I went to NAPA this morning and had an experience filled with wonder and enchantment. “At NAPA?”, you may ask. Yes, dear reader, at NAPA Auto in none other than Prescott, Arizona.
Prior to beginning my journey to the land of affordable auto parts, I checked to make sure they had what I needed. Online inventory confirmations are a thing of beauty.
Upon arriving to the store, there were two gentlemen having a conversation behind the desk. This is where the enchantment begins. By some form of magic, I’d evidently had an invisibility charm placed upon me as they had not even the slightest inkling of my presence.
Rather than using my newfound powers for mischief, I politely got their attention by saying “Good morning! Would you mind grabbing something from the back for me?” The stunned looks on their faces were priceless. “Where did he come from?!”, they must have thought.
I soon became aware that their powers vastly exceeded my own. And this, my friend, is truly a thing of wonder. Rather than replying to my question, it seemed that he was trying to communicate with me telepathically. The intensity in his eyes was something to behold.
In an admission of my inferior magical capabilities, I asked the question again though bit more meekly this time. I believe he understood the subtext of my lack of telepathy as he replied, further asserting his superior capabilities, by saying “We don’t have that.”
Filled with awe and wonder, I had to ask “You know everything you have in stock without needing to look it up?” Though he was profoundly confident is his knowledge of each individual item on the shelves of the modest warehouse he stood in front of, I lacked that same confidence.
I asked, firm in my resolve that the online inventory hadn’t let me down in the past, for him to look it up anyway. I didn’t want to offend his sense of pride in his knowledge but my curiosity was far too strong.
I bowed my head down to my phone and enlarged the part number for his ease of use. In that moment, his intense focus returned. It seemed as if he was trying to nonverbally communicate with me again. My powers had clearly not grown enough since his last attempt as the only message I could hear in my mind was deeply insulting. Surely a trusted employee of this fine establishment would never say such a thing.
Concerned that something might be preventing him from seeing the enlarged part number on my phone, I read it aloud to him. With swift fingers, the man punched in a series of numbers that I’d hitherto been unaware were at all connected to the part I was looking for. If I hadn’t previously been aware of his vast knowledge beyond that of my own meager understanding, I’d have at once assumed this behavior to have been a placating insult to my intelligence.
Alas, despite the NAPA wizard’s best efforts, immense knowledge and power, we were unable to locate the part in the warehouse that the malicious online inventory had misled me to believe would surely be there.
Nonetheless, I left the store filled with a sense of wonder. Nay, amazement is what I felt. Never before had I witnessed such a display.
I ventured across the street to O’Reilly Auto whose wizards were able to find this part and understood my unfortunate and underdeveloped telepathic power.
I will always remember the wizard of NAPA and think of him fondly when I shop across the street at O’Reilly Auto for all of my future needs.
I've always find myself at Napa auto parts when having trouble with my vehicle, very disappointed with the outcome of last encounter at parts store. First let me say the parts always work and at a good price. They are willing to offer encouragement, as well as good advice. I lost my receipt for a part that wasn't right. It was still in a sealed package. Counter person said no deal. we all work hard for our money. I just left the part, maybe they need the money. No way to treat a veteran who was born here in Prescott.
