In the trucking bible, chrome is next to godliness. I'm a chrome junkie. I am an addict. I don't want rehab.
In pursuit of the almighty chrome, I have visited many chrome shops. I am a regular customer of two, and will be trying out another one here shortly.
From the infamous ones in Wyldwood, Joplin, and Walcott to the less known ones in Phoenix, Bald Knob, West Memphis and other parts of the world, I've seen a lot. We are huge fans of Trux and Rockwood, which are pretty much available at all of the shops. All of the shops have one thing in common; they all carry chrome and lights. The differences are in customer service, overall friendliness, pricing, and stock.
I have drivers and their wives ask me where we got this or where they should go. I will go ahead and publicly tell you so that it is well known. I will never send a driver to somewhere I won't go.
The worst instances have been infuriating at best. I never drop less than a couple hundred dollars at any place we go. We are now starting anew with our truck, and I won't tolerate nonsense on going to all new parts. I have been allowed to stand there like a lost crackhead for over 30 minutes in three separate chrome shops, never once being asked if I need help. In one, once I walked up to ask if they would give me advice, I was sighed at and made to feel like I was a burden to them. We walked away without a single piece of chrome. At all 3 of the lost crackhead stores, they were all in a hurry to leave the customer wanting advice, after having employees pass them up while they were trying to find someone available, at least six times.
All but one commit highway robbery on chrome. I refuse to pay $9 for what I know Josh has available for $5. If a small chrome shop has it that cheap, a major chrome shop, with a bigger wholesale contract, should have it cheaper.
Can't smile at me? Don't expect me to come back. I refuse to shop at a place that thinks the customers need them. Newsflash! The customers buy your parts, allowing you to work there. (For the less intelligent, the customers are your boss, they pay you.) I will not be snarled at (this happened at the sigher mentioned two paragraphs up). I am a human, I have money in my pocket, and want to be treated the same whether I intend to spend $10 or $1000.
I will now tell you the two I frequent and why I frequent them.
THE CHROME SHOP IN BALD KNOB, AR
WOW is the best way to describe this place! The best prices around. Josh and Roger are the main ones we deal with there. Josh owns the shop, and is there most of the time. He came out, looked at the truck, and grabbed a shopping basket. He knows my budget when I walk through the door, and hands the baskets of stuff over. I trust him with our truck. He is very knowledgeable on what he sales and DOT regs on the extra lights. He will warn you if you're a woman not to roam around Bald Knob at night due to safety reasons (that right there earned instant loyalty toward him). They will bust your balls while joking with you, and can handle getting what they dish out. They treat you well even if you don't intend to spend any money (I saw it myself). They truly have southern hospitality. If Josh doesn't have it, he will special order it for you. His specials make some of the pieces so low that even the Ramen noodle truck driver can afford chrome. He can do installation, and ships free to anywhere in the continental U.S. If you stop in, tell him his favorite pain in the ass says hi.
DANNY'S BIG RIG OASIS IN PHOENIX, AZ
These poor guys are always getting their balls busted by me, whether it be Kevin being put on camera for an interview he's totally unprepared for, Gabe getting messed with for his term "Molly Whop," Chris having me demand his presence like I own the place if there's an issue, or the polisher with the nickname Pinche Pindejo for what he called my headache rack. They have the absolute best truck wash in the nation, and their 67th street location has the best polishers in the southwest. Fresh food is available at their main location, and I love the breakfast burritos. (Walk across the street to eat at Denny's and you're an idiot.) You will be treated like family. Also, the driver lounges have the most comfortable seating I have ever seen. The washer and dryer are either $1 or $1.50.........cheapest you can see nowadays. We've had pow wows at their facility. Last time, it was 15 of us meeting there and grilling out without issue. They are pay to park with security on premises. Security are characters there. I will tell anyone to go there, enjoy your visit, and get an "Old Chrome Gangster shirt. (Make sure to give Chris McDermott hell for me while there.)
