So I went to a local Buick dealer for a price on an Oxygen Sensor and the kid (early 20's) behind the parts counter tells me that I need to supply him with the VIN of the car. I offered to give him the specific part number I needed a price for, but he insisted on a VIN. I explained that I just needed a price and that I wasn't going to order it today. Is this really necessary you think? I just left and didn't bother with him.

What do you guys think? Am I the only one who feels this is shady for some reason?

Sorry meant to put this in GDD.

 

he's full of BS

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Dat_EM1 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">he's full of BS </TD></TR></TABLE>X2..i agree 100%..you had the specific part # in your hand..all he had to do was look it up for you.."lil big man" was trying to pull a power trip

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Dat_EM1 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">he's full of BS </TD></TR></TABLE>

Um no he's not you clown. When i worked in the Subaru Parts Dept, <u>To get the exact CORRECT part for the car that the cust. is looking for, the VIN # narrows it down to one specific part #.</u>

I'm not sure if he was asking for the VIN because he couldn't or wouldn't give out prices without it, which in that case is not necessary and rediculous.

BUT if he was asking for it so he could get the exact part # and not have a bunch of different Engine sizes, trims, and models, then that is valid.

****: didn't know you had the actual part # sirius... in that case, i still wouldn't have given it to ya!!! lol

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Thurman_Merman &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

Um no he's not you clown. When i worked in the Subaru Parts Dept, <u>To get the exact CORRECT part for the car that the cust. is looking for, the VIN # narrows it down to one specific part #.</u>

I'm not sure if he was asking for the VIN because he couldn't or wouldn't give out prices without it, which in that case is not necessary and rediculous.

BUT if he was asking for it so he could get the exact part # and not have a bunch of different Engine sizes, trims, and models, then that is valid.

****: didn't know you had the actual part # sirius... in that case, i still wouldn't have given it to ya!!! lol </TD></TR></TABLE>

very good point...on some parts you really do need the actual VIN # to narrow it down to get the specific part. as far as i know at my HONDA dealership...we dont need the VIN # to get majority of mechanical parts.

As for the O2 sensor, you dont need the VIN#, all you need is year of the car, make, and model. Maybe the reason why he asked for the VIN # cause he was probably new....or maybe just an *******....

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by XxSOHCDriVerxX &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
As for the O2 sensor, you dont need the VIN#, all you need is year of the car, make, and model. Maybe the reason why he asked for the VIN # cause he was probably new....or maybe just an *******....</TD></TR></TABLE>

very valids points Henry, although that's where subaru is different than alot of other dealerships aparently. there are so many different models, engine sizes, and either CA, canada, or US.... getting the O2 sensor almost everytime required us to get the VIN or at least the last 4.

go back to the dealership sirius and tell that newb to go kick some damn rocks if you've got the part # and all you want is a price

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Thurman_Merman &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

<U>Um no he's not you clown.</U> When i worked in the Subaru Parts Dept, <u>To get the exact CORRECT part for the car that the cust. is looking for, the VIN # narrows it down to one specific part #.</u>

I'm not sure if he was asking for the VIN because he couldn't or wouldn't give out prices without it, which in that case is not necessary and rediculous.

BUT if he was asking for it so he could get the exact part # and not have a bunch of different Engine sizes, trims, and models, then that is valid.

****: didn't know you had the actual part # sirius... in that case, i still wouldn't have given it to ya!!! lol </TD></TR></TABLE>

plz explain why am i a clown? He told the guy he had the part number already and just wanted a price check, so wtf would he need the vin. He didn't say Oh i need a "whatyouma callit" for a suby....what is the price....He clearly stated he just wanted a price for part #****** and that was it. so go through your mothers panties if u wanna see clowns

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Thurman_Merman &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

very valids points Henry, although that's where subaru is different than alot of other dealerships aparently. there are so many different models, engine sizes, and either CA, canada, or US.... getting the O2 sensor almost everytime required us to get the VIN or at least the last 4.

go back to the dealership sirius and tell that newb to go kick some damn rocks if you've got the part # and all you want is a price </TD></TR></TABLE>

dropping knowledge son!!!!

 

would it be possible that their comp system don't let you enter a part#??? or maybe he did not know how to do it that way. if you do decide to go back, bring the vin# with you. saves the argument and the head ache.

 

One reason could be:

Buick does not want their cars to be hybrid in any way. Supplying a VIN would verify the car needing to be worked on. I know they did this with one of their earlier cars that was UBER rare. They did it because they didn't want anyone sourcing out their parts.

