But I thought Copper Plugs are Steel Tipped and Iridium Plugs are Iridium Tipped. Why wouldn't Iridium work in some cars and copper plugs work better?
Another story from the parts counter
- Thread starter yesthatsteve
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Originally Posted By: Miller88
Originally Posted By: bubbatime
Originally Posted By: yesthatsteve
Originally Posted By: SLCraig
Haha
Copper plugs for life!
30k miles at a time, baby!
No kidding. I'll never understand the more maintenace with the same cost outlook. Confused here...
I use iridiums as 100K miles. No need to change them more often as they look good and still have life in them. I would never go back to copper plugs for a daily driver.
In the real world, here in upstate NY, where the car runs pig rich 6 months of the year, a plug is "good" for 100K miles but the quality degrades quickly.
I pulled some iridium plugs out of my Focus at 36K. They still looked good, but performance definitely degraded. With the new platinum (100K ... likely good for the rest of the life of the car) the car definitely gained some power back. I will change at 60K miles.
Reminds me that I need to change mine...
Originally Posted By: bubbatime
Originally Posted By: yesthatsteve
Originally Posted By: SLCraig
Haha
Copper plugs for life!
30k miles at a time, baby!
No kidding. I'll never understand the more maintenace with the same cost outlook. Confused here...
I use iridiums as 100K miles. No need to change them more often as they look good and still have life in them. I would never go back to copper plugs for a daily driver.
In the real world, here in upstate NY, where the car runs pig rich 6 months of the year, a plug is "good" for 100K miles but the quality degrades quickly.
I pulled some iridium plugs out of my Focus at 36K. They still looked good, but performance definitely degraded. With the new platinum (100K ... likely good for the rest of the life of the car) the car definitely gained some power back. I will change at 60K miles.
Reminds me that I need to change mine...
I don't think your counterperson was outright lying to you. He was likely parroting what he heard from someone else and believes it to be true. They are often trying to be helpful without realizing how ignorant and/or inexperienced they are.
I also doubt any of the national chains pay commission to your average counterperson. They do get some attaboys for upselling and related add-on sales, but that's about it.
I also doubt any of the national chains pay commission to your average counterperson. They do get some attaboys for upselling and related add-on sales, but that's about it.
Originally Posted By: TMoto
I don't think your counterperson was outright lying to you. He was likely parroting what he heard from someone else and believes it to be true. They are often trying to be helpful without realizing how ignorant and/or inexperienced they are.
I also doubt any of the national chains pay commission to your average counterperson. They do get some attaboys for upselling and related add-on sales, but that's about it.
This right here sums up what happened. Only company that pays a commission that I know of is O'reilly and that is based off the whole store sales. Most of these guys are just in it for a paycheck , there are a few who are passionate and knowledgeable about the profession . Stores with at least 1 guy/gal like this are generally better as they tend to rub of on the other employees.
I don't think your counterperson was outright lying to you. He was likely parroting what he heard from someone else and believes it to be true. They are often trying to be helpful without realizing how ignorant and/or inexperienced they are.
I also doubt any of the national chains pay commission to your average counterperson. They do get some attaboys for upselling and related add-on sales, but that's about it.
This right here sums up what happened. Only company that pays a commission that I know of is O'reilly and that is based off the whole store sales. Most of these guys are just in it for a paycheck , there are a few who are passionate and knowledgeable about the profession . Stores with at least 1 guy/gal like this are generally better as they tend to rub of on the other employees.
Originally Posted By: Thax
Originally Posted By: TMoto
I don't think your counterperson was outright lying to you. He was likely parroting what he heard from someone else and believes it to be true. They are often trying to be helpful without realizing how ignorant and/or inexperienced they are.
I also doubt any of the national chains pay commission to your average counterperson. They do get some attaboys for upselling and related add-on sales, but that's about it.
This right here sums up what happened. Only company that pays a commission that I know of is O'reilly and that is based off the whole store sales. Most of these guys are just in it for a paycheck , there are a few who are passionate and knowledgeable about the profession . Stores with at least 1 guy/gal like this are generally better as they tend to rub of on the other employees.
X2.
He doesn't get any commission on the sale, but a higher sale will make his numbers better and management is watching.
The explanation he gave is probably something he heard from someone else. Maybe his manager, maybe uncle Jim Bob, who knows. It probably wasn't malicious so much as uninformed. Some people behind the counter are good at BSing even if they don't really know what they are talking about...until someone comes along who knows more than they do. Most of the customers this guy is interacting with, even the ones buying spark plugs, have no clue either.
When I sell plugs, I let the customer pick. I tell them what is available, and what the manufacturer specifies, but I don't tell them they need whatever XTREME IRIDIUM +4 plug or whatever for $14.99 a piece. If they ask, I give them a basic explanation...copper is a good conductor, but requires a shorter change interval, platinum lasts a long time and is also fairly inexpensive, but doesn't conduct as well, and iridium is a pricier compromise between conductivity and long life. That's enough to completely confuse and blow the minds of most people. If they want to be pushed in some direction, I push them to the offering that is closest to OE.
When I do tune ups at my main job, I always push OE because I don't want to do the job again. Some people will go get their own plugs for their '99 Cherokee or whatever and come back with Bosch Super Extreme Fusion Iridium +4+8+16 plugs, and I say no, go return these for some Champion coppers please.
Originally Posted By: TMoto
I don't think your counterperson was outright lying to you. He was likely parroting what he heard from someone else and believes it to be true. They are often trying to be helpful without realizing how ignorant and/or inexperienced they are.
I also doubt any of the national chains pay commission to your average counterperson. They do get some attaboys for upselling and related add-on sales, but that's about it.
This right here sums up what happened. Only company that pays a commission that I know of is O'reilly and that is based off the whole store sales. Most of these guys are just in it for a paycheck , there are a few who are passionate and knowledgeable about the profession . Stores with at least 1 guy/gal like this are generally better as they tend to rub of on the other employees.
X2.
He doesn't get any commission on the sale, but a higher sale will make his numbers better and management is watching.
The explanation he gave is probably something he heard from someone else. Maybe his manager, maybe uncle Jim Bob, who knows. It probably wasn't malicious so much as uninformed. Some people behind the counter are good at BSing even if they don't really know what they are talking about...until someone comes along who knows more than they do. Most of the customers this guy is interacting with, even the ones buying spark plugs, have no clue either.
When I sell plugs, I let the customer pick. I tell them what is available, and what the manufacturer specifies, but I don't tell them they need whatever XTREME IRIDIUM +4 plug or whatever for $14.99 a piece. If they ask, I give them a basic explanation...copper is a good conductor, but requires a shorter change interval, platinum lasts a long time and is also fairly inexpensive, but doesn't conduct as well, and iridium is a pricier compromise between conductivity and long life. That's enough to completely confuse and blow the minds of most people. If they want to be pushed in some direction, I push them to the offering that is closest to OE.
When I do tune ups at my main job, I always push OE because I don't want to do the job again. Some people will go get their own plugs for their '99 Cherokee or whatever and come back with Bosch Super Extreme Fusion Iridium +4+8+16 plugs, and I say no, go return these for some Champion coppers please.
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