Good luck in your own chrome pursuit!
In pursuit of the almighty chrome, I have visited many chrome shops. I am a regular customer of two, and will be trying out another one here shortly.
From the infamous ones in Wyldwood, Joplin, and Walcott to the less known ones in Phoenix, Bald Knob, West Memphis and other parts of the world, I've seen a lot. We are huge fans of Trux and Rockwood, which are pretty much available at all of the shops. All of the shops have one thing in common; they all carry chrome and lights. The differences are in customer service, overall friendliness, pricing, and stock.
I have drivers and their wives ask me where we got this or where they should go. I will go ahead and publicly tell you so that it is well known. I will never send a driver to somewhere I won't go.
The worst instances have been infuriating at best. I never drop less than a couple hundred dollars at any place we go. We are now starting anew with our truck, and I won't tolerate nonsense on going to all new parts. I have been allowed to stand there like a lost crackhead for over 30 minutes in three separate chrome shops, never once being asked if I need help. In one, once I walked up to ask if they would give me advice, I was sighed at and made to feel like I was a burden to them. We walked away without a single piece of chrome. At all 3 of the lost crackhead stores, they were all in a hurry to leave the customer wanting advice, after having employees pass them up while they were trying to find someone available, at least six times.
All but one commit highway robbery on chrome. I refuse to pay $9 for what I know Josh has available for $5. If a small chrome shop has it that cheap, a major chrome shop, with a bigger wholesale contract, should have it cheaper.
Can't smile at me? Don't expect me to come back. I refuse to shop at a place that thinks the customers need them. Newsflash! The customers buy your parts, allowing you to work there. (For the less intelligent, the customers are your boss, they pay you.) I will not be snarled at (this happened at the sigher mentioned two paragraphs up). I am a human, I have money in my pocket, and want to be treated the same whether I intend to spend $10 or $1000.
I will now tell you the two I frequent and why I frequent them.
THE CHROME SHOP IN BALD KNOB, AR
WOW is the best way to describe this place! The best prices around. Josh and Roger are the main ones we deal with there. Josh owns the shop, and is there most of the time. He came out, looked at the truck, and grabbed a shopping basket. He knows my budget when I walk through the door, and hands the baskets of stuff over. I trust him with our truck. He is very knowledgeable on what he sales and DOT regs on the extra lights. He will warn you if you're a woman not to roam around Bald Knob at night due to safety reasons (that right there earned instant loyalty toward him). They will bust your balls while joking with you, and can handle getting what they dish out. They treat you well even if you don't intend to spend any money (I saw it myself). They truly have southern hospitality. If Josh doesn't have it, he will special order it for you. His specials make some of the pieces so low that even the Ramen noodle truck driver can afford chrome. He can do installation, and ships free to anywhere in the continental U.S. If you stop in, tell him his favorite pain in the ass says hi.
DANNY'S BIG RIG OASIS IN PHOENIX, AZ
These poor guys are always getting their balls busted by me, whether it be Kevin being put on camera for an interview he's totally unprepared for, Gabe getting messed with for his term "Molly Whop," Chris having me demand his presence like I own the place if there's an issue, or the polisher with the nickname Pinche Pindejo for what he called my headache rack. They have the absolute best truck wash in the nation, and their 67th street location has the best polishers in the southwest. Fresh food is available at their main location, and I love the breakfast burritos. (Walk across the street to eat at Denny's and you're an idiot.) You will be treated like family. Also, the driver lounges have the most comfortable seating I have ever seen. The washer and dryer are either $1 or $1.50.........cheapest you can see nowadays. We've had pow wows at their facility. Last time, it was 15 of us meeting there and grilling out without issue. They are pay to park with security on premises. Security are characters there. I will tell anyone to go there, enjoy your visit, and get an "Old Chrome Gangster shirt. (Make sure to give Chris McDermott hell for me while there.)
Good luck in your own chrome pursuit!
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