.

the car junkie daily magazine.

.

Unknown Parts Counter Guy: Even The Know-It-All Didn’t Know What Was About To Hit Him…


Unknown Parts Counter Guy: Even The Know-It-All Didn’t Know What Was About To Hit Him…

Since the beginning, one of the main goals of the Parts Guy was to showcase the stupidity of the employees and customers, especially the ones who have absolutely no business near a car, let alone owning and maintaining one. They make for great stories and cringe-worthy moments, sure. But much more annoying than the person who doesn’t care about their car is the person that cares too much, who looks at the person behind the counter as an insignificant little troll in a company-colored shirt that is only working here because McDonalds has too many burger flippers. There is no arguing with this type, as they know it all, you should know what they are talking about, and if you question them, then you are wasting their time.

Here’s one poor soul’s experience with one of these jackasses:

Around here, people treat their trucks like royalty. If something breaks on their baby, they want the perfect part for it right now, and if they have to wait they act like children. It’s bad enough when a Ford or Chevy guy does it, but we have one guy who comes in who owns an International pickup. It looks like it’s spent half of it’s life as a cow’s scratching post and the other half parked next to the ocean, but the guy adores it. He’s a prick when it comes to getting parts…this is a guy who gets upset if the bulb number has changed from what he learned in 1971. He comes in one day needing a distributor cap for an “International 383”.  When I inform him that Internationals didn’t come with a 383, and asked if it was a 345, he gets pissed and repeats that it’s an International Harvester 383 in the truck, and if I need to see it for myself then go right ahead. I inform him that unless someone shoved in a Chrysler big-block that it’s one of the two engines I mentioned. Now he wants to see my manager, great. When my manager tells him exactly what I’m telling him he goes off, yelling about young people never listen and don’t give a shit and then calls our district manager. I’m waiting to hear back from his office.

1973_International_Harvester_150_PickUp_resize

Maybe he had the rare Light Line 440-6?

 Yeah, I’ve seen a couple of those idiots. Usually they can be defused. I got good at it, mostly because I could prove I knew more than they did (or at least got them to prove to me what I wasn’t seeing.) If it were me, I would’ve gone out there and looked for the distributor, and if it was anywhere but at an angle in the front of the manifold, I would’ve explained that it wasn’t a 383ci and if he didn’t like it he could go pound sand. If I was the manager and I heard him ripping one of my employees apart I’d have been out there with all of the tact and charm of a school of piranha in the middle of a feeding frenzy.

Remember, you came to the store for help with a part. Unless you had a part number and got the wrong part anyways, work with the counterclerk. Especially if you have some random vehicle that was low production…or one that hasn’t been made in forty-ish years.

 


  • Share This
  • Pinterest
  • 0

20 thoughts on “Unknown Parts Counter Guy: Even The Know-It-All Didn’t Know What Was About To Hit Him…

  1. Beagle

    hell, I carry in the part numbers printed off of their computer from their website, on a list showing the exact model for each part, and they still ask if my car parts are from a 2wd or 4wd… It goes both ways.

    I’d have definitely offered to go look at the truck with him, his cow post / sea wall might just be the rarest IH EVAR!!! lol. It’s probably not like there were forty five pissed off people in line anyway wanting you to hurry up, right? Sometimes if you don’t make them wait, they don’t think you are worth waiting for… 🙂

  2. John T

    no offence mate but I think you’re in the wrong line of work…you get so hung up on this shit. Do you really care that much? I work in customer service too ( mines at a uni) but its exactly the same.. know it alls, idiots, we get them all. Its nice that you know your shit but there are more car parts guys out there that don’t know much, if anything. I had a guy at a Repco store who I asked where the thermo fans are – had no idea what I was talking about. I explained that they were electric fans – he looked at me like I was an alien. Had another guy that I asked for an engine mount for a Cleveland. A what for a what? was his reply.. I explained to him what an engine mount was, then explained what a Cleveland was, and he still had no idea. Once asked a guy for a harmonic balancer and he asked if I meant a harmonica then explained patiently that they didn’t stock musical instruments, all the while smirking at me. So yeh there are idiots on both sides of the counter….

    1. Parts Guy

      Of course it’s nit-picking. Over the majority of the time I was there it was typical sales. I just point out the asshats that make the day that much more annoying or the ones who make it interesting (like the gospel-singing lady who hugged me hard enough to shift a cracked rib.)

      1. GuitarSlinger

        I would assume you’re also picking out the worst of the worst stories because they are a hell of a lot more entertaining 😉

        The sad fact though is that any of these stories you’re telling can go both ways . Sometimes [ ok … most times ] the customer is the asshat . But more often than not its the sales person that is the asshat .

        The real question being ; Which is worse ? The sales & service asshat … or the customer asshat ?

        In my opinion .. its pretty much a toss up and depending on the specific situation and people involved

  3. OpC

    I told one counter person that I didn’t have the particular truck this motor came out of and they still asked me if it was 2wd or 4wd. I told her it shouldn’t make a difference for the oil pan gasket.

    As often as possible I give them the part numbers of what I want and they still ask me what it’s for…it’s for what I’m working on, just get the part. You can tell the difference between curiosity and stupidity.

    1. Nytro

      They will ask you information about the truck not because they’re confused (though some may be) but because most operating systems used in auto parts stores require entering complete year, make and model information before allowing the employee to access any part numbers for that vehicle, and this includes 2 or 4 wheel drive for trucks.
      It’s not a matter of incompetence, it’s a matter of satisfying the computer’s inquiries.
      I go through this every time with my Chevy half ton, it’s just part of the process.

