TheSamba.com :: View topic

Fri Jan 18, 2008 8:03 pm

OK, so I check on-line for parts (brake backing plates, gaskets, ect) and see them all over the place. I put my list together, and because I a) want to get the best deal, b) want to get my parts soon (while still achieving 'a'), and c) support my local garage, I call the local self-proclaimed "expert" VW shop / parts shop.

The guy in the parts department tells me they dont make backing plates any more and my only hope is find them in the junk yard. Likewise, when I ask about off-set wheel studs, he says "They only sell those with the adapter. You have to buy a new adapter somewhere else cuz we dont sell em."

Looks like I'm going on-line for my parts.

Rant over.

Fri Jan 18, 2008 8:05 pm

Ask him for a price on a water pump for a 68 Square Back.

Fri Jan 18, 2008 8:41 pm

Also dont forget to ask for blinker fluid, muffler bearing, and remember to change the air in your tires from winter air to summer air.

Fri Jan 18, 2008 8:42 pm

i never trust one source. people make mistakes. even so-called "experts"

Fri Jan 18, 2008 9:14 pm

No shit, theres a fucktard here in my town that works at the only parts store that is honestly a foreign parts store.
He's been there for goddamn 10 years now maybe, but muther-fucker cant even give me pedal pads for my fucking 92' GTI without the fucking VIN#.
I was desperate once and bought a cheap generator pulley - grabbed it off the EMPI fucking display on the wall and took it to the register and he couldn't fucking sell it to me without knowing WHAT YEAR CAR IT WAS FOR!!!
Dipshit.
I have endless stories about him.
Called to get some 90.5 base shims, he's on the phone asking what year the VW was, I tell him to just go to the wall and tell me what sizes he has hanging there. He mumbles a little, I hear him typing something, he puts me on hold, comes back and says they don't have them in stock.
Fuck if I didn't drive down there and PULL THEM OFF THE WALL and hand them to him- with a glazed look he tells me they weren't in the computer.
I dont even go in anymore if I see him there.
I'll kill him next time. I fuckin swear.

Fri Jan 18, 2008 9:48 pm

dont ever go to a parts store looking for a size of shock, because the wont know unless you have a part #

Sat Jan 19, 2008 12:05 am

dont ever go to the parts store, just drive your VW until it ignites into flames :o

Sat Jan 19, 2008 6:20 am

I'm sure that's because the guys working in those parts stores are flunkies. There's a small mom&pop place I use because these guys are into cars so they know what they are talking about.

They may be a little more expensive when it comes to stuff you can find everywhere but to help that place stay around by my patronage is worth it.

Find a small local parts place and dump the FLAPs. I'll support a small business whenever possible.

Sat Jan 19, 2008 7:01 am

Friendly local auto parts stores (FLAPS) is what you're recommending, coW. You meant to avoid AutoZone or Pep Boys and the like.

Sat Jan 19, 2008 7:09 am

_monkey_ wrote: Friendly local auto parts stores (FLAPS) is what you're recommending, coW. You meant to avoid AutoZone or Pep Boys and the like.

Sorry - yes.
The small place I use knows me by name, knows what I'm working on, knows what kind of cars we have, etc. They are all gear heads, friendly, willing to help.
You can't beat those places.

Sat Jan 19, 2008 7:42 am

Yep, I was trying to support my local shop. This particlular place (VeeVillage), is supposedely known for their expertise with VW's. I want to support them, but dang it, if this is the kind of service I'm going to get, forget it.

However, I'm willing to concede that it's possible that this one "expert" is having a bad day. I'll give the shop another chance later down the road. But I'm still going to order this batch of parts that they "dont make anymore" on-line.

Sat Jan 19, 2008 8:23 am

MDSuess wrote: Yep, I was trying to support my local shop. This particlular place (VeeVillage), is supposedely known for their expertise with VW's. I want to support them, but dang it, if this is the kind of service I'm going to get, forget it.

However, I'm willing to concede that it's possible that this one "expert" is either incompetent or having a bad day. I'll give the shop another chance later down the road. But I'm still going to order this batch of parts that they "dont make anymore" on-line.

I know Vee Village has been there for years, and in the early 80's, I used to go there to find parts for my '75 SB. Of course, it has been that long since I have been there, but since it is still going, I would put my money on the incompetent 'expert' instead of the business in general. Remember the 10% tard rule: "Tards: Everyone knows one..."

Sat Jan 19, 2008 8:34 am

Lol, I hear these stories all the time. I work for NAPA and I can find your shocks by dimensions only no problem.

Sat Jan 19, 2008 8:40 am

Maybe fill the guy in on this little website. That should be an eye opener.

