After talking with my former neighbor about the lack of experianced people he has working for him at the local parts house I have decided to become one of those "computer" parts guys. Last night was my first night and I was amazed at the lack of personal service these guys give. Yes they can punch keys almost as fast as my wife but they couldn't troubleshoot their way out of a paperbag. For instance one guy comes in with his wife and they have this oh crap expression. His car is growling and over heating after a 3 hour drive. An "experienced" coworker tells him he needs a new engine... As the words fall from his mouth I am in total shock that without a simple look under the hood or even a code scan he has come to this conclusion. I asked if I could look at his car really quick to verify a few things. Turns out his power steering fluid was low so his pump was growling and he was leaking coolant from the lower radiator hose connection. I looked under the car and saw it wet and asked if he had hit or bottomed out recently. He actually did bottom out of something a few weeks earlier. His wife was thankful that at worst they need to replace the radiator and maybe a hose or two. I informed them that there might be more work needed that I couldn't see from the front but that is better then an engine. Before they left I made sure they had power steering fluid and 50/50 coolant to help get it home. I just can't believe that customer service is that bad. I can't wait until we have our first "shop" meeting. I am otherwise going to be fired or feared if I get a "I don't care". Wish me luck...

So if you happen to bump into a long winded inquiring parts guy in Escondido CA that'll be me.

 

Oh God NO, not another number dummy on the site.

take care Mark.


John

 

LOL No, there can only be one. I am just there to brow beat the idiots behind the counter and help those that need it.

 

They're mostly idiots working at most places these day(present company excluded of course). I don't expect to seek any help other than checking out.
Years ago I needed header gaskets for my "clevor" motor in my '79 'stang. Now some of you might know what a clevor motor is here(cleveland heads on a windsor block for those that don't), but I'd hazard to guess 99.99% of parts folks don't, plus Ford never offered anything bigger than a 302 in a '79 'stang. So I asked for a Cleveland header gskt....you know where this is going...."Year, make model and engine size please?" After trying to explain what I had and the fact the Ford never offered any such beast in anything, he shoots back with "oh yes they did...they offered a 350, you know the anniversary '86 350 GT's"
Now my friends...that guy was a class act narrcicist, moron who argued with his customer about something he knew nothing about. It was't much later he was gone, and after inquiring about his where-abouts, found he had been "released" much to the delight of his coworkers.

 

Well luckily I do remember what a clevor is. I just hope I can keep the peace and bring a little more understanding to my coworkers. But like most people I think they wont be reseptive to change. If one or two of them are willing to understand that the more the customer trusts you the more parts you will be able to suggest to them. Partially due to your ability to see the whole job they're doing and remind them of things they forgot.

I was talking to a guy who had a electrical problem last night that was scared to touch his wiring until I explained automotive wiring is the same in theroy as house wiring. Flip a switch and the light comes on type deal... So he bought a electrical wiring book to understand more and my shift manager was impressed since the customer only came in for a air filter. I simply saad it only takes talking to someone to know if they are experianced from the answers they give. If we were all allowed a few minutes to listen we would sell more and have a lot more satisfied customers. But we on this board already know that...

 

I'll be there asap for parts Be real nice to know the guy on the other side of the counter knows more than I for once

 

That is spectaculous Air, that is THE main reason I only go to NAPA here, the guys there KNOW a thing or two, are used to not having the comp. tell them all they know, and use the books and BRAINS BEFORE anything else. Changing the world, one person at a time.
If I ever make it back down to south county, I will look for the "long winded, inquiring parts guy"!!

 

Hey...do a lookup of a waterpump for a 65 truck....just for kicks...everytime without fail I have needed a hard engine part them books dont show a 352 in 65...only a 292....give them knuckleheads a tongue lashing about that as to one who doesnt know, it would send trhe customer into a tizzy prolly...me...I just tell them to look at a 66 and viola....a 352 appears...

Im glad theres good car/truck guys like you behind the counter...patience though is a requirement as I bet ND would say in dealing with either clueless customers or knowitalls...


- cs65

 

Nice to know SOMEWHERE there's a neighborhood that actually will have a parts store that employs SOMEONE who knows his head from a hole in his radiator! I went to my local parts store (won't mention what chain but it sorta sounds like O'kelly's! LOL!) I needed a standard Ford dual master cylinder for my '68 Stang project. I was standing in line waiting on a register to open and the whole time I was thinking "God, please don't let me be helped by that woman!"

Who do you think I got? Yeah, right...

So I tell her what I need. She says "What year?" I told her that the rear of the car has drums and the front has discs so I just simply need a standard Ford dual master cylinder. She spent the next 15 minutes hollering over to the manager asking question after question. Unfortunately, he let her do so until HE got fed up with it and came over to her computer and punched up SOME model of Ford in the early 70's with one. The whole time he's helping customers and answering phones and she's just standing there making my life hell and hollering for help. I doubt she knows what a master cylinder looks like...

At least there's hope somewhere in California...I may move back!

 

FTE could use a dozen more dummies, trying to keep up with all the questions on ALL the forums, is a 24 hour job.

btw: I seem to recall you asking me about a heater core for a Cougar yesterday.

You got a personal response (and prolly a shock, too! ), when the Big Dummy phoned you with the info, after his email went down.

Mark is using the same exact parts catalogs here on FTE that I use....they are the exact same ones, because I loaned them to him to download into his 'puter.

Oh the humanity!

 

NumberDummy, Jr. then, right?

 

NumberDummy II would be more apropos.

 

Touch'e, Monsieur!

 

I don't know,,,,, I never really liked the mustangII, or the broncoII,,,,,

just funnin

 

Just after the Bronco II came out (1984), a customer appeared at the parts counter asking about some Bronco accessories for his new ride.

When I asked him whether he had a Bronco, or a Bronco II, he replied..

"It's a FULL SIZED Bronco, not a Bronco in training!"

Good answer!
--------------------------------------
Mustang II = it's a PINTO under the skin!

Mustang nuts hated that car when it came out, and most still hate it today.

It was a Mustang in name only.