CJ Bowker’s recent shoddy customer service experience at Verizon reminded me of one that Mr. A had last week.
There’s an auto parts place in Phoenix known for pinching pennies. Mr. A likes to buy auto parts there sometimes because they are significantly cheaper than the other stores, Autozone and Checker Auto.
This time the part he bought was universal. He installed it into his work vehicle but the truck was still having problems. So instead of trying this and trying that, replacing one part after another he decided to take it in to our favorite mechanic shop and pay for a diagnosis.
As it turns out, the universal part was defective, and when the mechanic replaced it with original manufacturer equipment, it worked just great.
The part cost just over $50. So Mr. A went back to the auto parts store with his receipt and the part.
The sales clerk first asked him why he cut the wires so low. Mr. A said this was a universal piece and you have to cut the wires in order to install it. The part was defective, and how else would he have known had he not installed it? It turned out the guy was talking about some tape Mr. A had put on the wiring to protect it from the heat of the engine. The guy ripped off the tape, and found that the wiring was even cut where he was assuming it had been.
Next he asked for the receipt. Mr. A said, “I already gave it to you,” and pointed to the receipt lying on the counter.
The guy says, “No, I mean the receipt from your mechanic.”
Say what?
Mr. A said he had never heard of needing to bring the receipt from a mechanic, and the guy says, “Yeah, it says it right here on our store receipt,” and proceeded to read the fine print out loud.
Which by the way, said nothing at all about needing a receipt from your auto mechanic to prove a part was defective.
Finally Mr. A decided to leave and come back another day, with the receipt to prove that he was not lying to the guy.
I told Mr. A I had two distinct and conflicting feelings over this annoying experience:
- Never shop that store ever again.
- Take the receipt back to prove my innocence.
Have you had any bad customer service experiences lately?
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Yea, I would definitely ditch that place. I’d rather pay a few extra bucks than have to deal with service like that.
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Mrs. Accountability Reply:
May 7th, 2010 at 8:51 am
SMT: I think Mr. A has decided to not do business there again. Good news though – he did return with the invoice from the auto mechanic and the same guy gave him his money back without any questions at all. So weird. It is kind of in a bad part of town, so maybe they get a lot of people coming in trying to rip them off. ? Thanks for visiting and commenting!
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That is crazy!! I wouldn’t shop there either. I think it’s horrible he had the receipt and they wouldn’t take the part back!
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Mrs. Accountability Reply:
May 7th, 2010 at 8:52 am
Mrs. Money: I know, stupid customer service on their part!
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Wow, I’m with you on not shopping there again, but I’d also take the receipt back and keep insisting on a refund.
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Mrs. Accountability Reply:
May 7th, 2010 at 8:52 am
Hi Jackie, he did go back, this time with the invoice from the auto shop, and the guy gave him his money back without any problems. Just such a hassle.
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There’s no excuse for hassling a customer like that. I hope Mr. A finds another parts store to do business with.
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Mrs. Accountability Reply:
May 13th, 2010 at 6:48 pm
Funny: I think he has decided not to shop at this place again. The parts are cheaper, but often of inferior quality and I think he’s come to realize cheap isn’t always the best deal. It is hard to get over that way of thinking when for most of your life you had to buy the cheapest just to be able to afford to buy it.
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What about people who do their own mechanical work? Do they not deal with them at all?
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I definelty agree with saving money today. I would have also ditch that place from going and rather would have paid some extra . but surely had not gone over. Otherwise will be
Mr. B who would be sufferring all this.
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