stimpy

iTrader: (1)

this stuff just isn't happening at the idiot box stores now , the napa around here are hiring some of the tech school know it all drop outs , just had a incident with the local Napa , the kid got fired when I talked to the manager about his B.S. ,the manager KNows I worked for a restoration shop and build weird combinations for my own use or for customers , most of the employees who know me know they are in for a treat if they wait on me ( can be a normal car to a 3.4 L with efi in a cubcadet ( guy likes to mow his lawn quickly and 12 hp wasn't cutting it for him )) , but this bozo was a real winner , spouted off that he was a ASE certified counter pro and I didn't know anything , **** I was a mechanic before he was born , and the testing to be a Cert mechanic are BS if you half a brain ( used to have my certs but never renewed them ), and he violated the #1 rule , never argue with a customer . the customer is always , and I mean it ALWAYS right ...and 2 never start **** with people you don't know they might know your boss real well .( and I knew his boss for 12 years just hadn't been at the store in 6months or so ) as for specialty parts I deal with my local speedshop my freind manages , when I walk in no asks to help me as he greets me by Nickname which means I am a long standing customer and he will help me when he is finished with the one he is helping at the moment, I only have been asked countless times by new countermen if my nickname was really my real name ... I tell them my nickname is the polite greeting as everyone else calls me a**hole ..

stimpy

iTrader: (1)

oh ya to see how smart the counter guy is ask for a thermostat for a 72 Vw superbeetle with a 1600 ,if they laugh and hang up then they are a idiot , there is 2 of them , one on the air baffles and the other on the oil cooler assy, in the shroud . suprised?? I was till I found the listing in a vw parts book .

sxracerb25

iTrader: (6)

I understand why they treat customers like idiots. I've overheard some of the conversations. Guy comes in saying he needs a pipe for his car. The lady behind the counter (she's pretty knowledgeable, helps me out a lot) asks what kind of pipe, what he's talking about? They continue talking for a good 10 minutes with him trying to describe this pipe. She's thinking an exhaust pipe or something so he takes her out to the car to show her what he's talking about. He had a cracked radiator hose and needed a replacement lol

427bbc

iTrader: (3)

seems like most of the people working at the local autoparts stores are wannabe mechanics.when i was building my LUV truck and wanted to buy parts they would always ask what year, engine size, trans and so on, I just got tired of arguing with them and just answered the questions with 80 LUV, 427BBC, turbo 400 with a 9 inch rear and they would try to look it up LOL As luck would have it i had a friend of mine that worked at one of the local auto stores and he would let me go in the back to look at parts to find what would work or fit my project. that store was really somethin, had just about anything off the wall, even spark plugs for model Ts. then the store was sold to a new owner and he jacked it up and ended up going under.

dutinsss

iTrader: (2)

so if they question there being a thermostat on an air-cooled engine, something you just happened to find out, they're an idiot?

a lot of parts store guys are idiots but not near as many as the amount of idiot customers i help. so many customers just expect parts guys to be technicians on every car made and to diagnose their car over the phone. i had someone prank call me asking for parts for an '83 vette(no vette made in '83). i don't stop and have a study session on every car i look up so i didn't know they weren't in production that year so when i said there wasn't one listed the guy called me the idiot and hung up. and to the people with custom vehicles with parts from different vehicles, is it really that hard to tell the parts guy what vehicle the part "would have" come in from the factory? if you need a starter for an LS1 that you put in your miata, you simply say, "i need a starter for an '01 camaro with a V8". much easier than saying "i need a starter for a '95 miata with an LS1".

ScrapSilicon

iTrader: (3)

never say never made C4
1983 There is no '83 model vette... Well actually 40(guesstimate) were built, but none were sold. Only one '83 vette is still alive. I won't say the numbers are correct but http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hx4Z1PO_uYk .. and http://www.corvettemuseum.com/virtua.../skydome.shtml

b_evans06

iTrader: (1)

I am sorry but the customer is not always right. As a customer you may THINK you are always right but unfortunately you are not.

dutinsss

iTrader: (2)

^so true.


yea i saw that when i looked it up. if i had that knowledge when that guy prank called me i could have went all technical on him

02 BLK WS6

iTrader: (11)

The alternator went out in my dd. I knew it was bad, but wanted it tested before I bought another one. I took it into my local az and was told that they don't test junkyard alternators. Insulted, I told the guy that I just pulled it off of my truck. He told me that he didn't like my attitude and that he didn't have to test it because it was painted. I told him again that it didn't come from the junkyard and that I had just removed it from my truck. I asked again if he would test it and he said no. I lost it and cursed my way out of the store.

