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What The &*^! Is Wrong With The Parts Departments?

RedAV

Full Member
Joined
May 11, 2002
Messages
190
What the heck is wrong with the part departments in dealerships these days? What happened to the part guy who knew the most used stock? What happened to parts guys who "think outside of the box"?

When did the pod people trade part guys with parts swappers?

Are they just a bunch of skivvy stackers?

Are they just trained monkeys who can use a computer?

Trained chickens who can peck at a keyboard?

Here is the story.

I got my fender flairs that I am going to install on my 1500 Z71. As I knew, the attachment hardware did not come with them so I though I would stop by the dealer to get some.

I bring the flair in and tell him "This is a fender flair for a 2500 series Avalanche. I need the attachment hardware."

He gives me that slack jawed stare. :2: (There is a Red AV like mine sitting in front of the Parts Department and the lot is full of AVs.)

"What is that again?" he says. It is already starting off bad I think to myself.

I explain again what it is.

"What kind of vehicle do you have?" he asks. Uh Oh! Trouble starts.

"I have a 1500 Series Avalanche" I say. "But this is from a 2500 AV so it won't be on the 1500 fiche/database".

"How is a 2500 part going to fit on a 1500?" he says. :2:

At that point I am p*ssed and reduced to shoving the box with the parts number on it in his face. "Just give me the attachment hardware for this part."

He pecks at the keyboard like a chicken and finds the exploded view. "How many do you need?"

"I have four flairs so I will need 16 of them", I say.

"There aren't flairs on the rear on a 2500, only the front".

:7: :7: I wonder to myself "Did I ask that questions you fool?"

"Order 16", I say. He replies, "We don't have them in stock. I will have to order them?"

WTF? :8: They have to order a basic cheap part like that? No wonder some members complain how their AV sits in the shop waiting for simple work. They are waiting for the parts.

Needless to say, it has been a frustrating morning. Of course it doesn't help to have found a chip in the paint on the sharp rear fender edge. :C:It looks like someone opened their door into the fender edge. Just a few more days and it would have been covered.
 
I have found your statements becomming more and more common at various parts counters I have encountered as well.

Even worse, it is carrying over to the auto sales people as well.

When the wife and I went looking for an AV, we knew at least double about the AV than any person on staff at the first Chevy dealer we went to. The dealer we ended up buying it from, even though the sales person had owned an AV 5 months prior, we still had him beat with our knowledge.

Come on, it is not like there are that many models and differences to Chevy cars on any one dealer's lot. It would be nice for the people SELLING them to know at least what features and options are available on them. If nothing else, be able to talk intelligently about them. In our experience and my opinion, those days are long gone.

I share your frustration... :8:

Malcolm
 
Well, in contrast to this story, I'd like to say I have an excellent parts guy at my local dealership. "Parts Tom" is the night parts guy at the local Chevy dealership. He is there from 2-10pm, which makes it really convenient to call and pickup parts after work. He is intelligent, knowledgeable, and gives me a good discount!

I guess not everyone can have a "Parts Tom" Call me lucky!
 
RedAv
I understand your excitement - I have the same issue when I take mine in for service or problems. They talk to me like I am dumb. They are making $x and hour and can't afford to drive and AV, and here come an owner who has a higher skill base and can aford an AV - maybe they should listen a little.

ZX - you are lucky. All the dealers in my area shut down at 5pm.

What a concept - staying open past when your customers get off work and can stop by to get parts.

I think in most shops, the parts dept is only there to service the mechanics and the customers are a distant thought.

Sounds like you have a good dealer.

I am trying out a new dealer in my area, since my dealer doesn't seem to have a clue in the service area. I will know more on Friday after my truck goes in.
 
Unfortunately you experience is not limited to auto dealer parts departments. High employee turnover, poor training, and lots of employees that just don't care are making this more and more common. Go into your average hardware store and ask for anything by a technical description . . #10-32 x 1" socket head cap screw . . for example and see what they say. Often something like . . "Duh . . yea we got screws"

Sad state of affairs - and a lesson to learn - if you find an establishment with expertise and good customer service - give thm your business- even if they cost a bit more - else they won't be around long.
 
