NAPA (don't) know how.

[FoxrunFarms02]

Hey everyone. I'm not trying to go on a rant or bash a business but I wanted to let you guys know about my poor experience with Napa and on a corporate level and maybe save you guys some head aches.

I needed an atv battery. They're usually 50.00 to 100.00 at tsc or fleet farm but I decided to try Napa. To my shock their battery was 200.00. I figured well I'm here, it must be good and I'll have good customer support.......Wrong!

A week later the atv was acting up and flashing volt on the screen. I looked at the battery and the + terminal was cracked and loose. I grabbed the receipt and went back to the store. I talked to the younger guy behind the counter who had no idea what to do so he paged the Manger. The Manger looks at it and says warranty voided I either dropped it ,hulked the bolts on, or used too long of bolts......none in which I did. He said he can't do nothing. I told him fine I'll drop my account and let corporate know. He said that's fine and I left with a few choice words to him. He followed me out in the parking lot and asked if I felt like the battery should be replaced and I could solder it. I told him I wasn't going to solder a 200.00 battery.

I left and went to a Napa 2 towns over( the Manger manages a couple and didn't want someone calling him asking what to do)I went in told the guy I was closer to that store showed him the battery and 2 minutes I was in and out with a new one.

After I got home I gave the original Napa a bad review. Of course I get a call this number to discuss your concerns. I call and I get Ha mere with broken English. He told me the regional Manger would give me a call in 24 to 48 hours to discuss the situation.........that was mid August.......nothing yet. Once a week to kill time I email Napa asking why I haven't heard anything yet with my Case number....... nothing. I gave the battery a 1 star review..... they take it down.

Napa was my go 2 place especially for ag parts, all those times I had great service and free advice vs going to an auto zone or O'Reilly were a kid in high school autoshop is behind the computer asking what size my engine is for wipers.

I should be happy I got a new battery but just very disappointed in the customer support especially from corporate. I thought it was a good company.

[mmi]

been counters and AI  you will have nothing and like it.

there all going .........

Have to read your receipt like a lawyer BEFORE leaving the store. Esp if you do online to get the promo.

Picked up some life warranty spark plug wires. didnt print on reciept.....BUT suppose to toss order slip.

6mo  later to turn them in, thats now a $100 set no warranty and computer "said' they were, but not on receipt .

Yet the $50 set from same supplier now was life.     

I asked every customer at the counter  If you were a moron,would you take a warranty  or leave it and/or pay 2x $ to not get it?

Manager produced the warranted set and made up a  new receipt.

[TRAVELETTE]

I walked in the local NAPA, gave the counter gal the NAPA part number, she said there was no such thing, I repeated the part number, and told her the NAPA product line code to enter with the part number, and was told no part with that number exists. She never asked what the part was or what it fit. Went to the Napa in the next town, provided the same info, they didn't have it in stock, but got it for me the next day.

I ordered a carb kit for a old car, and the NAPA computer listing had a picture of a 2 barrel kit. I needed a 4 bbl kit. This car was never built with a 2 bbl carb. They told me that it was just a generic picture. I asked if they could look it up by carb number? Was told they have no way to do that. Four days later the kit showed up, and it was for a 2 bbl.

NAPA used to be highest quality and reasonable price. Now seems much the same offshore crap, that the other places sell, but with a higher price.

I am set up on NAPA's ProLink system and seldom go in the store without their part number, because the store staff are so worthless. 

 

[Dirt_Floor_Poor]

There are no parts stores near me that have anyone in there who would know which end was up on any parts. They are a revolving door of people who know absolutely nothing and won’t be there long enough to learn. It’s the state of the industry I guess. Most larger chains have pretty good websites where you can look it up yourself, which is the only redeeming thing about them. If I need a hydraulic hose, it has to be an emergency before I will use any of them. You can just about guarantee the end will blow off when you try to use it. Going to the ag dealer or a hydraulic shop the next morning will save time and oil in the long run most of the time. 

[Rawleigh99]

I will go to which ever store has a good parts counter guy.  I don't care the brand anymore.  Its all made in China junk anyway!

[Binderoid]

Always had good luck with NAPA batts. I was window shopping 31’s and the price was 189$. That didn’t shock me, because batts have been getting absurd for a couple years. What did startle me was it was only 18 month battery… for an Interstate price. Guess I’m done with NAPA.

[FarmallFan]

The Napa here is good. Usually the owner is the one behind the counter. If I'm in my work shirt, I get the discounted price even if the part is for me, personally paid with personal funds.

[mader656]

Dang my napa is 5 star had water pump i thought was bad napa part. Looks at it hands me a new water pump and takes care of the rest later

[Gearclash]

Local NAPA was bought by supposedly reformed drug head; that proved not to be the case.  After he went off the deep end I left NAPA and never went back.

[FoxrunFarms02]

1 hour ago, Binderoid said:

Always had good luck with NAPA batts. I was window shopping 31’s and the price was 189$. That didn’t shock me, because batts have been getting absurd for a couple years. What did startle me was it was only 18 month battery… for an Interstate price. Guess I’m done with NAPA.

Yes I was reading the fine print of the warranty and 3 months, which only covered if it was deader than dead.

[F-301066460puller]

You get the help you pay for. Used to work ag/construction/truck engine parts. They don't get paid. And you guys is a holes.... lol

[IH Forever]

I have great luck with Napa. I know the owner and it’s usually him or his son behind the counter. Has most things and if not has it next day. I wouldn’t say it’s the cheapest, but it’s locally owned and convenient.

