Okay, the reality is they ask me if I need help and I say no thanks and go about my business. But I'm not fond of it.

I can deal with all that small talk, or trying to help BS. I get really piss when one of the guys are helping me fine something when the phone rings. They immediately pick up the phone and start looking up things for the guy on the phone. I rip this young guy a new one once because of that, but he tells me that's company policy. I spoke to the very, very young manager, he said yep, that's our policy. IDIOTS.

when i built my 73 914-6 i needed a battery. i went to sears and went over to the batteries and picked out the one i needed. i new the cranking amps and where the posts needed to be and the size i needed. the sales man persited on helping.

what kind of car do you have?
porsche- you wont find it listed
what model
73 914-6- you wont find it listed
i dont see that model. i see a 914 1.7 or 2.0. is your car a 2.0
no, its a 2.2 six- you wont find it listed

This is nothing new at auto parts stores. They were doing this back in the early 60's, probably since they put phones in the first auto parts stores. PO'd me then and it still does..

What I don't get about Autozone or Advance is why they don't have a queue line. For example--they have (5) counters/registers--invariably there is someone at a counter with a customer--so you get in line behind that person--turns out that person is trying to describe a steering linkage for a 1978 Park Avenue, then phone rings, parts guy answers the phone and looks up (10) brands of shocks for a guy that is NOT EVEN IN THE STORE--meanwhile a new customer walks in goes to another counter just as another employee magically appears from the back--buys some wiper blades which then need installed by the employee while you have been standing in line with your jug of oil and filter for 20 minutes.

All they need to do is put up a queue line consisting of fabric barriers like they have in Marhsall's or Sheetz with an "enter here" sign. You get in line and when the next counter person is available, you go to that person--solves the entire issue, you will never get in the "wrong" counter line again.

LOL...I'm right there with you. I'm a 28y/o sales guy and get all curmudgeony when another salesperson just sucks. A great salesperson listens to their targets needs and devises a solution to fill the gap, simple. My approach makes the wife awkward but when shopping I will directly address an approaching salesperson (car, furniture, mattress, etc) to tell them they can not help me because I don't want help. I'm an informed shopper, only there to make a purchase (then they start drooling);)

If they start in with useless features or worse, vulturing, I'll go right to them to shake their hand in congratulations that they killed my deal that day, and leave.
-Did this last month at a Sleepy's. Told the rep, I didn't need help as I just needed to buy a mattress brand/type I already owned to simply upgrade to King Size and we were there toget the 25% off promo...that was his cue to close the deal. He proceeded to skip over that information and inform me of another, new mattress, I was sure to like better. Shook his hand and we were gone...ordered it online in Starbucks nextdoor :)

The local NAPA store I go to is the warehouse for the area so they almost always have the parts in stock. They also answer a call even in the middle of ringing up an order. I looked up their phone number and with my smart phone and called them as I was standing in line and he put that on hold. I then did two way calling and called again. That tied up another phone line. I looked at the guy and asked him if he wanted to answer either of those calls or talk to me face to face. Since the boss was watching he picked up one of the lines and I finished my order on the phone with me standing in front of him.

One other time I walked out while I had a couple of hundred bucks in parts on the counter I wanted to buy. They kept answering the phone rather than take my money. I was standing there with my debit card out trying to pay and they would answer the phone. Now I just ordered everything on-line just like I do for my 911 with Pelican.

I try to plan ahead for any project and order on-line and I get a better price and no annoying dummy with a computer to deal with.

I was in a chain auto parts store just this past week. I overheard an exchange between an older woman (@55) who was trying to get her remote car starter to work. The associate had put new batteries in it and it still didn't work. I stepped over and asked if he had checked the contacts. He gave me a bewildered look that answered my question for me. He thrust the remote fob at me and said "go ahead and knock yourself out, the second battery is loose" and he walked away to help someone else. I looked at the woman and asked if it would be OK for me to take a look and see if I could get it working. I have seen this many times with remote garage door openers. She said I could go ahead if I thought it might work. The contacts were indeed quite dirty. I cleaned them off, made sure they weren't flattened out, and reassembled the remote. I tested it at the little remote kiosk and it worked. She got very excited and took it to the window and tried it on her car....it worked. She was so happy that she ran over and gave me a big hug. All the while the associate was giving me the evil eye. I had to laugh.

But yes, I find the the sales help in most places to not be very helpful or totally ignorant of the products they sell.

Do I pass the curmudgeon test ?

It's not really their fault, but many times I know the exact dimensions of a hose or part I want, and they can't find it without a car and year. Doesn't help if you're fabricating something. McMaster becomes the solution.

