of stock, even on Sunday!

I've noticed the same thing about O'Reilly's. Most of the people that work there tend to be kids that don't know what they're doing. I did take a chance and bought a carb rebuild kit. The person helping me said "I don't know how this computer works. I hope this is the right kit." Really? That was the last time I went there for anything. Luckily it was the right one.

[68anniversary]

Originally Posted by nickp51chevy

I've noticed the same thing about O'Reilly's. Most of the people that work there tend to be kids that don't know what they're doing. I did take a chance and bought a carb rebuild kit. The person helping me said "I don't know how this computer works. I hope this is the right kit." Really? That was the last time I went there for anything. Luckily it was the right one.

I work for Oreilly's and I can sympathize with you. We do have a few kids that are new, but we are happy to give a kid a job. You have to understand nobody is going to get rich working for a Parts store so new people and turnover are a way of life.

I just want to say I go out of my way to help customers find parts for their classic and antique cars. We have a lot of old cars running around our area and I like to think we do our best to keep them from the crusher.

So maybe next time be patient with that kid behind the counter, Im sure he is trying to do the best job he can. BTW I work with several women also, one of which does mechanic work on the weekends.

[nickp51chevy]

Originally Posted by 68anniversary

I work for Oreilly's and I can sympathize with you. We do have a few kids that are new, but we are happy to give a kid a job. You have to understand nobody is going to get rich working for a Parts store so new people and turnover are a way of life.

I just want to say I go out of my way to help customers find parts for their classic and antique cars. We have a lot of old cars running around our area and I like to think we do our best to keep them from the crusher.

So maybe next time be patient with that kid behind the counter, Im sure he is trying to do the best job he can. BTW I work with several women also, one of which does mechanic work on the weekends.

I understand that people have to start somewhere. I have no problem with that. I just prefer to go to someone who knows what they are doing, and actually likes working on cars and trucks. It kinda hurts the ol' wallet when you buy something that can't be returned if it is opened, and it's the wrong part. I also like going to a locally owned parts store. Plus the guys I go see are also 67-72 enthusiasts.

[big mike71]

Originally Posted by kcsa75

O'Reilly's is very popular in this area. In fact, they're all over the place. I agree the prices are great. The only downside is they have a lot of Dumbasses working in the stores. If you know what you need, you're usually OK. Otherwise, you're taking a chance.

I have a Car Quest just down the road from the house. I find the prices are comparable and being they are litterally attached to a regional distribution center, it's very rare something is out of stock, even on Sunday!

Do you live in Independence? All of the O'Reilly's around are terrible.

[68anniversary]

Originally Posted by big mike71

Do you live in Independence? All of the O'Reilly's around are terrible.

So Big Mike, I assume you have been to all of the Oreilly's and they all suck? Pretty strong words without giving reasons. I work there and we do not "suck" as you say. I am sorry you have had bad experiences when you went to an Oreilly's but you would be amazed what it's like behind the counter. People do not know what year their car is, sometimes not even the model. They come in wanting us to be mind readers. We have people call on the phone asking if we can fix their car or tell them what's wrong? I will tell you I have spent more than one lunch hour or even after work helping people that are working on their cars in out parking lot. One time I helped a stranded woman that just bought an old Ford truck when her starter went out in the lot. I stayed over an hour after my shift and helped her install it and sent her on her way. and no I didn't ask for money. We have put in light bulbs and wipers all the time. We aren't perfect everyone has a bad day but we do the best we can for our customers
Sorry to ramble on but when you make a blanket statement to hundreds of people on here slamming a business without offering an explanation I feel the need to defend the company that signs my checks.

[muckyp]

I don't often chime in on such postings, but I feel I must give my local O'reilly's a thumbs up. You guys are right that it absolutely depends on the person behind the counter. The manager at the store in Mesquite, TX is the hands down best parts counter person I have ever dealt with. She, yes "she", goes above and beyond to help me find parts to my mismatched vehicles. I have built offroad vehicles and trucks that you can't just plug year models and makes into a computer and pop out a part number. She knows an unbelievable amount of info about parts and how to research them. The other people working in the store have good intentions but just don't have the knowledge and desire to find that obscure part.

[AusTx68]

I hit my local O'Reilly's over any other place in the area. They keep a lot early parts in stock that I can't find anywhere else (locally) and I don't always want to wait for shipping.

But as was mentioned above, you have to get the right person behind the counter when looking for parts. Some folks don't know anything beyond what's on the computer and have no experience with vehicles older then 1990! One other thing, just because the box is labeled 19xx Chevy Truck doesn't mean it's the correct part. I was given the correct brake calipers as labled but the part inside was for a later model truck. This has happened at least 3 separate times. One was ball joints and the other control arm bushings.

[shrike]

Originally Posted by AusTx68

I hit my local O'Reilly's over any other place in the area. They keep a lot early parts in stock that I can't find anywhere else (locally) and I don't always want to wait for shipping.

But as was mentioned above, you have to get the right person behind the counter when looking for parts. Some folks don't know anything beyond what's on the computer and have no experience with vehicles older then 1990! One other thing, just because the box is labeled 19xx Chevy Truck doesn't mean it's the correct part. I was given the correct brake calipers as labled but the part inside was for a later model truck. This has happened at least 3 separate times. One was ball joints and the other control arm bushings.

