Is your FLAPS disappearing, ...or generally a waste of time Options

[914werke]

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/mad.gif) I remember when there were multiple differing parts suppliers including 1 or 2 thriving hot rod shops. Now its down to 2 or 3 which ALL carry the same thing & are staffed with a revolving barrel of monkeys. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/chair.gif)
The interweb & Amazon have killed your corner auto parts store.
I had a Worldpac account until even Redline weber started limiting the ACVW stuff they carried. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/hissyfit.gif)

[bbrock]

Interesting thread on a topic I hadn't thought much about, but yeah, FLAPS have really changed. Gone are the old FLAPS that included a service garage where the guys doing the wrenching were also helping at the counter. That guy probably already knew what you drove and something of your history with it. Gone also are the specialty import parts shops that any town of 30,000 people or larger had where you could pick up all kinds of VW parts from in stock inventory.

Our local NAPA and O'Reilly's still have a few guys and even the occasional gal who know how to wrench and can give decent advice, but they are mixed with staff who don't know the business end of a screw driver so it is luck of the draw. Of course, I also know a lot more about my cars now than I did back in the day, so have less need to seek advice.

Then there is the age of our cars. Our cars are as old now as Model As were back in our glory days when we could pick up lots of parts for our 914s from the FLAPS on a whim. I doubt the Model A guys would have had any better luck finding parts back then than we do now. As has been said, FLAPS are made for modern cars and I"m not sure that has really changed much.

I do miss the stable staff who owned and worked the shop for decades. Had a staff of mechanics always available to help. Wrenched their own cars and raced them on weekends. You don't find that at the FLAPS anymore.