I love my FLAPS

[wdfifteen]

Walked in to NAPA this morning and told the counter man I needed a battery for my tractor. He asked what kind of tractor.
I said, "The battery is a 51R."
"Oh, OK be right back."
He brought the battery out, I paid, and was out of there in 5 minutes.
On the way out he said, "Thank you for your business."
Wow.

I related here the ordeal of trying to get a battery for my '56 coupe at Batteries Pus a few months ago. I told him I needed a Group 24 battery and he had no idea what to do. I had to tell him the year and model of the car. When I told him it was for a 1956 Porsche that had been converted to 12 volts he just stared at his computer.

What joy it is to work with competent people.

[GH85Carrera]

My AC gas recovery compressor is a home made rig my father in law made with a washing machine motor and a large compressor from a truck. It works great. The fan belt it uses was cracked and near failure. I walked into a FLAPS and asked for replacement. Of course their first question was what model car does this goo on. I said none, it is not for a car. Three guys stood around scratching body parts trying to figure out what would work. The manager came over and asked what does this go on, and I said something like a model XXB5 space ship. They finally got out the old belt size measuring tool, and found a belt of the right size.

I remember the "good old days" of the early 1970s and walking into the parts store and telling Ernie, I need a part for my car and he just walked back to the shelf and picked it up. No computers and just a head full of part numbers. I do understand that cars are far more complex, and lots more parts of car companies that never existed back then.

[masraum]

Weird. At my local FLAPS (O'Reilly) the tractor batteries are on a little rack with the ATV batteries. I got a new one yesterday, and all I had to do was walk up grab it and carry it to the counter.

I bought a car battery a while back, and it was the same, except that those are on a much larger rack. Knew what I needed, walked up, grabbed it and took it to the register.

Something similar to this for the car batteries.


And many years ago ('92-95) I worked in a FLAPs, and that's the kind of racks we used there as well.

[Scott Douglas]

Last time I went to get a battery for my wife's CR-V I took the old one back to wally world since they had the best price on it. Walked in with my core in a cart on a card board box as it was leaking. I told them I wanted to change the size so walked over to the racks, similar to what is shown above, and chose the one I wanted. I couldn't pull it off the rack as they were all locked up under lock and key.

Says something about the neighborhood if you ask me.

Same goes for all their synthetic motor oil jugs too.

Big city life is really starting to wear on me.

[wdfifteen]

When I think of FLAPS I don't think O'Reily, or Autozone, or whatever that other big national chain is. I think my locally owned and managed store. Nowdays it's usually a NAPA franchise, but I've never been to a NAPA where people working there didn't know what they have and what it fits.

Last summer I asked Mike, our NAPA guy, for 11/16" wheel cylinder cups for my coupe. They weren't on the shelf, but he had them for me by noon. Stoddard doesn't even sell them! I cannot imagine going in to O'Reily's and asking for "... 11/16 wheel cylinder cups please." The minimum wage kid's head would explode.

Me. "I need an 1157 bulb please."
Autozone kid. "What make and year of car? "
Me. "Everything made before 1980." LOL!

[masraum]

Originally Posted by GH85Carrera

My AC gas recovery compressor is a home made rig my father in law made with a washing machine motor and a large compressor from a truck. It works great. The fan belt it uses was cracked and near failure. I walked into a FLAPS and asked for replacement. Of course their first question was what model car does this goo on. I said none, it is not for a car. Three guys stood around scratching body parts trying to figure out what would work. The manager came over and asked what does this go on, and I said something like a model XXB5 space ship. They finally got out the old belt size measuring tool, and found a belt of the right size.

You've got to be careful with belts. Not only do you have the length of the belt to worry about, but some belts have a different V angle for the sides of the belt. I think a lot of non-automotive belts (mowers, dryers, etc...) are a different angle than the automotive belt angle.

But yes, there should be a belt measuring tool.

When I was at a FLAPs I could/did find parts based on crossreferences, old cars, new cars, modified cars, no real car to go on, etc... I also made sure that my employees (I was a manager for a bit) also knew how to check stuff besides just checking the computer (which was a bit more crude back then). I think a lot of it comes down to interest, training, etc.... There are still some folks that care and know how and will bother to get you what you need.

[Zeke]

The NAPA here had a walking encyclopedia at the parts counter. The register was at another counter so all he did was look up parts in old paper catalogs. Oh, he had the computer, but the 6' of catalogs were way more complete. This guy could recall the part most of the time if you had the old one. He'd walk right to the shelf in back somewhere and be back with it in 30 seconds. The only thing he had to do at that point was look it up for the price.

And if I was looking for something like a bracket or clamp, he didn't need to know what car. He'd open the book, show me pics and ask what will work? Usually there was something that would do the job. If you wanted to build a custom fuel line he had all the fittings, that sort of thing.

He did me a huge favor one day when I brought a part back because I found it for a much better price at an independent that caters to mobile mechanics and DIYer's. He said to tell the man at the register that I was retired from the city of Long Beach and I'd get shop prices which was 40% off. They never asked for any ID, just took my word. I never worked for the city.

[GH85Carrera]

My local NAPA is the local warehouse for the area NAPA stores, and they have the classrooms there that teach new employees the NAPA system. They also have the delivery trucks and a group of older guys driving the trucks for delivery to the local repair shops. In the store at the counter, they almost always have the "FNG" beginner employee trainee from the school in the same building, and a different person on every visit. The worst part is they cater to the phones more than the counter. I have had to call that store while standing in line to get them to talk to me and not the phone.

