Sounds like a Nightmare in a parts store.
----- Original Message -----
From: <ABeerCan@aol.com>
To: <dakota-truck@dakota-truck.net>
Sent: Friday, March 29, 2002 6:29 PM
Subject: DML: Working at a parts store, the truth! ~ long
>
> <<<Trouble is, these guys and gals are supposed to know about automobiles.
> That's supposedly why they got hired-they were supposedly knowledgeable
of
> the trade.>>>
>
> Just like when a customer steps up to the parts counter they should know
what
> they are working on. I have worked parts retail for a while before. You
> people that bitch and complain are the reasons I went to the commercial
side
> of parts. Sure, some customers know what they are working on, and most
at
> least know about, I repeat, ABOUT what year the car is they are working
on.
> Then we have the customer that most people think is not too common, but
ask
> any parts retailer and you will learn they are about one out of every 3
> people that prop up on the counter. They come in there wanting "a ummm
erra
> umm yeah umm one of those things that goes in the engine for a umm err umm
I
> think it is a umm (at this point he yells to his "friend" who obviously
knows
> even less than him) Hey Frank! What kinda car is dat!" To which Frank
> replies in a matter of fact I am damn right tone, "it is a 87 Cutlass!".
> So, after 20 minutes you finally figure out that they are wanting a
coolant
> temp sensor for an 87 Oldsmobile Cutlass with a 305 in it. So, they get
> their part and are on their way. Now remember, you get to go through
about
> two more "decent" customers before you run into another one of these
idiots.
> You look at your watch and start the countdown. Sure enough, 35 minutes
> later the two boneheads are back. "Hey man! you gave me the wrong part!
> This won't even fit in that hole!" Well sir, you wanted a temp sensor for
an
> 87 Cutlass with a 305. Then the real story starts to come out. "Well umm
> erra, we don't think that be the original motor in dat car." Ok, what
size
> motor is it? "It is a V-8" Ok, what size V-8? "I don't know! Your the
> Parts man, ,not me!" That is when I will tell them, well, I don't know
what
> YOU are working on as it is not MY car and I am not the "mechanic" working
on
> this car. Now, is it a small block or a big block? "I think it is a
small
> block." Fine then. At this point you proceed to look up a temp sending
unit
> for a 75 350 out of a truck (don't ask me why, that is one of the more
> popular places to rip them from) and give them that. You finally see them
> three or four days later and ask if it worked. Of course, it fit just
right
> and they are now happy to be driving their hoopty around town killing
> mosquitoes and annoying other people with the annoying sound of distorted
> bass mixed with rattling sheet metal, most always from the trunk area.
Now,
> if you can think of how many customers most stores see each day, then
divide
> that by three, then you have the number of idiots that shouldn't even be
> allowed near a philips head screw driver that come into that store. As
for
> "Have to go by the computer", that must be something either that Zoner or
his
> manager (yes, believe it or not, there are some stupid managers, but then
> again, since you probably have a boss, you already knew this, right?)
has
> shoved up their butt and they are tired of hearing the truely stupid
people
> (refer to story above) complain about getting the wrong part, so when the
> above starts to happen, they stick to their "puter lookup only" story to
> clear the store of them. Just to drive the point home a little further, I
> had to call the police on one customer. He brought in an alternator for a
> warranty swap. I said, "Sure, but just to be sure that it is in fact the
> alternator and not your wiring harness or external voltage regulator, let
me
> check it free of charge." The man said sure, but kept talking about how
he
> was going to get a new alternator no matter what. This kind of tripped a
> light in my head, but I proceeded anyway. Ok, got everything hooked up,
all
> switches set, start up motor, hold this switch, bump this one for a sec
and
> let go. "Sir, you alternator is doing just fine. It should put out
> anywhere from 13.5 - 16.0 volts, your is putting out a nice 14.7volts."
> Customer, "So, I want a new one anyway, that one won't charge on my car."
> "Sir, if it will not charge on your car, then you have another problem
that
> is not the alternator." "Just give me a new damn alternator so I can get
out
> of here." "Sir, there is absolutely nothing wrong with this one, there is
> something wrong in the car. If you can get the car up here, I will be
happy
> to test the system in the car and try to find the faulty component."
"There
> is nothing wrong with my car you *uck off, now give me my Go* da*n
> alternator!!" "Sir, under company policy I can not replace a working
> component under warranty." "I am going to get a new alternator one way or
> another!" "How is that sir?" "I will either get a new one from you, or I
> will take it out of your ass!" I am not a big man but I am not small by
any
> means. This was the last straw, first he disturbed other customers, one
of
> which was my own mother waiting for me to go to lunch so I could replace
the
> alternator on her car for her, and then he threatens me physically. I
picked
> up the phone, he bellows "Who you calling little man?". I simply say, "I
am
> calling the cops to remove you from my store." He says "Oh sure you are,
> your just chicken shit and don't want to be a MAN!" When the police ask
why
> I needed them I replied, "Becuase I have a man here who does not realize
that
> I licensed to carry a concealed weapon and he is about to find out the
hard
> way what a 45 ACP does to the human body when 10 rounds hit at center mass
> and tear out his chest region." His draw dropped to the ground. He
started
> for the door, but it was too late, guess the mentioning of a firearm got
the
> cops there quick. Then he tried to pawn it off that he was the one
getting
> abused, not me! The other customers stood up for me and he went in on
public
> disturbance and assualt. I eventually got a rep of being a very
knowledgable
> parts man who doesn't take chit off his customers. I admit, I could be an
> arse hole, but I also got you the parts that you wanted. I have actually
> left my job in the computer industry to go back to parts sales. I am back
> into commercial sales with a some counter sales also. I look forward to
the
> commercial part everyday, but I hate to walk around the corner if they
need
> help on the counter. One thing that parts people will tell you, the
larger
> the group, the less they actually know about the car one of them is
working
> on. I am quickly earning my rep back in my new area, but I like it. Now
> when people come back after they learn about my rep the hard way, they
know
> what they are working on. And they are also learning that if they don't
> know, they should bring the car up there if at possible or bring the part
> itself in. If you think all this is bullchit, then feel free to give me a
> call at the Zone that I work at now (I used to work for the now bought out
> Discount Auto Parts). Just ask for Will when you call. The number is
below.
> You can usually tell what the ratio of idiots for the day has been by the
> tone of our voices. If you seem to be having problems with your Zone,
give
> me a holler and I will see if I can't give you part numbers to go back to
> your Zone with.
> <stepping down off my shoe box>
>
> The other Will
> 662-324-1090
>
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