Advance auto parts closing all of its California stores

[Fun Times]

Just a quick FYI for any of the cheap inmates that sometimes may want to buy something automotive but then say to themselves, maybe later, to pricey right now and I don't really need it just yet. (Or is that just me? )

When I walked into an Advance Auto this evening looking for something really quick, I thought wow the lines are really long, I then noticed the everything must go signs at 30% to 80% off... If you've been wanting something, now may be the time to check...Their open 9:00 PM if that helps.

Advance Auto Parts closing all of its California stores in major restructuring

The auto supply company, with more than 150 stores in California. is closing all its locations n the state and hundreds of others across the west.

www.desertsun.com

 

[TPC]

Didn't they buy-out & take over Pep Boys awhile back?

 

[Fun Times]

I believe one of the signs said Pep-Boys is staying open but closing AA, but don't fully quote me on that as I didn't pay it too much attention at the time as I could be off base with that news.

 

[hav19]

In Havasu Carquest/Advanced auto parts got bought out and is now a NAPA - truly sucks, ever since the scamdemic NAPA has been going down hill……Hopefully it’s just a Havasu Thing but I bet other shop owners are not in favor of losing Carquest Auto Parts!!!

 

[DarkHorseRacing]

Pep Boys? They sold off their parts business, and are just a service center now. At least in CA.

I used to go to them all the time. Now I have to go to Auto Zone.

 

[TimeBandit]

I stopped by advance the other day when I saw the 20% off sign. They had a new battery for my Yukon, $200 compared to $109 at Costco so....

I like old school parts stores, there is just one left I know of, All car parts on Vanowen at Canoga in Canoga Park.

 

[petie6464]

In Havasu Carquest/Advanced auto parts got bought out and is now a NAPA - truly sucks, ever since the scamdemic NAPA has been going down hill……Hopefully it’s just a Havasu Thing but I bet other shop owners are not in favor of losing Carquest Auto Parts!!!

Really shitty, Going to be as hard to find parts here as it is to find a decent meal..

 

[Bpracing1127]

I need an water pump for a Chevy 350

What is the year, make and model sir?

Idk 350 small block…..

Ummm so is it a 2020? 2010?

It’s a 1985

Chevy, ford, Toyota?

Chevy……

Ok long bed or short bed.?


What the fuck does that have to with a water pump? ….. fine shortbed

Ok 2/4 door and 2/4 wheel drive?

Fuck it. I’ll buy it on Amazon or auto parts websites…..

No wonder they are closing

 

[lbhsbz]

Didn't they buy-out & take over Pep Boys awhile back?

Carl Icon bought Pep Boys years ago...while he owned federal mogul...the goal was to vertically integrate....run everything from the parts factories all the way to the installer. It didn't work well. Pep Boys split into a parts business and a service business. Advance / Carquest bought the Pep Boys parts stores and the Service business went to someone else as a separate entity. Pep Boys has been out of the parts business since about 2019. Carquest also bought World Pac at some point, and just sold them.

 

[hallett21]

I need an water pump for a Chevy 350

What is the year, make and model sir?

Idk 350 small block…..

Ummm so is it a 2020? 2010?

It’s a 1985

Chevy, ford, Toyota?

Chevy……

Ok long bed or short bed.?


What the fuck does that have to with a water pump? ….. fine shortbed

Ok 2/4 door and 2/4 wheel drive?

Fuck it. I’ll buy it on Amazon or auto parts websites…..

No wonder they are closing

Tried getting a relay one time. Never again lol.

 

[GRADS]

Where are all the tweakers going to hangout now?

 

[lbhsbz]

I need an water pump for a Chevy 350

What is the year, make and model sir?

Idk 350 small block…..

Ummm so is it a 2020? 2010?

It’s a 1985

Chevy, ford, Toyota?

Chevy……

Ok long bed or short bed.?


What the fuck does that have to with a water pump? ….. fine shortbed

Ok 2/4 door and 2/4 wheel drive?

Fuck it. I’ll buy it on Amazon or auto parts websites…..

No wonder they are closing

Stop being difficult.

The cataloging system is laid out the way it is because it has to deal with more than a damn waterpump. The goal of all the dropdowns (the "stupid" questions they're asking you) is to drill down to exactly what vehicle you have, at which point everything from brakes, chassis parts, driveline, etc can be looked up correctly. All lines and brands of parts are combined into one big electronic catalog database. This is how it has to work.

Back in the day when there was a paper catalog just for waterpumps, they didn't need to ask all those questions because none of it mattered for the waterpump and that's all that was in the book....but we're past where books can be effective.