The good new is they almost always have a part in stock, and it comes down a conveyor belt from the warehouse. It is my preferred stop for parts for my El Camino.

[Scott Douglas]

My brother was a driver for the local NAPA back in the olden days. He got to drive around in a fairly new Ford Courier pickup truck. He delivered parts to the local FBI garage which he found to be very interesting.
Santa Monica Auto Parts was the NAPA store back then. They had a full service machine shop too. Hot tanking service etc, the works. We built many an engine using them as the source for machining and parts.

[herr_oberst]

Originally Posted by masraum

.....

But yes, there should be a belt measuring tool.

......

A few days ago, I went back to the hardware store I worked at for a short time. One of the employees was showing me around the changes that had been made to the store and as we were walking around I noticed that the belt measuring tool was no longer on the wall where I remembered it. I asked about it and was told it got thrown away with a lot of other 'crap' that 'nobody knew what it was for'.

I'll bet that tool was 75 years old.

FTS.


Edit. Sorry about the digression. Back to FLAPS talk!

[masraum]

Originally Posted by herr_oberst

A few days ago, I went back to the hardware store I worked at for a short time. One of the employees was showing me around the changes that had been made to the store and as we were walking around I noticed that the belt measuring tool was no longer on the wall where I remembered it. I asked about it and was told it got thrown away with a lot of other 'crap' that 'nobody knew what it was for'.

I'll bet that tool was 75 years old.

FTS.


Edit. Sorry about the digression. Back to FLAPS talk!

holy carp!

That goes back to my comment about "training/education".

[pwd72s]

Local NAPA is usually my first stop. Service? Tops. When I was looking for a special tool they didn't have, a counter guy knew his dad had one, so he called his dad, asked where he got it.

[gumby]

My Troy Bilt chipper (a real one, bought it in Troy) belt broke today..local NAPA dealer said we will have it 4:00, perfect!
the chipper is 30 years old

[A930Rocket]

I would have to pass four FLAPs to get to the NAPA, so I usually look online to see who’s got what and start with the nearest store and work my way down towards NAPA.

When I lived in Atlanta, I lived not too far from the NAPA distribution store in Peachtree Corners I think it was. Got all of my parts from them, and they did machine work as well.

[unclebilly]

So you are publicly declaring your love for brick and mortar auto parts stores on the free website of an online auto parts store? Really?

I’m the opposite, If I really need something, and they have it in stock, and I can bare to deal with dumb and dumber at the counter, they will get my business. If they have to order it in, I will just order it myself and get it just as quickly for a fraction of the cost.

Even the local Porsche dealer uses the pelican website to look up part numbers because it’s easier to use than the internal system. They did it last week when I bough the overpriced fuel tank vent valve for my wife’s cayenne… pelican was way cheaper but the dealer had it in stock.

[Tim Hancock]

Our local NAPA store up until 20 years ago was awesome. Super knowledgeable counter staff and they would allow me to walk back into the warehouse to look for odd parts I needed (like pre bent exhaust components to make up a custom exhaust). Unfortunately they got new owners and the place sucks biggly now.

When I started racing dirt cars, the local Oreillys had just hired a new manager and she was a girl from down south who grew up in a family of dirt track racers. She was the most knowledgeable counter person I have dealt with to date at any FLAPS. They gave me a partial sponsorship and I still get a discount there. They no longer have a knowledgeable manager or counter staff. I still buy stuff there like belts, batteries, filters etc. Now though I get online and check to see if they have the part or call them and tell them to order it for me for in store pickup. I still at times make them let me back in the parts room to pick out my mower belts. Pretty convenient as the store is close to where I work for lunch time pickups.

[1990C4S]

Originally Posted by unclebilly

Even the local Porsche dealer uses the pelican website to look up part numbers because it’s easier to use than the internal system. They did it last week when I bough the overpriced fuel tank vent valve for my wife’s cayenne… pelican was way cheaper but the dealer had it in stock.

I tried to buy some exhaust studs from my dealer...it was impossible. They were not willing to even try. I think the minimum purchase at my dealer is $200k, or GTFO.

[GH85Carrera]

I remember the "good old days" when the FLAPS had brake turning, and full engine machine work right there.

I have not seen a FLAPS with any machine work in many years.

[Zeke]

Originally Posted by GH85Carrera

I remember the "good old days" when the FLAPS had brake turning, and full engine machine work right there.

I have not seen a FLAPS with any machine work in many years.

I have not even seen an engine shop for a long time. Not talking racing engines. Just the average rebuilder. Seems like it doesn't pencil out anymore. There was a significant company one city over that put out about 10 rebuilds a day 15 years ago. Mostly v8's. They went under. Friend of mine has a stroker SBC in his truck that they did. Still going strong.

[LEAKYSEALS951]

I had a similar experience recently.
Walked right into a LAPS, and stated "I need a new battery- the equivalent of this."

Before he could even rattle off "What car is this off of?" I added-
" It's off an old tractor that's probably not in your computer. I just need something the same size, post position, and amperage"

He didn't pry any further. I didn't show my inner Ron Swanson. Standoff averted.

He took one look at my battery, walked me over the the new ones, and I was out of there in no time!

Blam!! BAM! SHAZAAAAMMMM!!!!!!