I don’t know how oreillys stays in business!! Absolutely ridiculous!! This is the 4th time they have gave me the wrong part. How can you get something as simple as a u joint wrong?
The one they gave me,, the cup was too big to fit in the yoke ..
Could have busted my yoke trying to pop it in.
This is the last straw!!
Going to federated ( fishers ) tomorrow.. I only went to oreillys because they were the only place open today. I can’t take the wrong u joint back because the splines are bent.

Splines on a u-joint?

Grease and oil are cheaper than parts and labor.

On the inside,, under the cap,, the little bearings that look Like splines

I don't know , I was wondering how AutoZone across the street keeps in business.
cause in my local , the AutoZone makes the O'Reilly's look good
so the only reason you go to either is , it is Sunday , you need it , and if O'Reilly's doesn't have it you drive across the street to AutoZone to see if they have it. I have even had the guy at O'Reilly's call across the street and ask if they had something then send me over there for it if they did.

although I did frequent an AutoZone in MKE a few times this year and yes it was a Sunday and yes I needed it to fix the kids car and yes I performed the repair in the parking lot.

I do have to say , I am absolutely amazed at the STUPID I hear come out of the AZ customers , so I guess that is what keeps them in biz , like to the point I feel sory for the clerk working AZ.

I think every auto parts store needs a sign on the door
" all conversations WILL start with Year , Make , Model , and Engine displacement ! if you don't know that . bring the registration for your car so we can go off the VIN#"

Of course you can take it back.

When I don't need it the day I NEED it, I order from Rock Auto. Have gotten various parts for Audis, Nissans, Chevys, a GMC truck and my old Tacoma with zero problems.
Returning stuff to AZ got old in a hurry.

Did you bring the old one in so you could make sure of what you were buying? With a part such as that u-joint that is the only way to be sure.

Not neccessarily the fault of the store clerk that it doesn't fit.

Btw...I've always referred to those type bearings (in the u-joint cup) as needle bearings.

Just this week I decided I won't shop there again. My battery went bad it was Sunday and they were close. A year and 4 months later it was leaving me sitting after geting off a 16hr shift and having to jump it. Jumped it all week untill the store was open when I was off work. Battery was bad and they replaced it under warranty. Exactly a year and 4 months later I get a repeat. Stoped in and had them.check the battery and alternator they said they were good battery was just low on charge. WELL HAD to jump it again to get to work and again when I got off. Stoped at Napa on the way home it was now Monday morning and they were open. and they gave me a print out battery was infact bad.

On my way back to oreillys to see if the warranted replacement had a warranty I called tem trying ro speed up the process. It's been a week of 16hr shifts and I was not wanting ro stand around in their store.

The replacement battery was not warranted as I figured and expected. I calmly told the guy we'll I don't think I will buy another battery there considering 2 in a roll have not lasted a year and a half.

He got loud and smart telling me to go down. to autozone and buy one of the used ones they buy from them.and hung up. I thought about going down there and seeing how would like to tell me that in person. But decided Nothing would get accomplished and realized how dumb it was to let some unhappy retail employee likely having a bad day get under my skin and let it go. Well mostly I left a review on Google and won't shop there again.

They were my go to if Napa was not open . Had to many junk and wrong parts given to me from autozone in the past. Nothing like geting someone to drive 45 min to pick you up and take you to the parts store only to find out they gave you a passenger side caliper not a driver's side like you asked after your ride has left and your back home stranded.

I would not want a parts job now some folks are Clueless on how to order parts. The D50 page I’m on folks say they need a part no year, motor, trans info sometimes just a photo of the truck that’s it. If they don’t make the effort I’m not going to figure it out for them.

Here all you here is we have it in Sioux Falls be here tomorrow morning but that’s not so bad.

Correct terminology

I buy stuff there because they are open longer than auto value.

I call em Oh Really's.

"You sold me the wrong part."
"Oh, really?"

Oh, oh, oh,... Oh Really's... We got the wrong parts!
^^ (The song from their ad.)

I feel educated now.. lol,, not cap,, but cup.

Hahahahahaha!!!

I like Napa better than the others, their employees are more knowledgeable, helpful and of a better caliber. Unfortunately they closed the Napa in Urbana, near me.

