The Ford Parts Counter Guy is a Moron [Update]

"TheRealBicycleBuck" (therealbicyclebuck)
07/24/2017 at 11:29 • Filed to: None

[Update] I called this morning to order the correct part. The moron answered the phone, so I politely asked to speak with someone else. He said that he’s the guy that answers the phone, so I would need to speak with him. I told him that I tried to work with him previously, but there was a series of mis-communications that led to him ordering the wrong part and I would rather try with someone else. He put someone else on the phone. She was really nice.

I believe the correct part is now on the way. We verified it by her telling me the part number she was ordering and I looked it up while she was on the phone. I think part of the problem was the !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! . It shows the driver’s side (which is the wrong side). I think this is why he kept saying “left side” and I had to keep correcting him. Hopefully, this fiasco will be over after I pick up the part this afternoon.

[Original] The B-pillar mounding came off the passenger side door of the Explorer. This is an easy fix. It’s held on with two clips and some double-sided tape. I just needed the new part to get started.

So, I look it up and find I can get it online for about $40 plus shipping which is another $10. I decide to call up the local dealer and see what they can do.

The conversation started with me giving the guy the part number. He asks for the VIN so he can verify the part because there were a couple of different options and he wanted to get the right one. I tell him to look it up since we purchased the Explorer from them.

That’s when things started to get strange. He said something about them not having the driver’s side part in stock. I stopped him and asked him to check on the part for the passenger’s side. Ah, yes, they had that in stock, but did we need both of the parts or just the upper part. What? He said there are two parts, one that screws onto the car, the other which clips into the first. He also told me I have the wrong part number and gave me the new one. I asked him to hold off and told him I would get back to him.

The first thing I did was check the new part number. The part number he gave me was for the wrong part. Somehow he got confused and was looking up the part that goes on the windshield, not the door. I decided it was best to visit in person, so I stopped by the dealer after work.

I took the picture above before I walked in so I could show him the part I need. He was surprised that he had gotten confused between the door and the windshield. I wasn’t surprised. Between the time I walked up to the counter and he put the order in, he said “for the driver’s side” or “the left side” at least three times. We finally got it straight and ordered the part.

I picked up the part the next day and went to install it today. It was the wrong part. It was the correct side, but he ordered the one for the back door, not the front door. Now I have to go back tomorrow.

Moron.

DISCUSSION (32)

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > TheRealBicycleBuck
07/23/2017 at 20:49

For my experience, dealer parts guys are either dumb as all get out, or are literally walking encyclopedias of part names, numbers, and locations on the car. We have both in our parts department at work.

The Crazy Kanuck; RIP Oppositelock > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
07/23/2017 at 20:57

The Nissan dealer I go to, the parts manager (they have one, smaller dealer) is really good. He knows most Nissan parts. I went in last week for some rear liftgate struts, he knew that part number right away. I ordered it, & he call me when it’s in. He even offered me some cherries, as he did not like them (his wife packed them, & did not want to bring them home).

WilliamsSW > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
07/23/2017 at 21:03

Used to work in parts. Can confirm. :)

pip bip - choose Corrour > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
07/24/2017 at 08:05

same with us too.

i’m the walking encyclopaedia (sad i know) and Steve is 60 and incredibly infuriating to put it mildly.

Takuro Spirit > TheRealBicycleBuck
07/24/2017 at 11:02

Sometimes its the customer... that shift knob and boot I got in Friday? Well, the guy asked for a SHIFTER BOOT.

He came in today to pick it up (after looking at the catalog with me and picking it out) and says “This isn’t right. I need the plate under this.”

THEN WHY DID YOU SAY BOOT YOU MORON?!?!

I had half a mind to charge him a stupid tax on top of the price of the hopefully correct part he yet again picked out in the catalog.

TheRealBicycleBuck > Takuro Spirit
07/24/2017 at 11:17

Sometimes it is. In this case, it was not.

CalzoneGolem > TheRealBicycleBuck
07/24/2017 at 11:35

I’m sure that’s exactly what Takuro’s guy would say.

TheRealBicycleBuck > CalzoneGolem
07/24/2017 at 11:41

Probably so. In my defense, I started with a part number and a photograph (seen above) and the moron I was working with first wanted to order the a-pillar windshield trim on the wrong side, and ended up ordering the b-pillar trim for the correct side, but the wrong door.

As of this morning, the correct part is on its way. As it goes, the lady I spoke with ordered the same part number that I started with....

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > TheRealBicycleBuck
07/24/2017 at 11:49

It actually really annoys me when people say “left” or “right” in relation to a car. That’s entirely based off the perspective. From the driver’s seat or standing in front of it?

It wouldn’t bother me so much if there wasn’t a super easy alternative...like driver or passenger side. There’s too much room for interpretation/error when you use left/right

EL_ULY > TheRealBicycleBuck
07/24/2017 at 11:53

Had a dude call in from a no name shop asking for a “bent balb” for a 94 Volvo (no model.... he just said it’s 4 door, no VIN).

When I asked if he could give me the model, VIN and what exactly he meant by a “bent balb” he got pissed and asked to speak with.... and I quote, “someone that knows what they are doing”

Really bruh, I am a 4 year master tech and 3 year parts master. Has he ever called any other dealer ever and not have them ask for a make, model and VIN? He had the nerve to laugh at me and ask for someone else who knew what they’re doing.

