Why I hate the monkeys behind the parts counter

"Takuro Spirit" (takurospirit)
05/21/2014 at 15:18 • Filed to: partslopnik, joblopnik, worklopnik, ecoboostlopnik

Not because I are one, but because I am a GOOD one, and so many out there are fucking button pushers and...

See that? It's an F150 EcoBoost, without a front plate bracket. Illegal here in WI, so the used vehicle we got in has to have one. Ford makes one. BUT, on the EcoBoost, it's off center.

So we call the local Ford dealer (there's a lot of them, we just call the closest which by no means is a small, barely staffed store) to get the bracket. It replaces that black cover on the driver's side. Been through this before, and same thing happened as last time. Dealer sent us the blanks. Called them up to say "No, there is a kit with an actual license mount in it, I've gotten one before."

And I get, "Nope. Got to drill into the plastic we sent you".

THE GUY EVEN VERIFIED THIS WITH ANOTHER PARTS MONKEY.

So I took FOUR FUCKING SECONDS on Google to not only find the image, but forum threads, eBay sales, and a PART NUMBER that the dealer I called HAS IN STOCK!!!

Know your brands, dealer people. I take pride in my job and trying to know the ins and outs of all things Mazda.... I couldn't tell a lady the other day if the newer clear tail lights from a Altima would fit her 2009, but I know what later or earlier model parts will fit a Mazda.

/rant off

DISCUSSION (36)

dinobot666 > Takuro Spirit
05/21/2014 at 15:20

Did they at least ask for a VIN?

ddavidn > Takuro Spirit
05/21/2014 at 15:20

I used to do some tech support for parts monkeys. It was AWESOME.

CRider > Takuro Spirit
05/21/2014 at 15:22

I think the real monkeys are the assholes that decided we need front license plates. California has the same bullshit.

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > Takuro Spirit
05/21/2014 at 15:23

What gets me at local part stores is lack of imagination in looking up semi-compatible parts or combinations thereof. If I have to imagine the fixes to my weird problems myself, I may not succeed in them, and as consequence may not be buying any parts.

Takuro Spirit > dinobot666
05/21/2014 at 15:23

Oh yeah, we gave them one.

Brian Silvestro > CRider
05/21/2014 at 15:26

THIS SHIT RIGHT HERE, it ruins the front of my car.

Takuro Spirit > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht
05/21/2014 at 15:26

What gets me are the people who don't research it AT ALL before asking. I mean, if it CAN be done, it probably has, and someone made a thread on a forum about it.

Takuro Spirit > CRider
05/21/2014 at 15:28

Kinja'd!!!

MazdaMonkey > Takuro Spirit
05/21/2014 at 15:28

I totally agree with you, but don't give monkeys a bad name by comparing them to parts people!

Takuro Spirit > ddavidn
05/21/2014 at 15:29

I do alot of SMH when in a conference call with a bunch of dealers from all over the States. Some of the questions. o.0

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > Takuro Spirit
05/21/2014 at 15:29

O'Reilly has a pretty good parts database which allows looking up parts by things like fittings, bore sizes of things, etc. etc. As far as I'm aware, there is *no way* to access it directly if one is a consumer. Thus, looking up compatible parts in things like brake flex lines is *easy*... IF the person behind the counter is capable of doing it. *You* as the customer must remote control all such inquiries, and it doesn't always work.

Takuro Spirit > MazdaMonkey
05/21/2014 at 15:30

Does that mean I have to take all the stuffed monkeys off my desk? :(

CRider > Brian Silvestro
05/21/2014 at 15:30

Exactly, it looks out of place any ugly on so many cars. It's like giving a car a cleft palate.

ddavidn > CRider
05/21/2014 at 15:31

Washington too. I got a parking ticket for it once.

Brian Silvestro > CRider
05/21/2014 at 15:32

RUINED, BOTH OF THEM:

Kinja'd!!!