Keith

Napa for me

foxkidd44 , I wish I could help you more. Years ago , I had a job here.

We made new driveshafts , repaired some , I sold over 250 U-joints a month on average. All different types and sizes.

I used to be able with the measurements alone find the correct part for your application.

Used to hit Pep Boys back in the day in Penna.
Manny, Moe and Jack!

I use federated. Good guys there that know what they are doing. Some stuff might be a little more. But I never have to go back and return the wrong parts.

I just reread your original post. If the only problem you are having is getting the cups in and it is real close and looks like the proper part is in your hand but doesn't want to go , check the size of your cup to the size of the bore with some dial calipers. If it is only off a few thousands your problem may be the yoke needs to be cleaned up , surfaces smoothed and any ridges removed. Very , very common problem when fitting a new U-joint to an old yoke.

First time in O Riley's they said we give a veteran's discount. Great I said, so next time I went in they said oh we only give a veterans discount on certain items. Last time I went in there.

Around here we have O'Reilly's and Auto Zone.
Auto Zone can't find their arse with both hands, it's almost a guarantee that you will get the wrong part.
O'REILLY'S is usually decent. But don't buy their electric fuel pumps. They're JUNK.
We also have a NAPA/Benware. I can't afford to buy parts from them anymore.
I get most of my parts from O'Reilly's, needless to say

And how exactly would that work for people that say, have Tundra brakes on their first gen Tacoma?

My method is to figure out the part number on my own, then go in and ask for the part number. If it is the wrong part it is on me

I get corporate discount pricing at the Napa by my plant. The plant buys a lot from them and extends the discounts to us. I don't know it is so much off different items or a flat line % off the total but it saved my $5 off the 1200 w battery jump box I bought last week. That was around 100$

a parts store is only as good as the folks they hire to run it. I double check everything b4 I leave. better yet I do order some stuff right off their website an have it rdy to be picked up at local store. (I've got a better chance at ordering the right part)

Rock auto if I can wait. Oreilly’s if I can’t. I have to know what part is needed. Dealership parts require the vin for a reason. To know exactly what is needed.

Take the old u jolt and match is only way.

Be sure old cup came out with old U Joint.

How in the heck did you bend a needle bearing?????

"Correct terminology"

That is where I am at today with starter wire.
Not the 2 ga cable but the little ones.
It is part of the job and I WILL win lol.

I had a ford ranger that I could never remember the brake size. They always asked is it the 7" or 9" , or something to that effect. I always guessed and had to make another trip back in to get the right one. Heres an idea, make an 8" brake for all of them......

Followed by.

I work on and build old trucks. I wouldn't even dream about going to any auto parts store without the old u-joint in hand. I'd bring the yoke too if I could, and dial calipers

So true. Buutttttt..... don't underestimate the general public.......yeesh.......

Years ago I worked at a Dodge dealership as a service writer. Big part of the job was filling out the repair order with the customer. Standard stuff , name , address , phone number and what service they needed on done on their car.

Then the tough questions.....

" What model year car ? "
Cust - " Oh , this year "
Translation, it could be a 2025 , 2024 , or even a leftover 2023 that finally got sold. But to their owners , it was ' this year ' because it was new in the owner's eyes.

" What model of car is it ?
Cust - " It's a Dodge "
Meanwhile I'm thinking hmmmmm.....I work in a Dodge dealership and see 95% work go through my shop , Dodge.
A lot of people have no idea what model car they own.

"Licence plate ? "
Cust - " ???? I gotta go look "
Forgivable. Lots of people don't know their license plate number. Not a big deal. But smart people when bringing a car in for service would know to bring that information and the mileage.

And the best for last.........

About 1 out of 75-100 customers would fail this question -

" What color is your car? "

God's honest truth , about 1 out of 75-100 people would have to walk outside to glance at their car and immediately come to tell you it was X color. Plus , just looking for a basic color not gunmetal shade or other, just call it gray or silver on the repair order. It was kinda like they knew what their car looked like remembering a face , but could not describe it. Not even able to name of any color group . Once you asked them the question , it kinda fixed the glitch in their brain and from that day forward they knew the car's color. No one probably ever asked them before.