re: NAPA??

["Dave C." <conner@cfm.ohio-state.edu>]

Adam wrote:
Ok, how do so many of you find so many good parts at NAPA?  All the NAPA
stores I've ever seen (I'm in Massachusetts) are just crappy, old,
understocked neighborhood auto parts stores that bought franchise rights to
use the NAPA name.   
Custom hose manufacturing?  Special application tools?  Forget about it!   I'd
be lucky to find a replacement oil filter in these stores. 
Are NAPA stores in other parts of the country any different?

Listers,
I forget not everyone is as fortunate as me :-)
Actually yes, some NAPA stores are different.  It turns out the nearest one
to me, about one mile away, is also their regional distribution center.
The store is quite large and attached to it is a several hundred thousand
square foot warehouse.  Sometimes when the guy leaves to get a part it
takes him a while to return.  They even have a machine shop where they do
everything including engine rebuilds, with a glass window for spectators.
Strangely though...when I asked for the drag link socket the main store
here was out of stock on it but quickly checked and found it was available
at the next closest store.  Which actually looked a lot like the crappy
ones you describe in Massachussetts.

Dave C.
Columbus, OH