I did go to Advance recently and got reamed by Mr. Manager (18 or 19yrs old) about buying their cheap motorcycle batteries. Told him no mater what brand or style, they only last a year or two tops. He stated this certain battery would last longer and came with a prorated warranty. I stated it only lasted for one year the last time I bought it. He then proceeded to explain to me how much better this battery was and I was a fool for spending less on my choice instead of more on his. I then asked why they sold such cheap useless batteries. He told me it was for the low end customers. I left to go next door to autozone. No up-sale, no drama, just a cheap battery sale.

Big box stores are the worst. The one that rhymes with toes has workers that just tell you what isle stuff is in or state they don't carry that. Try finding a worker at Home Despot. It is like one of those "Where's Waldo" books. I am pretty sure there are workers here but where?

don't get me started with Home Depot. I quit going there. I sent my guys so they can suffer instead of me. Plus, I try not to buy much from them as they have lots of junk.

Many kids get jobs there right out of high school, so what the heck do we expect, plumbing codes or electrical? I always though about doing this, work there on the weekends when I retire. Help out folks on the weekends when its full of DIYs. Answer questions but not have to locate products or stock shelves since many of people that go there have parents who did not teach them to put things back where they found them. Min. wage or volunteering would be fine. I would be glad to help them with running a how to workshop for a couple hours or run their workshop for kids.

This is great. This past Saturday I was in Lowe's.

As I'm headed toward the outdoor lighting section to buy 2 packs of exactly what I need, a vested customer superhero approaches to save the day.

VCS: You look lost, how can I help.

Saucy: I'm good, just grabbing some lights.

VCS: I can help with that...

Saucy: Please do direct me toward the Utilitech Pro, LED, Stainless, under-cabinet lights that have the optional plug-chain but they have to be the hardwired model.

VCS: I wish I could help, I'm not sure, let me get a manager

Saucy: Do us both a favor, stop wasting our time and have a great day :D

(This is a great thread)

The local O'Reilly store here has a very knowledgeable young lady that works there. She asks if we need any help and I usually say no, but one day they didn't have my oil filter in stock so I asked if she had any in the back. She asked what car and I said it isn't listed, it is a Cobra replica. She asked which engine and I told her and she went to the store room and brought out the correct filter in a different brand since they were out of my preferred brand but it was a good second choice as it didn't use cardboard inside either (like some of the lesser expensive brands). We also take our used oil there since I don't have a place to store all of it and I don't have a used oil heater yet for our other garage.

I've been known to be a touch ornery. I've go no time for snakes, spiders & talkin' to ignorant people.

My foray into old merican cars reintroduced me the FLAPS of various stripes. They aren't anything like the NAPA store in West Seattle back in the 60s-70s when Charlie was runnin' it. One could actually go there for the straight scoop about anything automotive......and opinions on about any subject......a thick hide was de rigueur if you went there.

I do agree with he "stop the conversation & answer the phone bit"....I've been known to just walk out when the gabbing drags on. For the most part, talking to the staff is a waste of time so that is a wash.

The local HD is loaded with folks wanting to help. Many of the staff are obviously old retired guys that know their stuff....Lowes is the opposite. Depends on the location, I guess.

Back before they hired Nardelli as CEO around 2000 or 2001, HD was not this way. Nardelli ran the place into the ground before they finally drove him out (with a $200 million parachute). Interesting reading about how to ruin a very successful business model if you google it.

Our local HD is pretty junky but actually has a lot of knowledgeable employees who seem eager to help. Our local Lowes is well organized and very clean but good luck at getting anyone to help you, you literally have to chase them down.

Yes, but with a gold star for performing a good deed.

My wife's uncle used to run the NAPA parts store in Woodward, OK. He was the type of man every one of us wants to talk to when you go to a parts store. He did not have a computer but you could come in with a request for any part and he would know if he had it and if he did he would hand it to you in seconds. Of course if you need parts for a American vehicle or and tractor or truck you were in luck. If you needed an oil filter for a Honda you were in the wrong store.

He could tell you if a part was the right one for any application. If it was some fame made one of a kind gizmo he could figure out how to get it running and fix it.

Those guys are no longer working at parts stores.

He would often have 8 to 10 farmers sitting around shooting the bull on Saturday mornings drinking his coffee.

Sad isn't it. Do you think some 30 year old would value that invaluable experience? They can all do better on their freaking net:rolleyes:. I use to envy the old guys that had an answer to every problem. I wanted to be that guy. I am still working on that each and everyday. While I am not that old, but the 30 something always kick my ass with what they read on the net and question my knowledge. Where as the older clients and I always talk about how and the best way to solve the issues and trust me on it.

My dad talked about walking into the paint & hardware store in San Marcos, TX back in 1963. He wanted to repaint the living room of the house we were renting. The man at the store only asked one question. What is the address. My dad was puzzled but told the paint guy. He said oh that is the old Jones house. It was last painted with this color and it will take this much paint to cover all 4 walls. He knew the paint colors of all the rooms and how much it would take to repaint.

This was HD's original business model- Hire retired tradesmen to work in departments of their expertise.

That business model is long gone. Too bad.