Quote Originally Posted by J. Robinson View Post
We used to have an old NAPA store here with counter people who had been in the business for years, but it closed about a year ago when the owner retired and sold the property. I only go to the parts store if I have to these days. I get almost everything online whenever possible.
We had the same here, Jim, an old guy who had had his NAPA store forever and only had one guy who worked for him on Sundays and if he happened to need to be away. He only used the computer to generate the receipts, and to alert the warehouse on what he'd sold. He just used his books, and he knew them like the back of his hand. When I was doing the '33 I stopped in and told him that I had a heater hose that came off of a bulkhead, turned 90 and then reduced from 3/4" to 5/8". "How long do you need it after the 90? Gates makes that hose, but the reduced straight part is only 24" long. Will that work?" Not only would it work, it was made to order! He retired, shut down the store and another guy brought in a "new NAPA" that's OK, but not near the same. The books are only good if you know what's in them!