Auto spares Places - Do they think we are stupid?

[Kai]

90% of the time. The customer gives the wrong discription.

[GTI POLO]

I've been in the spare parts business since before many of the people on this forum were were born (truck and bus and now machinery parts) and whilst it is true that some of the companies mentioned set a low standard, I have to say there is another side to the story not only in relation to this post but in relation to the whole thread!

In relation to this thread, did you not compare the replacement part first and notice it was different? Second, if the car overheated when the thermostat was fitted why would you not have taken it back to where you bought it and questioned either the suitability or quality of the part? Third, does it not seem strange that both places gave you the wrong part?

In relation to the topic in general, whilst there are some people who don't have the necessary skills or training to provide the service required, there are many times more customers who:-

1. Don't know what part they require.
2. Don't know what car they want the part for, i.e. Make, model, year and
possibly VIN number.
3. Insist "they are all the same mate", believe me, often they are not.
4. Expect the spare parts salesman to diagnose the fault sight unseen and with only the vaguest description of the symptoms, (not forgetting that we are not mechanics).
5. Expect the (aftermarket) parts supplier to have access to all information that the OE parts supplier has (information which is jealously protected).
6. Treat the salesperson as a moron because he has to ask questions in an attempt to correctly interpret the customers requirements.

Not trying to defend poor service, but don't be too quick to criticise if you've never seen the other side. I could write a book about the ill informed, rude and stupid people that I've had to deal with in my time.

Cheers

George

George, with all due respect...

I told the guy at Bursen the exact car, he looked it up, he gave me the wrong part. Yes I did compare the two units and put the slight visual difference down to different brands etc. As for not knowing which part I require... its a thermostat.. the particular car had the same part number for 10 years or more.

I think anyone on here could interpret what I wanted. A thermostat for a 93 Ford Fairlane V8, 5.0 injected windsor motor. How can you interpret that wrong?

[VW Convert]

George, with all due respect...

I told the guy at Bursen the exact car, he looked it up, he gave me the wrong part.

As I said in my post, I'm not defending poor service and some of the companies mentioned set a low standard. The guys at Supercheap and Burson made the same error, there must be some reason that interpreters at two different stores made the same error. Could it be that there are variations in thermostats on this model or perhaps the information they are working from (probably supplied by the thermostat manufacturer) was wrong?

Yes I did compare the two units and put the slight visual difference down to different brands etc.

The spring side in the stock thermostat was much longer

Which was it?

As for not knowing which part I require... its a thermostat..

Nowhere in my post referring to your situation did I insinuate you did not know which part you required, my comment was in relation to the topic in general not your specific case.

the particular car had the same part number for 10 years or more.

You may well be right in saying the car had the same part number for 10 years, I don't know because I don't have access to that information. If you do then your information is better than Bursons or Supercheap.

I think anyone on here could interpret what I wanted. A thermostat for a 93 Ford Fairlane V8, 5.0 injected windsor motor. How can you interpret that wrong?

Refer point 3 of my previous post.


As I said previously, if the first thermostat you bought caused the car to overheat, why did you not return it and check that it was correct? Might have saved yourself a lot of time and trouble.

Cheers

George



Cheers

George

[Buller_Scott]

As I said in my post, I'm not defending poor service and some of the companies mentioned set a low standard. The guys at Supercheap and Burson made the same error, there must be some reason that interpreters at two different stores made the same error. Could it be that there are variations in thermostats on this model or perhaps the information they are working from (probably supplied by the thermostat manufacturer) was wrong?




Which was it?



Nowhere in my post referring to your situation did I insinuate you did not know which part you required, my comment was in relation to the topic in general not your specific case.





You may well be right in saying the car had the same part number for 10 years, I don't know because I don't have access to that information. If you do then your information is better than Bursons or Supercheap.




Refer point 3 of my previous post.


As I said previously, if the first thermostat you bought caused the car to overheat, why did you not return it and check that it was correct? Might have saved yourself a lot of time and trouble.

Cheers

George



Cheers

George

i went to tulla shopping mall the day i got my wheels from carshine, and asked the HOT little dood behind the counter of repco for some performance parts...

chest puffed, he looked AWESOME>

'whiteline adjustable rear sway for vw polo 9n pls... how much?'

