TR3driver said:
kellysguy said:
The thing to rememebr is, the program was written by a programmer, not a parts manufacturer or counterman.
Actually, the issue is not the program, but the contents of the database. And generally, the decision as to what parts to include in the database IS made by the parts manufacturer.
But you're quite right, just because it's not listed doesn't mean it doesn't exist. And vice versa.
It has always been my understand that corporate dictated each company's in house database, i.e, Pepboys, Auto Zone etc.. it's data from the manufactures, but complied by the retail chain.
I had gotten a hold of a major chains software for personal use once, but it wouldn't work unless I was on their network. This was before online look up and they were paranoid about the competition finding out what their prices were. My friend who gave it to me tried to clear it through corporate, and they were fine with it, but I still couldn't use it w/o going through their system.
Doc, you gotta rememeber I'm third gen. We start out REAL young. My aunt tells a funny story from when I was five. My mother and her bought one of those "exersize machines" that try to shake the fat off of you. They got it home and all together, but had one part left over they couldn't figure out where it went. My mother, being the proud parent she is, called over her five year old son and my aunt asked me to figure out where this part went.
I replied, "Aunt JuJu, I don't know how to tell you this, but that's part of the jack for your car." She had taken out the foot of her GM bumper jack. She still talks of it to this day.
When I was 19, I moved to Texas and applied to Chief Auto Parts. I had a n interview with the district and regional managers. We sat down and the DM started laughing while he read my application.
"Son, how old are you?"
"I'm 19."
"It says here you have 14 years of experience."
"Yessir."
"(chuckle) How is that possible son ?!?!?!?!"
"Well, I'm a third genenation tech, my father had his own shop. My grandfather was a mechanic in the Army and was head of vehicle maintenence at Falstaff until he died. He taught my father and my father taught me. We start out VERY young. You're working as soon as you can recognize numbers on tools and get them. Usually age five or so."
( so he decides to try me on for size.)
"Oh, o.k son, what would you do if someone came in here and asked you for a thermostat for a VW Bug?"
"Oh, you mean that little accordian looking bi-metal spring thing that sits between the cylinders and controls the air warm up flaps in the later sytle doghouse? You won't have that, but WE do."
Five minutes later I became the youngest memeber of management in the company's history.