[supermechanic]

The local NAPA guy here owns the store. Mabe 30 years in the business.

 Wife and son work there too.

 I make sure I call them first, when chasing parts.

 He can get me stuff no one else has.

 Costs a bit more as well.

[Reichow7120]

We have had good luck with NAPA here.

However attrition has taken its toll on NAPA stores around here in the last year. One in my actual town closed up Febuary 2022. The one we used religiously was in a neighboring town, it closed up 1st of June this year. Owner was 68, no one wanted to take over and keeping help was problematic. He couldn't take off on vacation or anything so he burned out and said the #ell with it. Kinda sucks as they knew their stuff there. Next NAPA store is 20 miles in either direction. 

There is a parts plus we are using since no NAPAs that is ok. But i bet if I threw heavy truck stuff at them they would be of no help. O'Reilleys? The one here it better be the last resort and even then you have to hold their hands the whole way. And then the one young guy will whine and -itch the whole time. 

[acem]

Local Napa is good. Original owner died last year but his son grew up at the store. He was just a punk 20 years ago but is good now. His son is working the counter now. They won't hire anyone unless they are good. It's a good place to work even though the pay ain't great. It's just a great atmosphere. People come in just to shoot the crap and drink coffee.

Parts available on older stuff isn't what it used to be but at least they try and kept their old books.

[edwardporter1]

I did a fair amount of business at the local Napa then it changed hands. Very weak on parts and the price. YIKES!   Advanced auto parts nothing to right home about. Many years with Napa but no more for me

[Mike H]

don't get me going about NAPA or A-1 Cardone

both are crooks

had a new rebuilt engine trashed by a Cardone distributor

the drive gear failed and took out the cam gear

did not cover a thing 

said I did not install it right 

the engine was a 351M

only goes in one way

[Wes806]

My local NAPA has done good for me and know what their doing. If it's not on computer they go to the old books.  O'Reilly's here has done good on getting the right parts and take the time out to make sure it's right and has always stood good on their lifetime warranty's. Heck I even took a oil soaked alternator in under lifetime warrany and O'Reilly's replace it no questions asked only thing guy said was " You know that unless you  fix that oil leak this one proably won't long"       I did get the oil leak fixed.

[Kevin in ky]

Our Napa here in elkton ky is great. I try to buy most parts I need from them.

[Doug in NY]

 I have found most parts stores to be all about the owner.  Local NAPA here poor, Local NAPA when I was in NYS was awesome, not sure if everything he sold was NAPA because he could get old parts for tractors or heavy equipment next day.  The guys working there understood old equipment and could find parts with little or no help from me.  If I went in with a part number, get a couple of prices based on how fast I needed the part.

[Dzldenny]

It's not just the chain parts stores.  They are all in the area 25 miles or closer. Can't think of a good one...

Stopped at an implement on the way home for an oil filter for one of the tractors. Admittedly it's an old tractor. Doesn't actually need an oil change but the canister is leaking at the bolt. Might as well change it if I'm taking it apart. Anyway...filter in hand I ask for the seal washer for the bolt and after 10 minutes of keyboarding he tells me "Discontinued". "Go to a parts store and try to match up an o-ring." This was at the dealership that sold this tractor new. I'd love to spend my money locally but looks like Google is going to get paid instead.

[1256pickett]

I’ll take local Napa any day over the other chains. But it’s all about the guy behind the counter or girl. The other chains around here are auto only, won’t do a thing for heavy truck or ag. The Napa on my way home from work will try and most stuff if they don’t have, can get it next morning. There is a better Napa two towns opposite direction that I rarely go to cause it’s out of my way but a good friend with heavy construction equipment swears by them. 

[Sledgehammer]

We have a very good Napa one direction about 15 miles and a very bad Napa about 15 miles the other direction. Supposedly the bad one had been bought out by the good but I haven’t seen it yet.
 

There is a CarQuest locally but the workers barely have a pulse.  CarQuest in the next town over is pretty decent. Bottom line is, I feel ownership has a lot to do with service. Growing up the local place was an independent outfit. We had a saying about that place…“here at Sam Smith auto, where you can buy better, but you can’t pay more”

[acem]

Parts stores are like tractor dealers.

The people are more important than the brand.

[KWRB]

4 hours ago, Mike H said:

don't get me going about NAPA or A-1 Cardone

both are crooks

had a new rebuilt engine trashed by a Cardone distributor

the drive gear failed and took out the cam gear

did not cover a thing 

said I did not install it right 

the engine was a 351M

only goes in one way

Scaring me. I'm getting ready to work on one myself.

My local NAPA (was) good. Nice owner. Wife is a firefighter/EMT in a mutual aid department and I did training with her. He had two stores and consolidated into one bigger one right by the interstate. Can't blame him. It's better business.

They've always been great there about getting me parts, with supplier part number, competitor part number, or my half-sensical verbal description.

I guess we're still lucky here.

As for batteries, I thought I heard that at one time their batteries were Deka batteries by East Penn. Don't know if that's still the case. Just like I heard that at one time Napa filters were Wix.

I one time got a NOS IH oil seal there when I ordered the Napa number. Go figure.

Anyway, if you can find a retailer for East Penn/Deka, that's the best battery I've ever had, and it's the only one I'll buy anymore. Highest quality and 100% American.