'dunno. we dont deal that brand' (10 mins rummaging around out back later)

all i can say is... " fooly f.. sccchhhwittttttt maight!!!!'

aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaand im tired......

little mario looked pretty hot in his auto falcon xg/ commodore ju xrzs6 though.........

[Blitzen]

i went to tulla shopping mall the day i got my wheels from carshine, and asked the HOT little dood behind the counter of repco for some performance parts...

chest puffed, he looked AWESOME>

'whiteline adjustable rear sway for vw polo 9n pls... how much?'

'dunno. we dont deal that brand' (10 mins rummaging around out back later)

all i can say is... " fooly fookn sccchhhwittttttt maight!!!!'

aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaand im tired......

little mario looked pretty hot in his auto falcon xg/ commodore ju xrzs6 though.........

Whoa...ok then....

[Buller_Scott]

Whoa...ok then....

hahaha.

i concur.

and for the record....

merry xmas to all, but BE SAFE!!

lol I have issues... put it down to two dead fam's in the last 8 mnths, vulture family issues etc..... just being honest.

rag on me all you want. this forum is part of my release. wont stop me from posting here.

anyways, i mean well.... happy xmas eve y'all....

[gerhard]

i went to tulla shopping mall the day i got my wheels from carshine, and asked the HOT little dood behind the counter of repco for some performance parts...

chest puffed, he looked AWESOME>

'whiteline adjustable rear sway for vw polo 9n pls... how much?'

'dunno. we dont deal that brand' (10 mins rummaging around out back later)

all i can say is... " fooly f.. sccchhhwittttttt maight!!!!'

aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaand im tired......

little mario looked pretty hot in his auto falcon xg/ commodore ju xrzs6 though.........

Yikes !!

Don't share what you're smoking......

[Buller_Scott]

Yikes !!

Don't share what you're smoking......

oh COME ON!!!!!

would you say no, if they were some delicious ridiculous mudmudmudcake brownies??? lol

[gerhard]

oh COME ON!!!!!

would you say no, if they were some delicious ridiculous mudmudmudcake brownies??? lol

Haha. Mate, I talk enough **** WITHOUT the help of ****

[Buller_Scott]

Haha. Mate, I talk enough **** WITHOUT the help of ****

i dont drink beer anymore. i only buy (albeit not-too-crash-hot-but-not-too-un nice either-wine) by the case.......

come around some time if you're eager for a free bottl'a'pshhhh.......

[DaveMack]

i dont drink beer anymore. i only buy (albeit not-too-crash-hot-but-not-too-un nice either-wine) by the case.......

come around some time if you're eager for a free bottl'a'pshhhh.......

er ... I'm not gonna have to follow you round ... emptying ashtrays and picking up empties all day, am I Buller?

Dave

[Buller_Scott]

er ... I'm not gonna have to follow you round ... emptying ashtrays and picking up empties all day, am I Buller?

Dave

oh geez i know i sounded like a bogun.....

and yes i DO smoke...

but im a good oompah loompah- ciggy butts stashed away, empyty bottles thrown (smartbottle long distance) into OTTO bins... yellow topped.

awww yeah im a renaissance munchkin.....

[Blitzen]

I have to say that I have never had any dramas with parts places, but I tend to go in with part numbers of what I need. I have had the run around before, but I just ask to speak with the manager, and that usually gets it sorted.
I have found hat REPCO, Scotts Auto One and Bursons are the best to deal with.

[GTI POLO]

Refer point 3 of my previous post.


As I said previously, if the first thermostat you bought caused the car to overheat, why did you not return it and check that it was correct? Might have saved yourself a lot of time and trouble.

Cheers

George



Cheers

George

The Bursen auto spares is near my work.. I was working on the car at my dads place not near my work. Supercheap was closer.. did you think I changed the Thermostat in the bursen carpark to be able to quickly pop in and tell em it was no good..

Sorry about the cheek... the christmas shoppers have turned me into the grinch..

[STV4SYT]

Burson Auto Spares

IM with ya on that.

Bursons rock, cheaper than anywhere else (usually) and what sold it for me was i called them up at lunch time asking for a pretty non-standard part that was not in stock (a Harness to allow me to plug a standard DIN stereo into a land rover) they said they would have to order it in , probably next day.

I got a call at 4pm

3 hours later !!


"Sir, your harness is here"

picked it up and plugged it in same day.