What is your best experience of buying parts your own vehicle?

Most consistent auto parts retail experience is Advance Auto going back to the day before they were even called Advance Auto. Never gave me the wrong part, have ordered special items like stainless steel mufflers from them, they speak English, they don't hire people who have never worked in or been trained in auto repair industry (to the best of my knowledge). Too many retailers just don't hire people who know anything about the auto repair industry or know how to do anything, period. Like some places hire anyone who walks in the door. Yikes!

E Bay and Autohause Arizona in 0wned a 1964 220 Mercedes Banz and a 1987 Mercedes Benz both sites sell parts at great prices

I ordered them.

They arrived.

They fitted.

When I bought the cheapest wiper blades and they lasted 4 years. The high-priced ones usually need replacing annually.

NAPA. Cheap. And it is humbling when the hottie girl at the counter knows more about batteries and oil filters than you.

Letting the mechanic get them so he can warranty his work.

Amazon has parts for every vehicle I own, even the 1929 Ford.

Subcontracting it

I buy my parts online. I shop around for the best price and it's usually delivered free. Most stuff is half the price a dealership would charge.

I went into a parts chain store for a clamp when my motor home broke down in Nakusp, British Columbia and was told by the guy at the counter it would take two days to bring it in. Another customer told me he had an old chevy he kept for parts and went home to get the clamp for me.

I bought him lunch.