any input on checkers, kragen,schucks,or murrays auto parts?

Answer 1

checkers, schucks, kragan and murrays are all owned by the same company (commonly called CSK in the automotive world). if you are asking about the actual parts, the main ones are autolite and bosch. they do carry other vendors and they have a much better ordering system than pep boys (who i also used to work for)... but i'm not sure exactly what you are asking.


EDIT: wow, i can understand the frustration that Firecop is expressing, but please don't group every one who worked there into the same category because that is absolutely incorrect. yes, there were a few young kids that really didn't know a lot about cars, but they were more than willing to ask the more experienced workers questions. NONE of us were thrown through a class and then deemed ASE certified. that's not how ASE's work, they are not so simple to attain, please don't belittle the ASE's in such a fashion. in my store, in the 6 months i worked there, there were only 2 kids that came in that didn't know squat. one of them was actually about to start school to learn about cars and the other was essentially hired as a warm body because we lost someone. everyone else there had personal experience working on cars for at least 1 year (i think i was probably the most inexperienced having only 3 years in the automotive industry and only about 15 months working on cars). remember that making assumptions and generalizations is the wrong way to go and actually can make you look very ignorant.

that being said, it wasn't uncommon for us to send customers to napa or some of the other mom and pop shops to get parts instead of ordering them to keep the shops in business.

Answer 2

They are all owned by the same company and they hire kids off the street, put them through a 4 hour class, and call them ASE certified. It takes a little more than a four hour class to know what the hell you're talking about. I live in northern Cali. My father has owned a Napa Auto Parts store for 15 years. I have worked there for 10 yrs. and we had a Kragen move into town about 5 years ago. We still get customers coming in saying that those guys at Kragen don't know $hit. Independently owned auto parts stores is the way to go if you want experience and knowledge.

Answer 3

as in what? they sponser 2 cool top fuel funnycars. its a parts store just like napa,pep boys, auto zone etc. but theres none of those checker/schucks/kragen chains up here in northern illinois.

Answer 4

Chain auto part stores are fine for accessories and basic maintenance supplies such as fluids, filters, cleaners, and waxes, but my 23 years as an auto service professional have tought me to rely on independently owned stores (i.e. NAPA or AUTO VALUE) and/or dealerships to provide the experienced counterpersons that can get the correct and quality repair parts I need.

Answer 5

Wherever you go, Go directly to the parts counter, typically the checkout people and people stocking the store don't know enough to answer questions. I like Kragens and pepboys.

Answer 6

Pretty good arguments.