Example, back in the late 90s, a full line brake catalog that covered from the '30s to current (98 or so) was about a 2" thick book. 8 years ago when we published our last paper catalog....we have four of them for current coverage from '30s....plus another for medium duty, 4 more for illustrations, etc....Now multiply that buy all the different product lines and all the difference manufacturers (5 or so major brake suppliers alone) and you'd need a whole damn warehouse just for the paper books. Or, you can use one computer.

 

[Desert Whaler]

There's an Advance Auto / Pep Boys near me on Brookurst in HB. . . but the only time I go there is to drop off old oil.
There's also a 'Vato-Zone' two blocks up the street . . . but I only go in there as a last resort.
It seems alll those type of places have really gone downhill . . . shocking.

 

[Rennsport]

I worked at real parts / speed shops - a few of them in high school. Didn’t sell air fresheners or cheap go karts. Just auto parts. Later so disappointed in the newer crop of stores where the parts people didn’t know shit about cars. Relied only on the computers. No wonder they are being sold off or closed. Shame because my son will be working age soon and I thought these are cool places to work as high school jobs. Learned something every day sort of thing. Sucks where our society is heading.

 

[lbhsbz]

It seems alll those type of places have really gone downhill . . . shocking.

The problem with the retail brick and mortor parts business is that there's too many damn part numbers. I specialize in brakes, so I'll use that as an example. From the first ever disc brake pad made to 1999, there existed about 800 different brake pad shapes, many of which had been consolidated, resulting in about 400 numbers for FULL coverage. From 2000-2024, we've added about 2000 more brake pad shapes, for a grand total of around 2500. Most stores are going to stock those in a few different grades. You can see how there's not enough room in a typical retail parts store to stock even full coverage brake pads. Now we can do rotors, calipers, etc....and then all the other stuff....oil filters, tune up parts, electrical, etc...it's simply not possible to have good coverage in a relatively small building.
So, we use the 80/20 rule. 80% of the sales come from 20% of the part numbers. Even that won't fit, so you pick the top 5-10% of fast movers and stock those, keep the next 20% in a local DC, then the rest in a regional DC or just hope the supplier warehouses will keep it on hand. This is why everyone loves Rock Auto....their website is linked to just about every Warehouse Distributor in the aftermarket nationwide....but none of that is helpful when you need something today.

 

[oldman]

I believe one of the signs said Pep-Boys is staying open but closing AA, but don't fully quote me on that as I didn't pay it too much attention at the time as I could be off base with that news.

Around here they rebranded the stores but kept the auto centers as Pepboys.

Was that an aggressive move that back fired? as it is we have a damn auto parts like Starbucks on every corner.

 

[oldman]

Stop being difficult.

The cataloging system is laid out the way it is because it has to deal with more than a damn waterpump. The goal of all the dropdowns (the "stupid" questions they're asking you) is to drill down to exactly what vehicle you have, at which point everything from brakes, chassis parts, driveline, etc can be looked up correctly. All lines and brands of parts are combined into one big electronic catalog database. This is how it has to work.

Back in the day when there was a paper catalog just for waterpumps, they didn't need to ask all those questions because none of it mattered for the waterpump and that's all that was in the book....but we're past where books can be effective.

Example, back in the late 90s, a full line brake catalog that covered from the '30s to current (98 or so) was about a 2" thick book. 8 years ago when we published our last paper catalog....we have four of them for current coverage from '30s....plus another for medium duty, 4 more for illustrations, etc....Now multiply that buy all the different product lines and all the difference manufacturers (5 or so major brake suppliers alone) and you'd need a whole damn warehouse just for the paper books. Or, you can use one computer.

I have a local auto zone that has me figured out, I played the game for awhile and when the dropdowns didn't get us where we needed to be and they started to see the Sh*t boxes I drive, we have a funny relationship.

I walk in and the first question is what are we working on? Meaning what manufacture. The other way we get there is do you have a part number? because I have a diary of nothing but brands and part #'s, also year make and models for as much as I can.

The last go round was 88 monte carlo brakes for a 97 Toyota 4runner. It was a struggle early on, but I need parts and they need to navigate the idiot box to get me there, so I understand that.


I do miss going to the original Clippinger Chevrolet parts counter with the paper catalogs that lined the counter.

 

[Justsomeguy]

I better go grab my glow plugs I ordered today. They only had 1 in stock. I'll run in the morning.

 

[Orange Juice]

I better go grab my glow plugs I ordered today. They only had 1 in stock. I'll run in the morning.

Be sure and ask for the discount.

 

[RitcheyRch]

Our local Adance Auto Parts seemed to be only having clearance on car detailing supplies. Was hoping to get a good deal on a few AGM batteries.

 

[Sleek-Jet]

I hate buying parts off of Amazon, because the algorithm will feed you parts that do not fit, even with a part number. You have to be careful when shopping.

