Went to a local parts store this AM to get a simple manifold gasket.
The guy started messing with the 'puter and the phone started ringing.
One call after another and he put ME on hold to look up stuff for people who were probably price shopping.
I had the money in my hand trying to pay him.
Ain't this fun?
I HATE that. I understand that they need to answer the phone, because I've been the one calling trying to find something, but you've GOT to deal with the customers in front of you first, THEN get the people who are on hold. Or, of all things, have more people on hand!! If I'm calling and someone answers and says "I've got X number of customers here, can you hold for a minute?" I'm not going to have a problem with that.
Feel your pain Bob.
Any business which puts phone callers ahead of folks who take the time to actually go to the store doesn't get my business after that.
I don't know how many times I've gone to the auto parts store, told them what I wanted, then had to tell them again at a snail's pace, what make, what model, what part, as they scroll through their computer system menus.
Stand in front of them and call them from a cell phone.
Similar but different. I have a Ford pickup which I took to the Ford dealer for an oil change which they call "The Works". The woman at the counter couldn't order it, so she made me wait for another person. Then when the work was finished, the first woman told me it was complete, and I handed her my Ford credit card. She didn't know how to do the transaction and I had to wait for the other woman to swipe the credit card. I asked the first woman, "Are you new here?". She said she had been here since February!
They also offered me a $10 rebate if I go home and enter it on the computer. Well I did just as the paper work said and entered the right information in the computer, and it said, "Sorry we cannot proceed, enter your request". I called the phone number and they said some search engines are not compatible with the program and gave me another link. I entered the second link and while I was still trying to get the rebate on the computer I got called by two Ford dealers who thought I wanted to order an F1 pickup. I began to lose my cool, but was able to shout without uttering any obscenities. Finally I got confirmation that the rebate was on the way!
Norm
I like the way you think Andrew!!
I won't mess with rebates anymore either.
Too much screwing around and by the time you get it (if you ever do) you've forgotten what it was for.
I like Andrew's idea as well. I'll try it next time I'm in O'Reily's and can't get waited on. Maybe if we all start doing that, they'll notice us standing there.
Bob G,
One of the few times I went to all the trouble, paid the mailing, etc, for a (I think about $8) rebate, the company was overwhelmed with responses. It was after that, that I became more aware of the "fine print". The rebate was NOT to be paid by the company that produced the product, but by a secondary marketing company. The company that supplied the product, the company that sold the product, any other company that had anything to do with the product, were "in no way liable, in whole or in part, for (the rebate)".
I never got it. The secondary company had gone broke, by design I think.
Most rebates require you to spend about a half a buck postage for a $2 rebate. I never got about half the rebates I ever did send out. Odds on a lottery are better than that.
I haven't sent in a rebate in many years.
One time, in a (non-automotive) parts supplier, two other customers and I called in on our cell phones to tie up the incoming lines. While we got taken care of, phone callers got busy signals.
Drive carefully, and enjoy, W2
I find that happens mostly at Advanced, well they just put a Autozone in across the street so now when i get this on the phone while trying to pay ijust leave everything on the counter and go across the street.
Rick
Bob take out the cell phone and call them right in front of them. procede to order your parts on the phone right in front of them. This really piss them off but they get the point. OR... spill something on the counter (90wt oil) opps!! gosh I'm so so sorry!
Not auto related, but we had a restaurant in town that stayed rather busy. If you went in they asked if you had a reservation. We never did and always waited our turn. One day, we went early. Hardly anyone in the place. They asked if we had reservation. I looked around rather perplexed and finally said"Do I need one?" She said "well its always a good idea because we get busy sometimes." I looked around again at the mostly empty room and pulled out my cell phone and asked her what the number was. She didn't think it was too funny, but come on! Gimme a break.
Parts inventory stinks at about all stores.
I bought 2 spring hangers for a 3500 pound trailer spring at Tractor supply last week.
They supposedly ordered 4 more and I was to come in today and pickup the other 2 I needed.
Well,"it will be in next tuesday Sir Sorry".