Takuro Spirit > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht
05/21/2014 at 15:32

Worst of it all is when the manufacturers don't give us the info we need. Like color of a part. Thread pitch. Size. Weight. Dimensions.

Simple bolts and nuts would be SO much easier to find for people if, lets say MAZDA, would include that info like other car lines do.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht
05/21/2014 at 15:35

I had an online issue with autozone or advance chat people.

They refused to give me part information without the make/model of the vehicle. I was just asking about a muffler. they are universal it doesn't freaking matter what it's going on.

Then I've had them argue with me over the engine specs on the Montego, ugh thats the worst. The only fun part is when I tell them it's a J code that used to be an F code 302 V8. I like to watch their heads blow up in store.

$kaycog > MazdaMonkey
05/21/2014 at 15:35

Now, that is funny!

camaroboy68ss > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
05/21/2014 at 15:41

I feel your pain, got into it with a parts guy over a intake gasket for a small block Chevy. They are all the same from 1955-1988.

Buddy lost it as well when getting spark plugs for his dads 68 SS 396 camaro. The factory built them but the computer at the store said no so it never happened apparently. So buddy think oh I'll just ask then for a Chevelle. (Same exact motor and the only way to get a ss). The clerk then says it won't fit because its for a Chevelle. *facepalm*

EL_ULY > Takuro Spirit
05/21/2014 at 15:49

ditto!

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > camaroboy68ss
05/21/2014 at 15:59

AHHHH

Yeah i've tried to pull that asking for Ford Torino or Fairlane parts.

I get the same reaction. I didn't even change car sizes! They are just badge engineered versions of each other mechanically identical.

they can be a huge pain in the ass sometimes.

At least the advance guys are just unintelligent, I've always found the autozone guys to be condescending as well as stupid, which is an INTERESTING mix.

camaroboy68ss > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
05/21/2014 at 16:04

that's why I don't deal with autozone ever. Luckily the local kinects hired a guy that used to run a vintage wrecking yard so I go in when on to get any parts because he knows what I'm talking about. A SBC is a common as water and most counter guys have no clue on anything about them anymore.

Takuro Spirit > EL_ULY
05/21/2014 at 16:04

Not to mention the 3 G6 convertible top parts we've been waiting a month for, only to find out TODAY that the last part was not backordered, it is now obsolete.

Been calling for an ETA for weeks, and no one ever calls back. Finally got ahold of the parts manager and found out the truth... good thing it's another used car and on the back burner so to speak.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > camaroboy68ss
05/21/2014 at 16:16

yeah it's a shame. Seriously SBC is the most common motor in our country probably.

After that it would be a SBF Windsor block.

if I have trouble finding something i'm totally messaging you for your vintage wrecking yard details. In fact, next time you talk to the guy, just see if he has any montego's around.

The Compromiser > Takuro Spirit
05/21/2014 at 16:19

I Did that to a guy the other day. To be fair he was on Day 2, but was a career parts guy. I tried to get the info from him but he was clueless. I finally read off the numbers and exploded diagram info so he could see for himself.

Then he said they didn't have any. Wife went home and checked messages. they called it was in stock now. THE SAME DAY. and The delivery truck was there the day before and he said it wasn't on there, so it must've been there the whole time. CLICK THE DAMN BUTTONS YOU USELESS MONKEY TURD!!!!! It's called a computer you Homeresque moron.

This was for the Wind-shield washer nozzles. He asks, if I want 2. Sure. Good, because they come in 2 packs. THENWHYTHEFUCKDIDYOUASKME????

I need a hood sticker. I know it is factory. I know why I know it is factory. He looks it up. Nope. Not a factory option on that model. Is it possibly a dealer installed option?? Nope. Maybe the previous owner did it. No I say. The previous owner was a multinational corporation with no interest in the vehicular aesthetics of the stickers or badging. WHYTHEFUCKWOULDDIDISCOUNTCARRENTALPUTSTICKERSONITYOUFUCKINGDEGENERATE???

