• From: Mini-so-ta
  • Registered: 2010-09-08
  • Posts: 1,181

Re: Advance Auto Buys Carquest. Discuss.

My local auto parts buying process has basically become the following:

1. Look up part on all the local parts stores' websites, see who has it in stock for the best price
2. Add part to cart, use a coupon code if I can find one, order part for in-store pickup
3. Go to store, ask for the part I ordered, leave

When it comes to online parts shopping experience, Advance is one of the best. CarQuest is just about the worst. So, if this buyout this leads to a better website for Carquest, or Carquest parts in Advance's online inventory, that would be a win for me.

Former chief proprietor and lead bad idea generator of Binford "More Power" Racing, 2010-2013: humbly self-proclaimed the best Chevy Beretta in Lemons history.
  • From: Iowa
  • Registered: 2010-04-20
  • Posts: 2,660

Re: Advance Auto Buys Carquest. Discuss.

I like my arrangement... Teammate is a garage owner... He's got a guy that works for NAPA and delivers... Also has lots of other guys that deliver.  I just ask for what I/we need and it's there!  Magic!!!

LemonAid - Changing kids lives one lap at a time.
  • From: Green Bay WI
  • Registered: 2013-11-07
  • Posts: 40

Re: Advance Auto Buys Carquest. Discuss.

It would be nice if the Advance pricing goes to Carquest.  My closest store is a carquest, but even with a business account, they are still priced higher then anyone else.  The advance's around here tend to actually have good staff, and a low turnover rate on employees.  Some guys have been working there 10-15 years.  The online store works pretty good too, just placed an order before I jumped on here. 
I like Oreilly because they keep a lot of holley and other performance parts on hand, that you can only find at a race shop or online.
Autozone is avoided at all costs.

Captain- PDank Pedal Pushers
Popped my LeMon at Chubba Cheddar 2013
'96 Camo Cavalier
www.facebook.com/pdankracing
  • From: Cincinnati, OH
  • Registered: 2010-03-27
  • Posts: 605

Re: Advance Auto Buys Carquest. Discuss.

Funny thing - the closest Advance to me has its own standalone location that has been open for about seven years.  Directly across the street, a Carquest inside a shopping center only lasted three years.

I don't prefer one over the other, personally.

Proud supporter of the "Bring A Sterling To Lemons" Foundation

I'll make it to an actual race one of these days.  Until then...

Lemony_Snicket's Website

  • From: Baltimore, MD
  • Registered: 2010-05-20
  • Posts: 1,745

Re: Advance Auto Buys Carquest. Discuss.

Good: There are about to be a lot of 'Private Label' parts for cheap on Rockauto because it's cheaper to liquidate than rebox everything.

Bad: Where the hell else am I going to hand a pair of driveshaft yokes to a guy with literally no forearms and say "I need a U-joint that fits this. The one in the catalog is wrong" and actually get one?

At the rate Napas are getting dumbed down, I'm pretty sure we're about to hit a point where it's not possible to buy weird parts unless you know the P/N in advance - and none of the manufacturers publish detailed catalogs where us end-users can get them. Hell, we're lucky to get bullshit "Application guides".

Driver, Pit Monkey, Rod Buster and Engine Fire Starter
Team FinalGear
  • m610
  • m610
  • Lemons Staff Stalker
  • Offline
  • From: Esparto, CA
  • Registered: 2009-12-12
  • Posts: 2,666

Re: Advance Auto Buys Carquest. Discuss.

None of these places have any parts I'd need except for generic things like oil filters and in-line fuel filters. I took the Tinyvette to our O'Reilly's and the young-uns where checking it out, then the guy at the register asked me what it was and I said "Corvette", and he relayed that to his friends in the parking lot. I don't fault them for not knowing what an Opel is but, sheesh, a Corvette? (Saying it is a Ferrari works on some people, too.)

NAPA helps with the parts I need and the fluids and sticky stiff I put between the hard stuff. I get pretty good discounts from them but haven't been able to convince them to deliver to my place yet, although they did do that once.

We don't have a CarQuest or Auto Zone or Advance in town.

Momentum is a terrible thing to waste.
24 Hours of Lemons on Vimeo, Team Tinyvette on Facebook, Team Tinyvette

m610's Website