RedAV said:
What the heck is wrong with the part departments in dealerships these days? What happened to the part guy who knew the most used stock? What happened to parts guys who "think outside of the box"?

Since you live near me....I have to ask. What dealership? I have my suspicions.
 
:8: I know what you mean about the parts department having zombies working for them. One in particular is Vara Chevrolet in San Antonio, Texas. They have the worst parts department people.

My experience: I called to see about getting amber bulbs to change out my DRL's. I called and the guy answered, i asked the simple question of "do you have Sylvania bulbs no. 41 whatever" the guy tells me , what vechicle is this for ma'am. I tell him that is not important, I want to know if you have them, he goes on to say I need the make, model, and year of the vechicle. I tell him, I need to know if you have these damn things in stock, he refused to tell me. i then said I have an Avalanche, then he stopped me and started to say, "ma'am you can't change out your DRL clear bulbs to amber bulbs" I say "excuse me but its my Avalanche and I make the payments, I can change out what ever the hell I please" then proceeded to hang up on him. You can't believe the frustration I had :8: :8: :8: when I hung up the phone. I wrote a letter to the owner and haven't heard from him. This happened over a month ago. I didn't expect to hear back, but this is the 2nd unsatisfactory letter I sent to that dealer. I got lousy service from them 2 years ago on the S-10 i drove before I got my AV.

So needless to say, stay away from Vara Chevrolet, I bought my AV at Gunn Chevy and get excellent service there, in the parts dept and the service dept I would rather drive the 45 miles to get my AV serviced at Gunn than have to deal with Vara they are jackasses at Vara. :C: :C: :C:

Gunn Chevrolet is the Best :love:
 
Heck I just call Dal at Van Devere and have it shipped.....I have not thought to check with local dealerships as I know they are pretty much drones punchy keyboards and asking way too much $$
 
My wife actually got into an argument with a parts guy at a local dealer because he was convinced that the only Avalanche that you can get a tent for is the Northface Edition...we ordered from Dal.
 
byron said:
Since you live near me....I have to ask. ?What dealership? ?I have my suspicions.

Yes, it is the one you are thinking about. Good luck is all I say. I wonder what the Service Department is like.

Jeez.
 
RedAV said:
Yes, it is the one you are thinking about. Good luck is all I say. I wonder what the Service Department is like.

Jeez.

Specifically the one located in Conroe on Fraiser? If so I'll tell you the whole dealership sucks ass. They screwed up my truck, then blamed me for it. Their service department and body shop all are lousy. I will not take ANYTHING to them anymore.
 
byron said:
Specifically the one located in Conroe on Fraiser? ?If so I'll tell you the whole dealership sucks ass. ?They screwed up my truck, then blamed me for it. ?Their service department and body shop all are lousy. ?I will not take ANYTHING to them anymore.

AHH, no, the one you go to on SH 249.

The parts were ready when I got there when I got off work.

Went home, started to mod and the &*^!!# attachment device was too small.

Wrong part it looks like! :8:
 
I can completely relate to dealling with parts departments.

I am a service technician in a Freightliner Truck dealership. I spend many many hours standing at the parts counter trying to get through to the "kids" behind the counter (who don't know a brake shoe from a speedometer) what it is that I need to repair my customer's trucks.

What is really irritating is that labor is $75 per hour in the class 8 truck world, and customers don't want to pay that time for a Tech to stand at the parts counter, they are paying for work to be done to there trucks. I have calculated a 20% loss in my technician efficiency (# of hours worked vs # of hours paid for by the customer) due to ignorance of parts department personnel. (if only I could bill that time to the parts dept!)

I have started learning the parts inventory computers myself in my free time so that I may bypass the idiots.

 
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