My time is way too valuable. If I have a part go bad, it gets replaced with a new part.

4WOFURY

iTrader: (2)

Should have talked to his manager. I've found WAY too many **** heads work in auto parts stores now, and think they are mightier than thou, and will decide your fate.

I have stupid customer stories too. I work as a service advisor. One that stands out is a lady that came in with a Camry for a simple oil change.

Me: Year/make/model?
Her: 2004(? I can't remember to be exact) Toyota Camry
Me: Alright, 4 cylinder or V6?
Her: It's a V6
Me: (Shows 2 V6 engines) Do you know which V6?
Her: No, but it's a V6. Does it matter?
Me: Yes ma'am. It may make a difference as far as the quantity of oil. I'll go take a look.

So I go out there and pop the hood. Hmm... That's no V engine... and it's not a 6 cylinder... *finds the badge* (insert liter here) *counts spark plugs*. Definately a 4 cylinder (with VVT! lol)

*goes back inside*

Me: Welp, looks like you have the 4 cylinder. Pretty good little engines though.
Her: No. It has a v6. I refused to buy another 4 cylinder after I drove one in Atlanta traffic. V6s just have way more go!
Me: Oh? I thought for sure I saw a 4 cylinder?
Her: No! I WILL NOT DRIVE A 4 CYLINDER! IT IS A V6!
Me: Oh, I must have not been paying very good attention! Well, I got it taken care of for ya. We will get on that oil change right away.

I went out to the shop joking with the guys about how it must sprout and extra two cylinders when VTEC KICKS IN YO!!!! WOOOWEEEEE!

stimpy

iTrader: (1)

the customer always pays your check not your boss, I owned a trucking company , even though I had problems with certain customers they where always right ( even if they where wrong ) if I wanted to keep them as a customer I had to resolve some issues and sometimes they would see my way but still I didn't call them idiots to there face or employees , with the internet and word of mouth you can kill a business faster than what you think by treating a Customer BAD , 2 places I know of are out of business because of there practices , they thought there **** didn't stink , well it did and alot of people would pay more to be treated better .yes ther are alot of so called DIY scholars out there that get there Certs from watching a T.V.Show that have about as much mechanical ability as a rock ( and I hate to insult the rock) but still you just take the crap and smile till they hit the door .

as for the VW thermostats I needed them and the know it alls though it was a prank , needless I had one guy look it up without question for me to see if it was available, and it was listed on the computer , the other guy who hung up on me needless looked like a idiot when I came to the store to pick it up . as he was taunting the counterperson who looked it up for me while he was doing it ( should have seen the look on his face when my counter guy pulled it out of the SO bin ) . but the kid had some common knowledge of cars and that helped and he tried to figure out what I was describing ( helps to use proper terms too ) . the other guy well his specialty now was the chrome Aisle .. and the guy who helped well... he got my Business account for my trucking business ( they paid salary plus commisson ) and when I go inthere hes always busy comapaired to the others. one thing i used to do when I worked at a parts store long time ago ( before we had computer inventory ) was to go thru the parts books and see what was what and what was available ( back then Ford was netorius for changing in mid shift on production runs on parts especially electrical items , so you had to know what day and shift and needed the vin code on some to look up parts we used to joke we almost needed the color of the car too ! ) , like with todays cars , I am learning on the ls style motors , had no need to till I bought a ls style car and I am old enough to be some of you guys dads . old but still learning as this stuff is different .

axon360

iTrader: (3)

I had issues simply ordering balljoints for my 240sx, I needed rears and they gave me fronts, didn't know until I mic'd the hole diameter (1.67) and the ball joint (1.86).....I found it easier AND cheaper to find my p/n's in a forum then order through amazon. I couldn't imagine what would happen if I had to explain having an LS motor in a nissan to them =p

axon360

iTrader: (3)

oh, I've also had the best luck at O'reily's auto parts and Summit racing. Summit is miles away from me!!!!

