QC
Supreme Mariner
- Joined
- Mar 22, 2005
- Messages
- 22,783
Our 2003 Expedition's main AC fan switch failed and I got some help over in Non-boating tech. That was all good. Went to get the part today and I swear the following is a true and un-exaggerated account of the ratzoflipamackidingalingjackaround that I went through to get it:<br /><br />Tried to find the part number online and ended up at fordpartsonline dot com. Appears to be a dealer. Anyway, there was no way that I can figure out how to get to that part number. I tried for a while. It is important to note that for this specific thing, and the rest of this rant, that I started my career in the engine biz in parts. I promise I know my way around a parts catalog, online or the old fashioned way. I resorted to pulling the part out of my truck to get the part number. Non-issue came right out. I then called the local Ford dealer which is 7 minutes from my house. I gave him the number and he says "I can't find that, are you sure that is correct". I read it off to him again and then he says "well let me see if that supersedes." It does. No biggee. "Can I get price and availability please" I say. He checks, not in stock and tells me $28.80 "if we order by 3:00 I can probably have it for you in the AM, I can't tell for sure because the system is down". OK well I decide I'll call him back in a little bit and go back to work stuff and my iboats habit. Call him back and yes, he can have in the morning. So I say, "OK do I give you a credit card and then come get it tomorrow?" He says "no we don't do it that way, I can't take a credit card over the phone" I mutter something about they should consider joining the '80s. And he says "it's for your protection" and then I say "well there are a lot of REALLY big businesses that have figured out how to do it, but hey it's not you man, no prah". I was nice, but thought I needed to share . . . 
So I tell him that I will check with another dealer or two and get back to him (no offer to help me with a dealer locator check, but I probably deserved that).<br /><br />I try the local Autozone on the phone, and then Pep Boys. Nobody can even cross it over, so I go back to the genuine network. I checked with the fordpartsonline site and there is no indication of when they can actually ship it or whether they have it in stock. We're leaving for Lake Mead ( ) Friday AM, so I need this thing like now. All I get there is a price, $20.57 MSRP. Figure it's old and move on. Check online with Ford factory for phone numbers and start calling. First dealer 11 miles away "sorry non-stock $25.71", same story as far as ordering and pre-pay "Don't do phone". Next dealer, Fairway Ford, about 13 miles away non-stock $21.00, I check for fun, same story on the credit card phone deal, but I ask him for a dealer locator check and he says that Grody Ford (what a name huh?) shows one. I have the number on my list so I thank him and move on, they're 16 miles away (big city advantage here) . . . Grody says "no, I don't have it, I grumble a little and he offers to go to the bin and check physically. Comes back, and they just got one and it had not updated on the system yet. "Great!!, I'll be right there and BTW if I did have to order it would you take a card over the phone?" "Yeah, no problem". So I'm thinking cool, I didn't think I was nuts and I am glad to do business with these guys, never checked the price. "Can you keep it on the counter I'll be there within an hour?" . . "Sure." Man, I like this guy . . . We exchange names. Cool.<br /><br />So I drive down there, make it within the hour. "Hi. You Mike?" I say and plop the old part on the counter. He looks at me kinda funny and says "Are you the guy I talked to?" "Yes, that's me." . . . "Well, the parts driver from Fairway Ford (the same one I called) just picked it up, I assumed it was for you . . ." "No" I say, "I wouldn't do that to you, I'd have called you back. Well, no biggee, maybe the guy thought I meant to order it? hmmmmm, can you call the guy and let's see if it's for me". He does, the guy is at lunch. We agree that this is too weird to be a coincidence, I'll go over there. It's on the way home, so I'm not that concerned. I drive over there and the guy, Ken, is still at lunch. I check with the other guy and he says "Yeah, I was the one you first talked to, I got an order in the shop just after you called, got it from Grody . . ." So I kinda flop a little on the counter and say "well since I clearly called everybody first you think I could have it?" "Sorry, they have already installed it." Well, then I really kinda flopped and asked what we can do. It takes me to ask him to check with even more dealers. Find one at Power Ford which is on the other side of Grody, but still not that far. No biggee, I'll drive over there. He confirms the guy has it and I take off. Just to be sure I called on the way and the guy, Wayne, kinda rudely says "yep, got it in my hand, I'll hold it here for you." I say I'll be there in 10 minutes, it took me 15 . . . I get there, "Wayne?" "No, Wayne's at lunch . . ." I'm starting to think I should just give up, but I am already here at the third Ford dealer . . . I say "well Wayne was supposed to hold a part out for me" and the guy holds out his hand with his palm shaped like a cup and says "Like this?" I don't get it for a moment, and then he puts his hand up over his head and says "Or maybe like this?". Then I get it, and say "if you knew what I have been through . . ." He smiles and starts looking around for the part, nowhere . . . He finally checks the bin and there it is, Wayne never pulled it. He brings it out and says "did Wayne give you a price?" I say "no, but I happen to know that it is $20.57 list." He looks at me funny and says "well, yeah, that is list and can I ask how you know that?" I said I found it online. He kinda scrunches up his face. I buy the part, install in the parking lot and voila, AC all better now . . .<br /><br />Un-flyin'-honkin'-believable. The order policy, the price gouging, the incompetence, the unfunny stuff . . . Wow!
