Three Paint Code Calls Today ??

[Milo]

Me: I'm sorry, our internet is down, I can't help you.

Love it.

If I've got the time I humor them, then either give the catalog trail (say, 16DS00721002 for a water pump gasket on a pickup) or pick a random part number from the correct page. If I don't have the time or inclination, a customer happens to appear at the front counter that needs my attention.

Either way, all my free information comes with a 100% money back guarantee.

[Newdude]

We have a local "salvage" yard that specialized in southern doors and door trim. They used to send us a pizza on them in return for paint codes once a year. They did buy a couple things as well each year. They sold the business though, so no more free pizza... New owner just calls for codes and a part purchase here and there.

[RLWOLF]

Many years ago, one of my counter salesman was courteous enough to give a customer the part# over the phone for a fan blade for a medium duty truck, which we had in stock.
The customer went to another dealership and purchased the blade. As luck would have it, my employee looked up the wrong fan blade.
It either had too many blades, or not enough, (I can't remember).
Anyway, it caused a vibration, which (over time) put stress on the water pump shaft.
The shaft eventually broke, the fan blade went into the radiator, and thru the fiberglass tilt hood, causing several thousand dollars in damage.
As you would expect, the dealership he purchased the blade from wouldn't give him any help,since he furnished the part#, and it was the wrong blade.
He then came to us, and we sent him back to the dealership he purchased it from.
To make a long story shorter, we ended up in court and were found to be at fault, because we furnished the part#, which caused the customer to purchase the wrong fan blade.
It was quite an expensive lesson.
So, THERE IS A LIABILITY TO GIVING OUT A PART# TO ANY CUSTOMER.
That is exactly what we tell the customer, and most all of them are ok with it.
When one gets upset or irate, I leave my office and take about 10 minutes of their time telling them this story, and explaining to them that "that's why we no longer furnish part#s."
It always works.
Thanks, RLWOLF