Darksol

Almost ten years ago I was in a Autozone. At the time I was driving a 1994 VTEC delSol (DOHC 1.6). I was there for front brakes. This is my return trip. They gave me the wrong parts earlier. They were slightly busy and my father made the trip with me. I got in one line and he got in another, waiting for someone to help me. When another employee walked up from the back of the store looks at me then the rest of the customers and instead of helping me (who obviously was returning parts) they tried to help my father, who promptly calls to me. The employee rolls her eyes. She gave me the wrong parts to begin with. I say lets try this again. I need front rotors and pads for a 94 Honda delSol VTEC. She looks at her computer and tells me that my car didn't exist that year and I must be wrong. I ask if its possible for her computer to be wrong and was informed it isn't. I looked at her, then my father, then outside and said "come here," its sitting out side. I'll show you the VIN tag on the door and the owners manual. I proceed to tell her to just look up a 95 then.

These people work in the service sector. They are there to serve. While some customers are absolutely clueless so are some counter people, mechanics, I.T. specialists and some people in every other sector of the workforce. The customer that comes in with a part number and its wrong has got to be the minority. If I take the time to look up a part its likely what I want, don't ask me the application. I don't care what the "magic box" in front of them says. I have to say that AutoZone is the worst. I have NEVER gotten the right part the first time there unless its a part I have the part number for, like a turn signal or headlight. Sometimes, like now, with the economy being a disaster still, you may find a over qualified person in a position like counter person or something similar, I suggest trying to find that person. And if you can't then go to napa or carquest. I believe they have ASE certified parts people. And while that doesn't guarantee that they are knowledgeable it makes it more likely.

bwy23

iTrader: (19)

Wow you guys really hate the parts guy huh? Ive dealt with the customer who thinks he knows it all about everything cars because "ive been turning wrenches for 20 years". Yeah, thats the same guy that gets mad when i ask "is this the flex fuel 5.3 or no?" when looking up a fuel pump. Or the same one who has to have one of my employees put on a simple set of wiper blades because hes struggled for 10 mins with no success. Yes i deal with guys like that all the time. While you "haters" may clown the guy who dosent know everything about you f-bod....you should remember this....there are more cars out there than our cars or your car that you probably obsess over and know every little detail just because you spent hours on the net looking at other peoples works. There are a LOT of things to learn considering how many cars are on the road are, wait for it.....DIFFERENT!!! Its not always easy dealing with 1. an ******* who already comes into the store with a bad disposition because his car is broken. 2...a guy who thinks he knows it all and you know nothing. and 3...last but not least wants all the cheapest stuff because hey "brakes are brakes". Why its true, not everyone in a parts house is a car guru. But, if you ask and have a decent attitude then you will probably find one or two guys who really know there stuff. I have a great respect for my customers and will be the first to admit that I dont know it all. But, if you come into my store with the attitude that ive been reading about in alot of these posts....ill just send your asses right down the road.

P.S. No you cannot test your alternator buy removing the battery cables while the car is running on your 02 lexus.

kdick91

iTrader: (1)

Haha I love when the guys always try to get into a pissing contest. I'm up in CO and anytime I go to get stuff for my gf's SC300 this guy with a 'V8' tat on his neck always engages me about my Trans Am.
Him -"Oh, I used to have a twin-turbo 355 Camaro."
Me- "Oh, that's cool. An LT1?"
Him - "No, it was an LS1."
...
Me - "A 355 LS1?"
Him - "Yeah, it had about 800rwhp. I shredded the axle and wrecked it racing."
Me - "Ugh. So can I get that bulb now?"
The old guy back in my hometown knows me well enough that he never asks for the car a drive. It's either part number or part. (It started when my thermostat got stuck and I had to get one from a 05 GTO (or any other LS2) is anyone elses water pump like this?!)

kdick91

iTrader: (1)

See, you're the kind of guy that I personally look for at parts stores. I always get in dispositions when the guy behind the desk it merely ears for the computer. Since you have at least SOME knowledge, you know that the computer can be wrong JUST AS MUCH as the person asking for parts. The best situation is when both the customer and desk guy don't assume they know everything.