Well,I just ask my dad to pickup a couple from the same store chain,just different town,so i can get on with the program.
2 weeks without something in stock? How do they expect to sell it?
Orielys auto parts.
I ordered a Bwd 512 I think it is,50 amp battery disconnect.The warehouse sent a fuel pressure sender? DUH!>
I have done alot of bussiness at Advance over the past 5 or 6 years.But they have lost some lately to Oreilys because when all I need is a round tailight lens for a trailer,I dont want to buy the whole light,just the lens.Advance says they cant get the lens.I got 2 from the oreilys off the shelf.Same brand and such as the stuff advance sells.That is just 1 of several examples I could give ye.
I dont understand it.
When they sell an item only in packages of two, I like to tell them that means they're not selling me any at all. Also, when each cotter pin comes in its own little plastic bag for 29¢, I like to tell them no sale, I'll buy a box online. I'm a picky old guy.
Ever try to buy a tube of distributor cam lubricant? How about front wheel bearing nut cotter pins?
I can buy major brand tail light bulbs at a store in Oakland for around 52 cents each.
The Irishmen and Auto Zone want $4.99 for a package of 2.
The Irishmen sell Gates heater hose, as does NAPA, Auto Zone sells that Good Year crap.
The stupid auto parts stores have made it necessary for on line places like Rock Auto to exist. Napa is the only bet for some sort of lousy service and Auto Zone should not be in business for reasons stated above. I have left hands full of stuff on their counters while the dumb, inexperienced and rude counter staff tell you "I'll be there in a minute" while talking to who knows who on the phone and then answering another call. Pep Boys stores still have a lot of stock but are spotty for service and in my area you cannot seem to find one with a check out line open and ready to take your money. I was looking for some insulation to put under the floor mat of one of my T's at Pep Boys about a month ago and after wandering through the store for a while I found it. About that time one of the clueless employees finally took pity on me and asked me if he could help me find something. It was fun to tell him what I was looking for and have him tell me that they did not carry any thing like under the hood insulation while it was 18 inches from his knee. He actually told me to go to Home Depot or Loews. I did not correct him as the price was $54.00 for a roll and I figured I could do better with a Google search. I was right!
I feel your pain guys but I've been on both sides of the counter. I worked for years for NAPA and AutoZone.
Phone rings 'AutoZone'. Customer says "I need a gasket". 'OK, for what?' Customer says, "My car". 'OK, what kind of car?'. Customer says "A Chevy". 'OK, what year and model?', Customer says "I think its a 95 Impala". 'And what engine does it have in it?' Customer says, "I think it's a V6, maybe a V8, they are all the same". 'OK, what gasket?' Customer says, "the round thing that fits on top of the flat thing where the water hose comes out". 'OK, a thermostat housing gasket'. Customer says, "Whatever".
And that was an easy one, you ought to try chasing down something like an O2 sensor for somebody that shouldn't be allowed near anything more complicated than a 6 pack. Then... You have people like Me who shows up at the counter and says, "I'm looking for a set of air shocks that will fit on the back of a 1960 Rambler American with a Ford 9" rear end under it.
By the way, I got my air shocks but only after moving the parts 'kid' out of the way and looking up something that would fit, my self.
To be fair, at my local Advance Auto Parts, the manager Godette is a savant. He already knows all the little weird things about your specific car that no one else knows. "Ok, but yours is a '98 and that one has a weird clip here" and I'm nodding my head like "YUP". Not only does he know that, but he knows all of the cool crossover stuff like this funky bearing was used on these 4 random cars, go pull one at the junk yard off the white car in the front. Lol, seriously: the man has told me where I can find the exact oddball part I want, where the car is at which specific auto salvage place. He's been doing this a LONG time and his brain is better than their computer system.