So I tell him that I will check with another dealer or two and get back to him (no offer to help me with a dealer locator check, but I probably deserved that).<br /><br />I try the local Autozone on the phone, and then Pep Boys. Nobody can even cross it over, so I go back to the genuine network. I checked with the fordpartsonline site and there is no indication of when they can actually ship it or whether they have it in stock. We're leaving for Lake Mead ( ) Friday AM, so I need this thing like now. All I get there is a price, $20.57 MSRP. Figure it's old and move on. Check online with Ford factory for phone numbers and start calling. First dealer 11 miles away "sorry non-stock $25.71", same story as far as ordering and pre-pay "Don't do phone". Next dealer, Fairway Ford, about 13 miles away non-stock $21.00, I check for fun, same story on the credit card phone deal, but I ask him for a dealer locator check and he says that Grody Ford (what a name huh?) shows one. I have the number on my list so I thank him and move on, they're 16 miles away (big city advantage here) . . . Grody says "no, I don't have it, I grumble a little and he offers to go to the bin and check physically. Comes back, and they just got one and it had not updated on the system yet. "Great!!, I'll be right there and BTW if I did have to order it would you take a card over the phone?" "Yeah, no problem". So I'm thinking cool, I didn't think I was nuts and I am glad to do business with these guys, never checked the price. "Can you keep it on the counter I'll be there within an hour?" . . "Sure." Man, I like this guy . . . We exchange names. Cool.<br /><br />So I drive down there, make it within the hour. "Hi. You Mike?" I say and plop the old part on the counter. He looks at me kinda funny and says "Are you the guy I talked to?" "Yes, that's me." . . . "Well, the parts driver from Fairway Ford (the same one I called) just picked it up, I assumed it was for you . . ." "No" I say, "I wouldn't do that to you, I'd have called you back. Well, no biggee, maybe the guy thought I meant to order it? hmmmmm, can you call the guy and let's see if it's for me". He does, the guy is at lunch. We agree that this is too weird to be a coincidence, I'll go over there. It's on the way home, so I'm not that concerned. I drive over there and the guy, Ken, is still at lunch. I check with the other guy and he says "Yeah, I was the one you first talked to, I got an order in the shop just after you called, got it from Grody . . ." So I kinda flop a little on the counter and say "well since I clearly called everybody first you think I could have it?" "Sorry, they have already installed it." Well, then I really kinda flopped and asked what we can do. It takes me to ask him to check with even more dealers. Find one at Power Ford which is on the other side of Grody, but still not that far. No biggee, I'll drive over there. He confirms the guy has it and I take off. Just to be sure I called on the way and the guy, Wayne, kinda rudely says "yep, got it in my hand, I'll hold it here for you." I say I'll be there in 10 minutes, it took me 15 . . . I get there, "Wayne?" "No, Wayne's at lunch . . ." I'm starting to think I should just give up, but I am already here at the third Ford dealer . . . I say "well Wayne was supposed to hold a part out for me" and the guy holds out his hand with his palm shaped like a cup and says "Like this?" I don't get it for a moment, and then he puts his hand up over his head and says "Or maybe like this?". Then I get it, and say "if you knew what I have been through . . ." He smiles and starts looking around for the part, nowhere . . . He finally checks the bin and there it is, Wayne never pulled it. He brings it out and says "did Wayne give you a price?" I say "no, but I happen to know that it is $20.57 list." He looks at me funny and says "well, yeah, that is list and can I ask how you know that?" I said I found it online. He kinda scrunches up his face. I buy the part, install in the parking lot and voila, AC all better now . . .<br /><br />Un-flyin'-honkin'-believable. The order policy, the price gouging, the incompetence, the unfunny stuff . . . Wow!