I just couldn’t that morning and put him on hold until he he hung up. Fuck all that noise. My boss and owner totally backed me up. We don’t need customers like that.

Wagonlife740 > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
07/24/2017 at 12:01

Its all about the atmosphere at said dealership. Is the manager spreading knowledge or creating a learning environment for the counter guys, or are the counter guys just thrown to the wolves.

TheRealBicycleBuck > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
07/24/2017 at 12:06

Exactly. That’s why I kept saying passenger’s side. I think part of the problem is that the parts diagrams and descriptions are inconsistent.

TheRealBicycleBuck > EL_ULY
07/24/2017 at 12:08

There a good people and bad people on both sides of the counter. The lady I spoke with this morning seems to be one of the good ones. That other moron needs to find another line of work.

V12 Jake- Hittin' Switches > EL_ULY
07/24/2017 at 12:15

What a nut...do you know if there’s any way to tell if a wheel is actually an OEM wheel or not ? I need two rear wheels for my S600, and I found a set for $400 which states they are real. It almost seems too good to be true, so I’d like to find out before hand somehow.

EL_ULY > V12 Jake- Hittin' Switches
07/24/2017 at 12:17

snap a pic of any stamped numbers behind the spokes

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > TheRealBicycleBuck
07/24/2017 at 12:29

Doesn’t surprise me at all. Drives me nuts though.

V12 Jake- Hittin' Switches > EL_ULY
07/24/2017 at 12:30

Kinja'd!!!

CalzoneGolem > TheRealBicycleBuck
07/24/2017 at 12:31

Haha I don’t doubt that you knew exactly what you needed I just couldn’t resist giving you hard time.

EL_ULY > V12 Jake- Hittin' Switches
07/24/2017 at 12:45

my catalog has that number superseding to 6-6-03-1241... which is $950 if it was still available to order, which is not. Discontinued.

BUY THEM NAOW!

V12 Jake- Hittin' Switches > EL_ULY
07/24/2017 at 12:52

Why couldn’t they just fake the numbers?

cluelessk > TheRealBicycleBuck
07/24/2017 at 13:13

Parts guys rarely have the knowledge to do their job.

More often then not it’s an entry level job with no experience needed.

The best parts guys are semi retired mechanics and such.

cluelessk > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
07/24/2017 at 13:17

It’s industry standard to us left and right. It’s taught in trades schools.

You always picture left to right from sitting in the drivers seat.

It’s to keep confusion over LHD and RHD vehicles which in some markets is very common.

EL_ULY > V12 Jake- Hittin' Switches
07/24/2017 at 13:19

because Murica!

Dave the car guy , still here > TheRealBicycleBuck
07/24/2017 at 13:22

...and now you know why myself a parts guy with 35+ yrs experience looks up the part numbers on various manufacturers online catalogs and just get wholesale price from other dealers within our autogroup or other dealership chains. I’ve been in the business and seen it too many times. Have some people with 10-20 yrs experience at other dealers that I even refuse to talk to. I’ve seen expert parts guys with a few yrs behind the counter and some people who have worked as long as I have and still don’t know how to do their job. I won’t go into the details but its worse with certain makes. I keep an actual black book on who to call at different places for various makes and trusted aftermarket suppliers. There are idiots everywhere in all lines of work, you managed to find one.

V12 Jake- Hittin' Switches > EL_ULY
07/24/2017 at 13:32

Kinja'd!!!

USA ! USA ! USA ! USA !USA ! USA !

Needmoargarage > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
07/24/2017 at 13:41

It’s always from the driver’s seat perspective...at least that’s how every manufacturer does it. Using driver/passenger seat leads to more confusion in the industry because those positions change depending on the vehicle market.

ateamfan42 > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
07/24/2017 at 13:48

It actually really annoys me when people say “left” or “right” in relation to a car. That’s entirely based off the perspective. From the driver’s seat or standing in front of it?

In my experience, left/right is always from the perspective of driver’s seat. I’ve yet to see any publication use a different perspective.

That being said, if you aren’t aware that is the “standard” perspective for automotive parts, it is confusing as hell.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > cluelessk
07/24/2017 at 14:55

I disagree we use Driver/Passenger and then indicate RHD if it is. RHD is a very small fraction of the driving world.

(map indicates the side of the road, not the side of the driver)

Kinja'd!!!

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > Needmoargarage
07/24/2017 at 14:56

We use Driver/Passenger and indicate RHD if it is. When operating in the US, the RHD market is relatively small.

cluelessk > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
07/24/2017 at 17:16

Adding LHD and RHD to part desinigtion would just mean one more place for mistakes to be made.

The current system works great.

Needmoargarage > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
07/25/2017 at 10:04

Interesting. I’ve run into issues with a few suppliers using that system before and the resulting (and expensive) confusion when LHD/RHD designation gets left off. Guess it depends how frequently you operate in the global market.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > Needmoargarage
07/25/2017 at 10:20

I operate quite a bit in the global market but you guys all assumed I work in parts. I work in imagery and digital assets.

It’s very easy to properly designate file names.

17_Make_Model_TrimLevel_LHD_DrvrFrnt

17_Make_Model_TrimLevel_RHD_PassRr