Well, nothing new under the sun, as this happened almost 40 years ago. At the time my everyday driver was a '39 C@##y sedan. I needed a rear brake cylinder AND I owned a "Master Parts" book from '29 to '56 (I think--it's been a long time)which told me the same cylinder was used in a '56 pickup. So I go into the parts store & they don't have one for a '39, but they do have one for a '56 and I had to argue with the counter guy to sell it too me--"It won't fit, kid!" "That's my problem, I want it!"
When I finally got it, it had the same casting number as my original part (and, of course, fit perfectly).
And that was an independent, old fashioned store where most of the counter guys knew their stuff.
T'
David D.
We have a NAPA store and the guy who runs it has a lot of old books that he looks things up in.
Last February, I did a brake job on a '56 Ford Vicky, went to Advance Auto Parts and they had everything I needed, brake cylinders, shoes, brake lines, seals and everything else I need in stock.
Forgot to mention, Advance Auto was about 1/2 the price as these mail order suppliers.
There was a girl working at a NAPA in town years ago,everyday I went in daily for parts for the shop worked at and I would ask her if she found the thermostat for my '69 VW Beetle. This went on for months and she kept searching. One day I went back in and she was boiling mad at me After the first two times everyone that worked there was in on it. Having her call around and dig through parts books.
I seem to remember all aircooled VW had thermostats. At least my early ones did. They controlled a ring that blocked the air into the scirocco fan.
My 914s and my Corvairs had thermostats that controlled flaps to redirect the output air.
Jim,
That reminds me of a day in High School Gym class (this would have been 1970 or 1971) and three guys came in late, "Coach, Ted's radiator was boiling over, that made us late" "OK, go dress down" and they headed for the lockers, coach turned to me and said, "First VW I ever heard of with a radiator!"
Not much got by coach, but he seldom let on!
When I was a senior in college (many years ago)I was just finishing up a tough final exam. Three guys walked in an hour late and told the prof they had a flat tire coming back from the mall. He said "OK, I'll give you a different test version. When they looked at the question sheet, all it said was "which tire?" 3 F grades.
I guarantee if you tell them what year something is and it is older than ten years, they are lost and will not have it. All these dudes do not know how to reference standard or universal parts and are lost without a year, make and model.
Ricks,
You are correct. VW air cooled Beetles do indeed have a thermostat.
Sweet bug man. I haven't seen them very often but I've always liked those headlight-sized foglights. Just looks cool on the car.
NAPA = No Auto Parts Available but we will order it
Haven't seen your name here before, Tom. Welcome. Your namesake lives here in Surf City and is a senior Capt. on 737 for AA. I've known him since 1975 when he learned to fly at the little airport that used to be next to my house.
Seth,
The auxiliary headlights are Bosch, and I bought them at MoFoCo. Kind of funny that they were marked "Made In Sweden", as that is where it is presently located at my dughter's place. It has the original Norwegian license plates on it. The Beetle is a '74 Model 1303S, a.k.a. Supebeetle. It has the "Auto-stick" transmission and is all original, with the exception of the paint on the rear fenders. My dad bought his first new Beetle in 1953, and he bought a new one every five years. This one is his fifth and last, as he passed in 1978. I'll be there and driving it in a few weeks. It gives me joy and a special feeling driving my dad's car.
When I was 16, I got a job at the local garage. One of the first things I was asked to do was to go to the auto parts dealer down the street for a can of "compression". He told me he was out of compression, to try the NAPA dealer across town. I went to NAPA where I got a big laugh! They said compression doesn't come in a can, you have to get it from a cylinder.
Norm
Norman: I will tell you a couple of short stories. My "89 Ford Ranger XLT started losing radiator coolant. We finally traced it to a bad head. So I went to the Ford Dealer and talked to the Service Writer and asked that he look in the Flat Rate book and tell me what the cost would be to replace the heads, his reply was go to GRAND AUTO and buy the heads and install them yourself.
We were in the market for another car so we went to the same Ford Dealer and looked at a Focus with all the trimmings. My trade in was was worth $#300, against a $13,000 dollar car, needless to say I have never gone back, as we found a nice Focus elsewhere.
Sold our car for$2500.00 cash
Bill D MTFCA #14079