Oh. I found one. Its $600. I can get a 3M one from a custom place based off the template for less than 200 installed. Oh. You should do that then.REALLY????

/rant

deekster_caddy > Takuro Spirit
05/21/2014 at 16:27

I used to be a parts monkey at an independent speed shop that also did a decent amount of local commercial business. I had the most common part numbers memorized. I really enjoyed it but at the same time I'm glad I got out of it. Unless you own the store it's really tough to make a living at it. My favorite thing was piecing something together to solve a problem that wasn't available aftermarket.

I went into that store I used to work at because I needed a new blower motor resistor pack and relay for my '73 Buick. My part was discontinued, but we pulled out the "Illustrated buyers guide" and I found one that had the same plug layout for an '82 Pontiac of some kind. Had to drill my own mounting hole in it, but it works perfectly. I was also able to find and follow the schematics for the blower speed relay (bypass the resistor pack for high speed) and figured out that I could do the same thing with a standard 5-pole lighting relay. It's that kind of creativity you need when your parts are usually made of unobtanium.

Next thing I'm going to have to do is make my own A/C hoses. Again, it will take a buyers guide and a good amount of research to get it right, but dammit it will be done.

I also learned how to drive the delivery car (Ford Tempo 5 spd manual) while eating a messy lunch. I would hold the steering wheel straight with my knee, push the shifter with my elbow... very dangerous! Only attempt if you are a professional!

deekster_caddy > Takuro Spirit
05/21/2014 at 16:29

Man I wish we had forums full of that info back when I was a parts monkey!

camaroboy68ss > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
05/21/2014 at 16:35

Ill ask but his yard was mainly Pontiac. Very few fords if any. The only localist vintage wrecking yard is called All American. Here is a link to all the mercury parts cars the have

http://www.allamericanclassics.com/mercury.html#c…

Sadly no Montego,

DarrinW > Takuro Spirit
05/21/2014 at 16:40

Lol agreed. Theres the part#BL3Z 17E811 AA Good in stock at the dealership I work at lol

Takuro Spirit > DarrinW
05/21/2014 at 16:47

I should have just asked Oppo... probably would have gotten a faster response :D

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > camaroboy68ss
05/21/2014 at 16:56

says he has a green one, oddly its under "comet"

camaroboy68ss > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
05/21/2014 at 17:03

hopefully its not a bare shell by now

DarrinW > Takuro Spirit
05/21/2014 at 17:05

ha probably! some dealerships I don't know how they are even open sometimes.. our dealership has trucks that run north west and south every day to different towns all over that have ford dealerships in them and they still buy from ours. even to the point where ive had to run something 70 miles to a repair shop and when I get there I can no joke see a ford dealership from there parking lot which that dealership had that seal instock but they wouldn't buy it from they, I guess we have some loyal customers and also we must be doing something right to make a single trip 70 miles deliver a 35 dollar seal which we probably only made 6 bucks on lol. but that's how we get good business and keep our customers!

Takuro Spirit > DarrinW
05/21/2014 at 17:09

Yup. I only call this place because after they closed our Ford store, a lot of our employees ended up there.

But recently it's gone downhill. They are big into wholesale but there are others out there.... so many others.... I'll give them one more chance, maybe. But between that and taking more than 10 minutes to look up a key for the same truck, I was DONE today.

DarrinW > Takuro Spirit
05/21/2014 at 17:15

Ah how annoying. Ours is big into wholesale too but still they also need to focus on retail as well and not be monkeys! Ours does pretty well and we have a good group of people who have all worked in dealerships for a long time so its kind of nice. I have the least experience out ours with 6 years of experience and a few people here have done it for over 30 years so its pretty decent combination

BondoSpecial > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht
05/21/2014 at 17:43

What do you expect, for what chain auto parts stores pay counter guys....people want the lowest price in auto parts, that low price has to come from somewhere