I saw this on TV

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Dat_EM1 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">plz explain why am i a clown? He told the guy he had the part number already and just wanted a price check, so wtf would he need the vin. He didn't say Oh i need a "whatyouma callit" for a suby....what is the price....He clearly stated he just wanted a price for part #****** and that was it. so go through your mothers panties if u wanna see clowns </TD></TR></TABLE>

I know why he is saying you are a clown... Check it out... When I worked for Dodge, before I went to Honda, there could be 3 different O2 sensors for the same vehicle with the same engine... The VIN number or the part number off the existing O2 sensor would get you the EXACT PART you need. We started doing this when idiot customers would get a part number online or from a friend, buy the part THEY specified by part number, then come in and try to return it when it was incorrect. They would come back and stand at the parts counter yelling at us like it was our fault when it was in fact their fault for not providing us with a VIN# when we asked. The guys in the parts department are trying to get you the CORRECT part, not to hassle you or give you problems... Everyone always thinks that people at the dealer are trying to pull one over on you guys... Grow the fuckk up!

 

hmmm out all the socal dealers i have visited when buying parts, they have never "required" a VIN. You can get a price estimate from them if that is what you ask for. And on another note, even with VIN #'s or part numbers provided to the parts department, there workers still give you the wrong part! Went to honda dealer in west covina and asked for the driver side fender liner for my em1 and the guy showed me on his monitor a pic of the item on a vehicle diagram and asked if that is what i wanted. He wrote down the part number, went to the back and came out with the passenger side instead....All in all, I guess it depends who serves you and if that rep has been annoyed by idiots all day.

 

you need the VIN at my dealer (infiniti), becasue there are service files that pop up. maybe that car HAS to come into the dealer to get a ECM reprogram, and there are differant o2 sensors for our cars, a/f sensor, and a o2 sensor, so its possible you need the vin for a buick, i know for infiniti it helps from getting the part you don't need

 

Acura parts guy here

between the different years, body styles, trims, emissions types, whatever, its always best to get a VIN when going to get a price quote, even if you don't think you'll need it. Not only that, certain models have VIN breaks in the middle of a model year for certain parts. wouldn't you want a parts guy to be able to tell you this before you order the wrong part that you expertly looked up on the interweb yourself?

 

im a tech at a gm dealer, and parts needs a VIN all the time unless i have a RO number in order to get parts quotes.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Dat_EM1 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">hmmm out all the socal dealers i have visited when buying parts, they have never "required" a VIN. You can get a price estimate from them if that is what you ask for. And on another note, even with VIN #'s or part numbers provided to the parts department, there workers still give you the wrong part! Went to honda dealer in west covina and asked for the driver side fender liner for my em1 and the guy showed me on his monitor a pic of the item on a vehicle diagram and asked if that is what i wanted. He wrote down the part number, went to the back and came out with the passenger side instead....All in all, I guess it depends who serves you and if that rep has been annoyed by idiots all day. </TD></TR></TABLE>

If the guy came out with the wrong side fender liner then either he was a total idiot or it was mismarked... As far as getting a price estimate, there can be hundreds of dollars difference in price for parts if there isnt a VIN to decode what part the car takes... Two alternators for the same year vehicle could have different costs/fitment because of different manufacturers...

<U> BOTTOM LINE</U> If a parts guy asks you for the VIN# dont get offended, he just wants to make sure you get what you need on your first trip!!!

 

Makes some sense to need a vin#, some computer systems may require that you enter it before accessing the databases...for me personally, i have never been asked by the parts guys at honda for a vin#, then again, not everything's gonna be the same everywhere you go...

 

OK thanks for the input guys. FYI, I just ended up ordering it online. Alot easier that way

 

i went to the mitsu dealer to get a parts.. they asked for the VIN, i asked why and they said to look up the cars specific parts. so i gave it to him. and he said so is that turbo or non turbo... and i was like i thought it looked up parts by the vin? hmmm

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by ek_99_SiR &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">i went to the mitsu dealer to get a parts.. they asked for the VIN, i asked why and they said to look up the cars specific parts. so i gave it to him. and he said so is that turbo or non turbo... and i was like i thought it looked up parts by the vin? hmmm</TD></TR></TABLE>

i've used the mitsu factory catalog a handful of times, its entirely fucked, you have to enter a VIN and then it still asks some option questions. it was so frustrating to use i just called the local mitsu dealer and had them look it up for us.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by SIRIUS &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">OK thanks for the input guys. FYI, I just ended up ordering it online. Alot easier that way </TD></TR></TABLE>

Hope you end up getting the right part...

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by JRSC EM1 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

Hope you end up getting the right part...</TD></TR></TABLE>

Why wouldn't I? It's no great mystery as to the part I need. I've done my research and know the correct part # that I'm looking for. Unless someone pulls the wrong part (could happen if I ordered it at the dealer) I'll be fine.