I ended up giving in and creating an account on advanced autos website with my vehicles saved, makes shopping easier and then I just pick up the parts at the store.. I hope they don't close down here in IL, they are my go-to and only about a block-and-a-half from my house.

 

[RitcheyRch]

I hate buying parts off of Amazon, because the algorithm will feed you parts that do not fit, even with a part number. You have to be careful when shopping.

I ended up giving in and creating an account on advanced autos website with my vehicles saved, makes shopping easier and then I just pick up the parts at the store.. I hope they don't close down here in IL, they are my go-to and only about a block-and-a-half from my house.

My understanding is only the Advance Auto Parts stores on the west coast are closing.

 

[Singleton]

My understanding is only the Advance Auto Parts stores on the west coast are closing.

The announcement came with the release of the company's third-quarter report in November.
The closure of more than 700 locations by the middle of 2025 (500 corporate-owned stores plus about 200 independently operated locations).
They currently operate 4500 locations in the US.

 

[Gelcoater]

I need an water pump for a Chevy 350

What is the year, make and model sir?

Idk 350 small block…..

Ummm so is it a 2020? 2010?

It’s a 1985

Chevy, ford, Toyota?

Chevy……

Ok long bed or short bed.?


What the fuck does that have to with a water pump? ….. fine shortbed

Ok 2/4 door and 2/4 wheel drive?

Fuck it. I’ll buy it on Amazon or auto parts websites…..

No wonder they are closing

Every parts counter is like this now.

Was at Malcolm Smith a couple weeks ago. Tell the kid I need intake manifold gaskets for a banshee.

What year?


Take your pick I said. All the same.
Kid looked at me like I’m stupid


Then I tell him I want intake spacers as I’m not going to run stock carbs. Confused again he digs into the computer.
Finally says their distributor doesn’t offer them.
Now I’m confused. What??
They are a pretty common thing.
Nope! They don’t carry them so we can’t get them.
Was the same with the K&N filters for said not stock carbs. Distributor doesn’t carry that part number.

I say, it’s a K&N filter. You don’t sell those?
We do he says, but not that one.
WTF????

I say it sounds like you guys don’t actually run this place, your distributor does. Then ask the kid if he makes commission on sales. He says yes and I ask him Doesn’t this bother you?
I want to buy parts and you want a commission on that sale. But your distributor apparently has you by the nut sack.
He seemed ok with it. I left, saying enjoy this job while you can! Don’t expect it to be around long if I have to order everything from Rocky Mountain, or in the case of those spacers I go home and make them.


Whatever! Over MAlcolm Smith Motor Sports. Or more precisely, their POS distributor.

 

[Backlash]

With all of us being forced into electric vehicles that never need service, why would we need any parts stores??

I used to love Napa as they had a decent assortment of quality parts. There was a machine shop attached, and you could have all sorts of jobs accomplished with one trip. I moved from that area and am not sure if they're still around. The quality at Napa has definitely gone downhill. I skip Vato Zone because none of my cars/trucks have neon underglow lights, chrome fender vents that serve no purpose or curb feelers.

For the last several years, I've been relying on O'Reilly's for everyday stuff. Their quality isn't "The best," but my local business is pretty large and has a huge inventory.

 

[lbhsbz]

With all of us being forced into electric vehicles that never need service, why would we need any parts stores??

I used to love Napa as they had a decent assortment of quality parts. There was a machine shop attached, and you could have all sorts of jobs accomplished with one trip. I moved from that area and am not sure if they're still around. The quality at Napa has definitely gone downhill. I skip Vato Zone because none of my cars/trucks have neon underglow lights, chrome fender vents that serve no purpose or curb feelers.

For the last several years, I've been relying on O'Reilly's for everyday stuff. Their quality isn't "The best," but my local business is pretty large and has a huge inventory.

O'Reilly has an excellent distribution network. I can typically get anything I want within a few hours.

 

[n2otoofast4u]

Every parts counter is like this now.

Was at Malcolm Smith a couple weeks ago. Tell the kid I need intake manifold gaskets for a banshee.

What year?


Take your pick I said. All the same.
Kid looked at me like I’m stupid


Then I tell him I want intake spacers as I’m not going to run stock carbs. Confused again he digs into the computer.
Finally says their distributor doesn’t offer them.
Now I’m confused. What??
They are a pretty common thing.
Nope! They don’t carry them so we can’t get them.
Was the same with the K&N filters for said not stock carbs. Distributor doesn’t carry that part number.

I say, it’s a K&N filter. You don’t sell those?
We do he says, but not that one.
WTF????

