Yup. It's that time again.
I just called an Advance Auto to get a warranty replacement of an AC condenser and spoke to a real gem.
I began by explaining that I needed to exchange a part under warranty. He asks me for my phone number. I explained to him that my order was an online order, and that it would not pull up under my phone number.
He tells me that I need to call the store I got the part from. Explaining to him that part warranties are nationwide had no effect on him. He insisted warranties are only good at the original store. (False)
I asked him to at least confirm that the part I need is in stock and gave him the part number. He insisted that he cannot look up parts by the part number and needed the year, make, and model. I wasn't trying to be a pain. I've just noticed that these guys tend to get lost when approaching a parts search that way, and it's better to give a part number.
I supplied the information, and he immediately begins telling me what alternators he has available for my truck. I explain to him once again that it is an AC condenser. He looks up the condenser and tells me it has to be ordered. I ask him how long it will take to get. He tells me that he can't give that information until I pay for it. (False. What is this? A Colombian drug deal?)
I finally got fed up with him and decided to make some additional requests:
"I need spark plugs and plug wires for my 2007 Dodge Ram with the 6.7 engine, pushrods for a 2001 Ford Taurus with 3.0 DOHC engine, and a distributor cap and rotor for a 2007 Chevrolet Tahoe."
He placed me on hold for about 20 minutes while he went to find everything. I went about my business with him on speakerphone as I he did this.
He came back on the line very frustrated and asked me if I had VIN numbers for those vehicles. I hung up.
Exactly why and how is there no standard for competency in this business at all anymore? This is such a sweet deal for these parts stores that they can thrive while screwing up what must be half of everything they do.
I just called an Advance Auto to get a warranty replacement of an AC condenser and spoke to a real gem.
I began by explaining that I needed to exchange a part under warranty. He asks me for my phone number. I explained to him that my order was an online order, and that it would not pull up under my phone number.
He tells me that I need to call the store I got the part from. Explaining to him that part warranties are nationwide had no effect on him. He insisted warranties are only good at the original store. (False)
I asked him to at least confirm that the part I need is in stock and gave him the part number. He insisted that he cannot look up parts by the part number and needed the year, make, and model. I wasn't trying to be a pain. I've just noticed that these guys tend to get lost when approaching a parts search that way, and it's better to give a part number.
I supplied the information, and he immediately begins telling me what alternators he has available for my truck. I explain to him once again that it is an AC condenser. He looks up the condenser and tells me it has to be ordered. I ask him how long it will take to get. He tells me that he can't give that information until I pay for it. (False. What is this? A Colombian drug deal?)
I finally got fed up with him and decided to make some additional requests:
"I need spark plugs and plug wires for my 2007 Dodge Ram with the 6.7 engine, pushrods for a 2001 Ford Taurus with 3.0 DOHC engine, and a distributor cap and rotor for a 2007 Chevrolet Tahoe."
He placed me on hold for about 20 minutes while he went to find everything. I went about my business with him on speakerphone as I he did this.
He came back on the line very frustrated and asked me if I had VIN numbers for those vehicles. I hung up.
Exactly why and how is there no standard for competency in this business at all anymore? This is such a sweet deal for these parts stores that they can thrive while screwing up what must be half of everything they do.