Parts of a whole, Part 2 - Finding the right person.

In our Part 1, we discussed different types of auto parts stores and their advantages and disadvantages. Now, let's talk about how to find your parts store that will be "home base" for all of your car projects, and how you can build a healthy relationship with them that will reap rewards for years to come.

First, selection. Finding a good parts store is all about finding the right people. For this reason, I usually prefer to shop around at company-independent stores or at true independent stores. Since these stores typically only have a few employees, they will usually tend to employ people for longer periods of time and will have more knowledgeable, experienced help.

Being a good parts counterperson is more than just about experience and knowledge, though. It's a job that requires one to love the thrill of the hunt and to be able to collate a great deal of information - after all, there have been thousands of makes and models of cars built over the years, and every one of them has a different set of pieces that make it a whole.

Here's what you should look for in a counterperson, ranked by number:

1. Reliability. Restorers often find themselves having to special order parts, and are dependent on parts coming in at the right time. Thus, if a counterperson says they're going to order something, and then don't follow through, they aren't worth dealing with. Forgetful parts people are the bane of every restorer's existence, often delaying projects a great deal. Also, if a parts person tells you a part is going to cost X price, that price shouldn't go up. If the part comes in at a higher price and they refuse to make any attempt to rectify the situation, they're probably not worth dealing with.

   Here's the quick and easy test of reliability of a parts person. Find a part for your modern car - something like a K+N air filter, an accessory that you've been wanting for a long time, or something fairly routine and mundane that you know is easy to find. Test your prospective counterperson with this item. If they pass that test, you know that they merit further investigation. If it's late, or costs more than they initially said (and you can cheat a little and check internet prices), forget them and move on to the next candidate.

2. Thoroughness. A parts person has to be able to keep track of multiple orders for many vehicles, and must have a good knowledge of how cars work. Sometime, in a busy parts store, stand back and watch the parts people behind the counter. It's been my experience that the best parts people have a paper pad and pen as an extension of one of their hands. They write down every customer's request and order so that they won't forget. A few are able to work effectively from memory, but most good ones are fully willing to admit that they can't. The person you want is the one who's writing the most.
3. Doggedness. Tracking down strange parts for old cars requires a lot of in-depth searching. Your prospective counterperson should know what resources are available, and should never ever tell you that they can't find something instantly. Every good parts person should tell you that, while they may not have the part in stock, they'll be willing to do some checking around and see what they can find. If they can't find it, they'll usually apologize and recommend another source. If your prospective person doesn't do this, they're usually not worth your business.
4. Interest. The field of auto parts isn't a particularly glamorous or high-paying field. Therefore, most people get into it because they're interested in cars, but this isn't always the case. Like most people, most parts people will work harder if they think something is fun or interesting. They'll be more likely to spend extra time working on finding parts for your projects if they think that they are neat. If they're not a car person, it's not likely that you're going to get the stuff you want. To test this, take one of your finished projects (or maybe not so finished) to the parts store and see what their reaction is. Don't be pushy about it - usually just driving the car there and mentioning it is enough to pique any car person's interest. If they don't seem to care (and they're not busy), they're probably not going to go the extra mile for you.

If you find a parts person with all of those, you should rejoice - they are rare. However, I should add that there are a few common misconceptions about "good" parts people that often lead to disaster.

First, don't have any preconceived notions about what your parts person should look like. While every restorer dreams of finding the grizzled old man who doesn't have a computer and has six of those master cylinders for your 1942 Gee-Whizmobile, (and it's only $3.95, just like the box says!), the reality of the matter is that those people don't exist anymore.

Often, people will pass over a good parts person just because they are young. At a parts store that I worked at for many years, the proprietor had been in the business for over forty years. Most customers, on looking for parts for their antique cars, were surprised when he pointed them to me - at the time, I was 18. But I had been working on antique cars for a long time, and knew of a lot more sources for specialized components than my veteran boss did. It wasn't so much a matter of age as experience that won the bet.

More, one of the best parts professionals I know is a woman. Women are typically, of course, very rare in the automotive field in general, and so men tend to be unnaturally distrustful of them. In this case, though, I deal exclusively with her and no one else at that store - no one else there reliably gets me the parts I need. She has a good reputation among all the "car guys" around, and all of them tell me they follow the same practice.

Wherever, and whomever, you find to be your "parts person," deserves your full attention, respect, and business. In the next segment, we'll discuss how you should act as a customer, what is appropriate and inappropriate, and how to best foster a positive relationship with your parts person. Until then, happy hunting!