Tired or ordering parts, just tired of the attitude... Options

[thomasotten]

I am really getting tired of placing orders for parts. I don't want to mention any names but I just placed an order from this place that borders a state that got hit real hard by the last hurricane, and there is just this attitude or smugness that just rubs me the wrong way. I asked if a particular item they had was OEM. Instead of just saying, "I'm sorry, OEM is not available on that part", I get "Now, you tell me where your going to find an OEM of that!" I mean, it's not said in a mean way, but I get off the phone feeling like a kid asking his Dad for something and being told no. And it's just not this one place, I have experienced this with other places and even walk-up places.

It is like the people who dish out the parts have this gnostic know-it-all smugness. If you show any sign of doubt or questions, they sieze on that to show how they know so much more. I am getting to the point that I would just rather place orders completely online, or from Ebay.

Rant Over

[lapuwali]

You should send the exact same message to the attention of the sales manager of that company

If this is the company I think it is, contacting the sales manager will, if anything, get you even more attitude. They continue to exist primarily because of a regular flow of new customers who don't know any better.

To slightly change the subject, I hate getting jacked over on parts when you try and support the little guy and buy locally.

The life of a retail parts house is hard, esp. now. The smarter ones aren't fighting, but joining, setting up e-commerce sites and expanding their business with phone and online orders, rather than just trying to survive on local business.

I had a conversation with a guy who runs a one-man British parts place that's been in business for nearly 30 years. Business was very good then, and stayed good until about 10 years ago. The slow decline in the number of British cars still needing parts, coupled with the growth of the mail/online businesses, are hurting him badly. However, I don't feel too bad for the guy, because he's refusing to change to adapt, or even go out of his way to reverse the trend. I asked him if we was planning to attend a local British car show that was happening that particular weekend, and he looked at me like I was insane, saying he didn't have time for that. Now, think, advertising costs serious money (he only has an ad in the Yellow Pages!), but with little return. Paying for a booth at a car show full of dedicated and local customers who probably didn't even know he existed would have a far better return. He completely failed to grasp that supporting local clubs and making himself visible at events paid off far better than an ad in a phone book no one even looks at anymore. Zero on-line presence, and no desire to acquire one. Yet his shop is in one of the most plugged-in areas in the country.

I do try to support local businesses, but some clearly don't deserve to be supported. The successful ones do support the local clubs. The most succesful actually create events (Moss Motors, one of the top retailers of British parts in the US, has a huge event every year).