Speaking of 6 volt batteries and other curmudgeonly topics

[Pat D]

I rolled into my local Advance Auto Parts just looking to see if there was a 6V starting battery on the shelf, sometimes you get lucky. Never made it to the shelf- counter guy yanks me up as I stride purposely toward the battery rack. "Help you find something sir?" "Sure, you got any 6 volt batteries back there on the rack?" "What's it for?" (Here we go, aw jeez ...) "Well, it's probably not in your book. I just need a 6v starting battery, they are fairly generic and not really vehicle specific. Like an 1157 bulb." (Old white haired guy comes to the rescue of the exuberant yet now baffled counter guy). "C'mon in the back, we have some golf cart batteries might work, they're 6V." Nope, all way to tall. "Can you order me up one?" "Sure lets see what's available on the computer. Only one I show and can get is $191." "Thanks, I'll pass, that's a bit dear for a battery." So I go home, go on the Advance auto web site, find a 6v starting battery for $114 plus core, "Ready for pickup in 30 minutes at your store." (The one I was just at.) Hit the checkout button and wait for the inevitable email saying "Oops, we no got." But no, 30 minutes later, email shows up sez "Ready for pickup". So this morning i stop in, same old white haired guy is there that I dealt with yesterday is there. "You got a 6V battery for me? Last name is Depkin." "Yep, here ya go sir." I dunno if the guy didn't recognize me or just refused to acknowledge the previous days exchange. Lesson learned? Just go to the rack and get what you need.

 

[Jim]

Never made it to the shelf- counter guy yanks me up as I stride purposely toward the battery rack. "Help you find something sir?"

I've got my Advance folk trained. When I walk in, all they say is "hi Jim," and let me be.
Wonderful bunch of guys... seriously, but I never trust 'em. I'll do just as you say, look on their website and go from there.

 

[650Skull]

Battery was on its last legs, my ute. Rang the local, (60klm away), auto parts store, supercheap auto.
"Yep we got one, $230.00 with 1 year warranty. A 2 year warranty for $260, or 36 months for $280".........WTF.

Didn't ring my local garage I use thinking they would b dearer than the multinatinal chain that does regularly have good deals. So I rang my local guy.

"Yes sir we have one for $210"

Me, what is the warranty, thinking it would b for a year.

" It comes with a 40 month warranty"

WTF........
Me...out of breath having a heart attack......I'l b there in 20min. They are 25klm away.

Lesson learnt't again.....bloody old timers.

 

[Downeaster]

One reason I use NAPA. The crew there has been dealing with Downeast Mainers long enough to know that 99% of the time they're working on cobbled together junk and know what they want before they ever leave home.

There's an Advance Auto right next door and those clowns couldn't find their ass with both hands and a coon dog.

 

[Jim]

My situation is a bit different...
NAPA has a 10% military discount.... only on Tue and Thur (iirc).
Advance is all day, every day.

NAPA consistently runs about 25-35% higher than Advance.

Back when my feet still worked, I could walk to Advance from my house.

Here's what I get from Advance....
'Bout a year ago I needed some urethane thinner, like, right now. Advance had it for $40/gal. When you need it, you need it, sigh... Walked up to the counter and told the manager (Oscar) "that's a fuckin' ridiculous price for a gal of thinner." He said "yeah, Jim, I agree." He marked it down to $25 and sent me on my merry way.

I dare any one of y'all to find better cust service.

 

[Downeaster]

It's all about the crew, for sure.

Local NAPA(s) give me 10% every day. There's one 15 miles East and one 20 miles North, just depends on what else I'm shopping for.

And yup, NAPA is definitely more expensive, but locally I'd rather get the right part the first time and nobody else seems to be able to manage that locally.

 

[Pat D]

Location too. The Advance is 3 miles away. NAPA closer to 12. Same with hardware- the local Ace is about 4 miles, the Home Depot is about 6, but it's "in town"(shudders). Ace more expensive, HD just trying to the soul. All of our cool old auto parts stores and all but two old timey hardware stores are gone.