  4. Magpie

    I had a bloke that bought a set of shocks back because they were too short ..The place was a packed Saturday morning & we were out numbered 4 to 1 , He said he bolted the base to the diff housing but the shaft was too short to get the nut & washer on , because I was serving three customers at once I asked him to unpack the box & show me what he was trying to explain , when he thrust the shock at me to get his point across I grabbed it and slowly pulled the shaft to it full length……his exit was pretty funny ….

  5. Scott Liggett

    Could have been the previous owner replaced the tractor engine with a 383 Chevy stroker. I have seen many a International done that way.

  6. Aj

    First for the people that say 2wd or 4wd doesn’t matter, clerks look at a computer that will not let them pull up photos or numbers..so give them a break , if you brought part numbers off a website, clerks are trained to look it up anyway to verify the part number. if you never worked as parts counterperson give them a break they are WORKING TO HELP YOU, yes I know there are plenty of morons that work the counter!!!!!!!!!!!

    1. PJ

      The point of the 2wd or 4wd is for the counter person to use some common sense.
      “I’d like some wiper blades for my 98 Chev 1500.”
      Is it 2wd or 4wd? or Does it have A/C?
      Seriously? They are wiper blades, figure it out.
      I’ve been a parts tech for 15 years, its not rocket science.
      I also don’t shop at places that have those kinds of screens. Canadian Tire is a prime example, I’m not American so I have no idea what your equivalent is.

      1. Whelk

        I’m not sure I could find a place that doesn’t use those screens. Generally I go to Rock and just work the screen myself.

      2. Nytro

        Sometimes, there is a difference between two and four wheel drive for parts, like the oil filter on some mid 90s full size Chevy trucks.
        If you want the filter with the proper threads, you’d better damn well answer the two or four wheel drive question.

  7. braktrcr

    Parts Guy. Keep up the stories, Most of us sympathize, because we have dealt with similar situations, regardless of the job. ie Broken TV, “Is it plugged in?” Parking lights wont go off…”Did you push the button all the way in?” Your racecar is a Vega? “How can that be?” Try explaining Bracket Racing to somebody sometime, and you will get exasperated beyond belief.
    So all of that to say, please keep the stories coming, most of us relate.

  8. Tony Sestito

    I’ve commented many times before on these “unknown parts counter guy” posts, mainly because I sympathize. I did time slinging auto parts at one of the bigger chain stores all through college, and corrupted me and filled me with disdain for my fellow man because stuff like this happened EVERY SINGLE DAY I worked there.

    I know work is called work for a reason, but dealing with the general public, especially when they are pissed off and either can’t afford to bring their car to a mechanic or think they are brave enough to tackle a repair themselves but really shouldn’t… it messes with your head. I worked there for 4 years, and I could probably write a book with the stories I can tell about my experiences. From people stealing things right in front of you, to getting brake pads thrown at your head from people too impatient to wait in line, to a guy brazenly beating his wife and kid in the parking lot from us not having parts for his car: I have seen it all. These guys that work here see the absolute worst humanity has to offer.

    It’s not so much that he should find another line of work; telling these stories gives the average reader the hell parts slingers go through on a daily basis. I do not know anyone that has worked at one of these places that emerged from the experience with a cheery outlook on life. I find it entertaining, and it validates that I am not crazy, so I’ll keep reading as long as the stories get posted.

  9. Tedly

    There’s idiot on both sides of the counter. Had a parts guy not know what the hell I was talking about when I asked him where the oil dry was. Had a customer want to know how to tell if his Sebring was a convertible when I asked. The know it alls were always far worse than the clueless to me. Someone who is ignorant can be taught. You can’t fix stupid though.

    Oh yeah, if that was a transplanted Chevy or Chrysler motor in the Interntional, than he would know damn well not to refer to it as an International motor. If you’ve got half a brain you figure that out real fast when you go to get parts for it.

  10. cyclone03

    Ok ,but why when I ask for 8 Autolite 3924’s and you ask me MM&Y and I tell you 68 Ford Mustang 390 with aluminum heads do you have to argue with me a tell me those plugs wont fit? I KNOW THE COMPUTER.
    How about a 68 Mustang Electronic Ignition module, I know a 68 doesnt have that either. Just give me the part number I want.

    1. John Brown

      If you should be so lucky as to have the factory installed TI ignition on a 68, the amplifier would part number C5SF-12A027-B. These early TI ignitions still used points in the distributor but handled the secondary firing with transistors.

  11. partshelpabuser

    Guilty of counter abuse – wife had 87 model year Sentra .Went to a local small parts store not a chain – asked for a distributor cap and rotor . Rotor did not fit.problem was 1/2″ vrs 5/8 ” shaft ( ya ya -mm dia’s ) . Counter guy was someone I went to school with since the third grade in the 60’s …
    He was not happy he could not help me…thought a return was
    mis-packaged . Went to another store – counter guy got a weird look
    and asked when the car was built ..turns out ‘ 87 ‘ model Sentras used
    three different distributers ….mine was built in 86 and had a distributor
    that was only used for a three month window …my bad

  12. internationalnational

    just a heads up international did indeed make a 383 FOR tractors and it WAS possible to transplant the 383 into a truck or Special order a truck wit ha 383

Comments are closed.