Sat Jan 19, 2008 9:17 am

Bryan67 wrote: Lol, I hear these stories all the time. I work for NAPA and I can find your shocks by dimensions only no problem.
When getting parts for my Olds, I always go to my local Napa Store. They seem to have real knowledgable folks there, unlike Auto Zone.
I went to Auto Zone once to return a year-old battery with a dead cell under a prorated warranty. I was stuck with a dead vehicle and assured them that the battery would not take a charge and had a dead cell. They refused to believe me, instead demanding that I wait an hour for them to charge/test it. It was wintertime and dark. I said "look I need a battery now, so if you don't believe me about it being dead, sell me a new battery full-price and charge and test this one while I install the new one across town. I will come back to see the results and if you owe me a prorated refund, I'll collect it then. If not, no harm no foul."
No deal. I had to wait an hour to be told what I already knew, dead cell. :roll:
At CarQuest, by comparison, I was sold a fuel pump for the Olds and I called them on a Saturday morning to say that the pump was obviously bad, but I wouldn't have time to drop the tank and prove it before noon that day. Guess what? They believed me and fronted me a second pump, so long as I assured them they'd get the first one back Monday morning.
It's all about the employees, and whether the company is willing to pay for necessary expertise.

Sat Jan 19, 2008 9:56 am

im lucky enough to have a local vw store thats been here for years. he can get everything i need for the same price or cheaper than i can get the stuff online and its great to be able to support a local buisness in my small town here in southern indiana. plus its GREAT to be able to walk two blocks from work to get my parts when i need them instead of having to wait for them to be shipped or back ordered.

Fri Jan 25, 2008 1:52 pm

OK, so I work for a place that has to look up parts for customers, now i dont mind(USUALLY) untill some prick says
do you know what youre doing or what im talking about?!!
i say yes sir, but your the shop or person who actually owns/working on the car.
if i go in and i think that the guy behind the counter is an idiot, i research first what might cross over in application or i do my homework to find a true name of the part according to them. on an iroc i had i went to auto zone and asked for a oil pressure sending unit, well they tried to give me one that worked for a 305 v-8 and i had a 383 stroker....... i kknew the part numbers were different, so i asked for one off a Vette and guess what it worked, look it is their job, but if we knew everything we would not get so mad when they dont. so everyone calling me and getting mad cause im not all into their super beetle or even an oval window history........screw off!!! all my life untill two years ago i just laughed at the cars that caught on fire and had go-cart motors!

Fri Jan 25, 2008 3:21 pm

Bub wrote: No shit, theres a fucktard here in my town .......
I have endless stories about him.

these goons infect the planet and breathe ...there is one at my local VW spares shop.
I swear he chews gum to remember where his mouth is. :roll:

Fri Jan 25, 2008 3:51 pm

I went into one of our local parts stores this morning and asked for a in line lower radiator hose block heater. The girl looked at me like she had just been flashed, turned around and walked away into the back and never came back! I looked at the other parts person who was standing there and had heard my request, shrugged his shoulders, looked back down at his magazine and didn't offer any assistance. I asked him if he could help, he slammed his magazine shut, went in back and brought back an arm full of the heaters, slammed them down and walked away.

I turned around and walked out.

What the heck is going on? Is it to much stress on people now-a-days or what?

Fri Jan 25, 2008 4:13 pm

tatersgravy wrote: I went into one of our local parts stores this morning and asked for a in line lower radiator hose block heater. The girl looked at me like she had just been flashed, turned around and walked away into the back and never came back! I looked at the other parts person who was standing there and had heard my request, shrugged his shoulders, looked back down at his magazine and didn't offer any assistance. I asked him if he could help, he slammed his magazine shut, went in back and brought back an arm full of the heaters, slammed them down and walked away.

I turned around and walked out.

What the heck is going on? Is it to much stress on people now-a-days or what?

WOW!!! i cannot believe that anyone would treat a customer that way...

i work in sales at an unnamed hardware store (pretty much based in WI :wink: ) and i get a few guests that i want to get rid of too but hey its my job i help them in the best way i can. SOME people are just to absurd to help... When i get treated like shit i definitely am short with them and non friendly... These people just suck...

with that being said i really enjoy work when i can talk with people and feel comfortable enough to BS for a while... (the managers dont like it much) but hey im doing my job selling!!! lol i have many people that know me by name and sometimes ask for me by name.... if i dont have a certain thing in stock or don't carry it i offer them solutions (even go as far as suggesting the competition)....

and everyone please take it easy on the people that serve you remember treat others the way you want to be treated....

btw my 1000th post lol!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!