parts guy's
May our Moderator Rest in Peace
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 11,386
Likes: 35
From: Rochester, NY
All of this is EXACTLY why I bought the service and parts manuals for my bike.
That way I don't have to depend on someone who may or may not know or give a crap about my particular bike.
I go in with the numbers of whatever part, or parts I want and tell him, or her, what I want.
Besides with all the 'fine print' (fits all but FXSTD or whatever) in some of their manuals and catalogs you really need to be careful and take your time picking out the right number and the parts people often don't or won't.
If I do get something wrong and its the part number I asked for, its my fault for not doing my homework and no one elses.
That way I don't have to depend on someone who may or may not know or give a crap about my particular bike.
I go in with the numbers of whatever part, or parts I want and tell him, or her, what I want.
Besides with all the 'fine print' (fits all but FXSTD or whatever) in some of their manuals and catalogs you really need to be careful and take your time picking out the right number and the parts people often don't or won't.
If I do get something wrong and its the part number I asked for, its my fault for not doing my homework and no one elses.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 4,357
Likes: 11
From: The Lone Star State
I don't see why anyone pays dealer prices anymore. With an abundance of online options coupled with dealer incompetence, unless I have a gift card or need something small right now, then I order.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 2,759
Likes: 3
From: NCWV
All of this is EXACTLY why I bought the service and parts manuals for my bike.
That way I don't have to depend on someone who may or may not know or give a crap about my particular bike.
I go in with the numbers of whatever part, or parts I want and tell him, or her, what I want.
Besides with all the 'fine print' (fits all but FXSTD or whatever) in some of their manuals and catalogs you really need to be careful and take your time picking out the right number and the parts people often don't or won't.
If I do get something wrong and its the part number I asked for, its my fault for not doing my homework and no one elses.
That way I don't have to depend on someone who may or may not know or give a crap about my particular bike.
I go in with the numbers of whatever part, or parts I want and tell him, or her, what I want.
Besides with all the 'fine print' (fits all but FXSTD or whatever) in some of their manuals and catalogs you really need to be careful and take your time picking out the right number and the parts people often don't or won't.
If I do get something wrong and its the part number I asked for, its my fault for not doing my homework and no one elses.
Thread Starter
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Tourer
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 279
Likes: 0
From: canada on
i think i touched a nerve. so lesson learned do your homework. 900 more sleeps till fifty & still learning. when i think about this it happens alot in life with just about everything so it is my bad. how many time to learn one lesson. I'm such a kid i wont it now . at what age does that patients thing kick in at. lol
Road Captain
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 741
Likes: 1
From: New England
Several years ago I took a dead battery into my local dealership (3 miles away). I said "I need a new battery". parts guy plunked down a new battery and said "$175". I gulped and paid. when I started to leave with the new battery but not the old battery he said "we don't take old batteries back".
In my state it is tha law that establishments that sell batteries are required to take-back and recycle old batteries. When I pointed this out to him he said "we don't".
I was so pissed that when I got home I went online and found the state regulation and printed it out. I went back to HD and marched up to the parts counter, said "yes you will take this back", placed the old battery on the printout and left.
I drove 45 minutes to another dealer to buy my new bike!!!!!!!!!!!
Thanks for giving me a chance to vent.
In my state it is tha law that establishments that sell batteries are required to take-back and recycle old batteries. When I pointed this out to him he said "we don't".
I was so pissed that when I got home I went online and found the state regulation and printed it out. I went back to HD and marched up to the parts counter, said "yes you will take this back", placed the old battery on the printout and left.
I drove 45 minutes to another dealer to buy my new bike!!!!!!!!!!!
Thanks for giving me a chance to vent.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 3,927
Likes: 5
From: Midwest
The problem is that you expect the parts guy to care as much about your bike as you do. To them, probably like the guy who used to be a mailman, it's just the job they have until they find the next one. And like somebody else said, the HD alphabet can be confusing. To them, the only difference between an XL and a FL is one letter in a book.
Like the old saying, fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.
Like the old saying, fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.
Former Sponsor
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 19,364
Likes: 40
From: Los Angeles, CA
I have to sympathize with the parts guys being one myself. There are so many bikes and a lot of information provided by Harley and other manufacturers that is either inaccurate or not completely accurate. I have the luxury of taking my time and investigating as much as I can before providing info, but there is no way to know absolutely everything and get it all right every time. I alos will talk to manufacturers personally to get the info I need.
I woudl much rather tell someone i don't know than assure them it will work when I am not sure as that can always come back to haunt me and I will still have to deal with it. I think my record with forum folks is pretty good, but it is not completely spotless either. I will always go the extra mile to get the info and take care of it if i have provided incorrect info.
That being said there are a lot of people working in parts dept's who know absolutely nothing at all. When I go to the dealer for parts I find the info I need first and take it with me. I always get my own part numbers.
My dealer has one great parts guy who is always right, and another who does not even ride a bike...
Drew
I woudl much rather tell someone i don't know than assure them it will work when I am not sure as that can always come back to haunt me and I will still have to deal with it. I think my record with forum folks is pretty good, but it is not completely spotless either. I will always go the extra mile to get the info and take care of it if i have provided incorrect info.
That being said there are a lot of people working in parts dept's who know absolutely nothing at all. When I go to the dealer for parts I find the info I need first and take it with me. I always get my own part numbers.
My dealer has one great parts guy who is always right, and another who does not even ride a bike...
Drew
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Road Master
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 873
Likes: 3
I hear ya, I had a bad experience and now I research what I need before going in and have the parts number ready to go. You would think that the parts are an important part of the dealer's business, so why do they hire morons?