Yup. Just had this happen with a wiper motor. Box had the part number for a 3 terminal but it was a 4 terminal in the box.

[Ms Bright]

I had a front tire blow out on my Harley and an O'Reilly's truck stopped. He called a bud w/ a trailer who hauled me to a shop where I could get a new one. No charge. I try and buy at O'Reilly's when I can but only when I know exactly what I need or if the old guy's there...

[man-a-fre]

Lately i've had a few problems with them not holding up there part of the deal on lifetime warranty parts.Alternator bearings were squeaking horribly loud but still charged so they wouldnt warranty it till it went out.I'm no longer a oreilly customer here locally due to them trying to get out of there lifetime warranty stuff.

[NONHOG]

I had good service the other day they matched up a hose for me to the steel line I fabbed up. I was pleased.
The day before at a different O'Rielly's and it was like pulling teeth to find a air filter for a Weber carb. It took forever and I left empty handed but the kid was nice and he tried.

[coloradosean2009]

Originally Posted by man-a-fre

Lately i've had a few problems with them not holding up there part of the deal on lifetime warranty parts.Alternator bearings were squeaking horribly loud but still charged so they wouldnt warranty it till it went out.I'm no longer a oreilly customer here locally due to them trying to get out of there lifetime warranty stuff.

A pile of metal shavings dumped into the windings while turning would have "cured" the problem with it still charging.

[60ratrod]

i gotta agree with the majority of the people talking about "talk to the right guy". i'm kinda picky about where i get my parts. occasionally i go to the big napa that's across the bridge in burlington about 5 miles from my house and they occasionally have good prices and knowledgeable people. the last time that i was in their store was this last weekend seeing what they had in electric fuel pumps for my tpi conversion. well they didn't have any but the guy that i talked to looked up a couple different makers like professional products, holly and edelbrock and even printed me off a price quote. but i usually go to the oreilly's and talk to 3 people. and i even love to bs with them. it just helps when you're trying to get things and we even brain storm on things that i can use when something is hard to find or how to make it work. and the best part about these guys that i talk to let me open the boxes to look at the part that i am about to get just to make sure that its the right part. and one of them is retired navy and the other has a son in the army so they tend to understand where i come from most of the time with the tight budget so they find the best part for the best price. otherwise when i was living in oak harbor on base i would always go to the then shucks now oreilly's and they usually let me behind the counter cause i was in there so often. at one point i told them that i may as well be considered a client rather than a customer and we had a good chuckle at that. i still go to that one when i need something when i have to go to oak harbor. but again its all about who you talk to. and it always isn't the salty looking guy. sometimes its the kid who looks so new you can still see the fresh out of the package creases in his shirt

[mr48chev]

We have a lot of them around here and it all depends on which store you go into as to how experienced the counter people are. The one I usually go to that has the (speedshop) in it has some pretty sharp counter people and a couple of duds. The other good one in town caters to shops and has some good people.
The good thing about them is that you can go online, look up the part check the price and buy it online if you want and pick it up in the store without the counter guy or gal having to look it up for you.

The NAPA here in town that I go to has one top rate counter guy who has been at it for a long time and is doing a good job of training the young gals who work with him. But it pays to hunt around for a parts house that has good people working there even if the price isn't the cheapest.

[LEEVON]

They're based in Springfield, MO. I know folks from corporate and we were selected to bid on their corporate HQ last year (did not win). Believe me though, the parts counter mentality is the same here as the rest of the country.

My local store has a wide range of knowledge and attitude. Seems the guys with the knowledge usually have bad attitudes and vice-versa though. I've make it a point to make one guy my friend, know his name and BS with him and know what days he works. Makes my life there much easier.

[camjck89]

agreed, there are a lot of advanced and autozones around here and most all of them has some employees that are not up to par, however, there is usually one, older/ really young guy that knows his stuff, dont really know whats up with that i guess their either are good from the beginning and then leave to better companys and the older guys are still there from when you trusted a auto parts store, remember that? but yea theres one orileys and one napa, and there great to work with. not to down play autozone cause ive had managers be very helpful in the past

[Shyguy]

I usually start on a store's web-site when I need a part and get the part number. One thing good about O'Rielly's is they can get a part that is ordered the next day, the only day there is not a delivery is Sunday.

It really depends on which store a person goes to and which employee helps them.

Since I worked at auto parts stores for 5 years or so I tendency to be more tolerant then other customers, I guess.

I do have certain sales people I have wait on me, that way I get better service. The sales people have three resources to find the right part, the computer, parts books and a technical hot-line.

I am sure other parts stores have similar resources.

Also I try not to go there during peak customer times.

[MAK191]

Most of the time I do the work looking up the part numbers before I go in. Otherwise they easily mess things up. It's pretty much that way for all of the parts stores in my area. Plus with some of them I can see if they actually have the part in stock.

[Panelman55]

We get an employee discount at the local O'Reilly's here. I was told it was because the Company had an account and we are allowed to use the company discount. It helps the company and it helps us too. I've gotten parts from them and they are a help on things you just need information about. I let them install a new battery in my DD just a few weeks ago. Then I purchased a set of CV axels and some other stuff. They stock a good bit of stuff and are really nice folks. Just my .02.

Panelman55