I say it sounds like you guys don’t actually run this place, your distributor does. Then ask the kid if he makes commission on sales. He says yes and I ask him Doesn’t this bother you?
I want to buy parts and you want a commission on that sale. But your distributor apparently has you by the nut sack.
He seemed ok with it. I left, saying enjoy this job while you can! Don’t expect it to be around long if I have to order everything from Rocky Mountain, or in the case of those spacers I go home and make them.


Whatever! Over MAlcolm Smith Motor Sports. Or more precisely, their POS distributor.

Stick with a real ATV/UTV performance shop for this stuff. Redline Racing just moved to OK from here in OR and is now moving/moved into the new retail location, but he has this type of stuff in stock and will know wtf you're trying to buy when you call. 541-367-BIKE

 

[Hardly Satisfied]

Didn't they buy-out & take over Pep Boys awhile back?

They took over the warehouse next to my work a few years ago in San Bernardino

 

[dribble]

Then there’s Rock Auto. Last month I needed a brake rotor for my 3/4 ton Dodge Ram. O’reilly, Autozone and Advanced Auto were $130-$150. Rock Auto was $67 shipped and on my porch in two days.

 

[TPC]

The NAPA out here was helpful and had all I needed to service the Allisons and GM diffs and other tasks. Even the magnet that sits on top the Allison spin on trans filter.
They may have folded their Simi location.

Auto repair shops want the part right this minute, right now as well as a good price. NAPA seems to be able to achieve that.

 

[brgrcru]

Use to be a girl at o rileys in Tujunga Sun valley that knew her big block and small block parts .
Her dad taught her well
Anyways she is gone . Back to deer in headlights counter people .

 

[3queens]

Started working at Graves auto in 92
Paper catalogs only
Then Carquest bought Graves in 06 ish
Then Advance bought Carquest corporate stores and World pac

New leader comes in buys pep boys parts stores
Only ones attached to service centers and went gangbusters trying to open new location on top of that
BIG FUCK UP IMOP lost 3.5 billion within 2yrs
Sold WP for 1.5 billion
Basically tried to stop the hemorrhage of money loss
Didn’t help !!!!
Yes ALL west coast stores west of the Rockies are closing
Left the independent stores hanging
From what I hear is most will transform into Napa parts

ALL IN THE NAME OF CORPORATE GREED
New CEO is getting 9.5mil a year to run company to the ground and put thousands of peeps on the street
Including me

But yes now is the time to stock up stores are running out of product and as of this week
70% off on LOTS of stuff

 

[rivermobster]

Who?

 

[Crazyhippy]

Performance parts and accessories for Trucks, Race Cars, Street Cars

CPR Performance Parts for all you race, street or truck performance parts, accessories and service.

www.cprperformanceparts.com

Semi local (for me, fuck California, lol) old school speed shop. The counter guys know their shit, and they keep a decent stock of go fast stuff.

The NAPA on Pickwick in Camarillo used to be run by intelligent people. Not sure if its still the case, but I would drive from Ventura if i needed something.

 

[Waterjunky]

I do most of my parts online at places like Rock Auto or summit. What I don't do there ends up at Napa. The closest real parts store is 20 minutes away. The Napa distribution center for Northern and Central California is only 40 minutes away. Can anyone guess where I usually end up? At least they have it in stock usually. If they don't they can reverse order it from a store in the same time as the store can get it. Otherwise its still coming from a distributor for the manufacturer.

 

[Sportin' Wood]

ALL IN THE NAME OF CORPORATE GREED
New CEO is getting 9.5mil a year to run company to the ground and put thousands of peeps on the street
Including me

Yes.

 

[boatpi]

When you lose $6 million in one quarter ,
Decisions have to be made or you go down with a ship.

 

[3queens]

When you lose $6 million in one quarter ,
Decisions have to be made or you go down with a ship.

I agree with you
BUT
IMOP the buying up pepperonis
In the effort to boost stock back to pandemic price ($200) per share to fool investors then close up shops too fool investors again they got what was coming ($40) per and dropping
I did see the writing on the wall so I’m not that surprised
Just that it is going down so quick is the surprise

 

[boatpi]

Well……anyone remember AA auto parts in Whittier or A Auto parts in La Miranda?

 

[bilz]

Well……anyone remember AA auto parts in Whittier or A Auto parts in La Miranda?

Whittier bl near painter?

 

[FROGMAN524]

Electric cars don’t need parts. Duh!

 

[Ziggy]

My understanding is only the Advance Auto Parts stores on the west coast are closing.

Drove by a several decades old Carquest store yesterday and saw the "everything must go" sale sign. This is not a small strip-mall sized place, it's more like grocery store sized.

 

[Paradox]

Dropped by Pep Boys this Morning. Bought 5 sets of rotors and pads plus some misc. stuff for four of our cars. Saved over $1400. Literally paid just North of $400 for this.

They were only letting 2 people in at a time so had to wait almost 40 minutes.