DarkMonohue said:Pete. (l33t FS) said:Does not work for some manufacturers, though. I had a 2002 Audi A8L that was manufactured with a heater box from MY2000. And a couple years ago, I had a TT that needed the PCV hoses replaced and the parts shiny happy person at the Audi dealership was berating our service manager because THE PARTS BOOK IS CORRECT, THERE IS NO WAY THE CAR DOESN'T USE THESE PARTS.
I looked up the parts using the catalogs on Jim Ellis's website (which are OE catalogs) and we ordered them from a dealership 30 miles further away...
I think I'd rephrase that slightly to, "does not work flawlessly in every case". Catalog errors do exist, and humans are prone to both error and hubris.
That said, I'd still rather have a customer with a VIN and some basic knowledge. Beats the hell out of one with neither, slapping a greasy 30-year-old part on the counter and barking, "I need one of those!", with the genuine expectation that I either a) recognize it on sight, or b) run it in the back and compare it to every part on the shelf until I find a visual match. We had customers who balked indignantly when we asked for any detail beyond "Toyota" and "four cylinder". I ain't kidding you, some days were bell-to-bell misery.
Working the counter at Napa, you would think the basic information for an individuals vehicle was a secret family recipe handed down 16 generations.
Verbatim:
Customer: "Hi, I need a set of glow plugs"
Me: "Sure thing, what's it for?"
Customer: indignantly "A diesel"
*edit for the meme*
Appleseed said:Having to give a bunch of seemingly rando info to the parts guy isn't the worst thing in the world. Is it?
Nope. I just hate when I drive there in a different car and they have questions I wasnt prepared for. "95 or 110 amp alternator?" E36 M3.
Cooter said:
Is it bad that this got 23 votes? (24) Naaah...
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