What's up with Dealer Parts Dept needs VIN?

[dogdoolb]

This is my first time on this site. I have heard about it for years but never decided to join because i was always to busy with work and gym. I am looking for the larger hood scoop like the one in this link i posted for my 2003 WRX. I have the Sonic Yellow sedan.

http://www.speedzonemotorsports.com/...productid=3723

if someone could help me find it or point me in the right direction. I have been on google and there is just to much...thanks

* Registered users of the site do not see these ads.

[gregroot198521]

I'd suggest searching for a more applicable thread to post in, since this sounds like it has nothing to do with the thread.

[kuntryquest]

I'm not reading threw 18 pages of everyones tinfoil hat garbage.
If you want part x without the dealer finding out, get the part number the internet and take it to the dealer OR order it online. You can use your computer for more than porn and forum surfing. I work at a dealer in the parts dept. NON - subaru dealer. People complianing about finding a pen and paper? Your regi and ins card BOTH have your VIN and should be in your car. Also, if your still to lazy.... you have a camera phone take a picture. You would be rather suprised to the clueless people that come into the part dept. Stop bitching, bring in your regi or ins card and tell them what your looking for. It will actually make the search MUCH quick and eliminate any confusion to specific trims, colors factory options ect.

/ Rant

[jfoss3010]

just to get the right parts

[Big-E]

Originally Posted by jfoss3010

just to get the right parts

Also for when you order, for example, a set of 2006 STI front struts for your 2006 WRX, either knowingly or unwittingly.

Why?

The dealer comes back with: 'did you know these are the wrong parts for your car based on your VIN'?

If you knowingly order the parts anyway and they don't fit, you're out-of-luck; meaning no returns on what amounts to special order parts.

<OR>

The dealer does not come back with 'did you know these are the wrong parts for your car based on your VIN'?

Regardless, you can contest the order and more-than-likely return these incorrect or 'incorrect' parts and w/o being charged a return or restocking fee.

It's called: C.Y.A.

[irispatch]

Sounds like they need to follow the repair history for the vehicle

[RuGirl2011]

Unbelievable ... I had the same thing happen to me just now while checking on the price of a part. I had read that "partsgeek.com" is the least expensive place to buy oem parts ... NOT TRUE, after running outside and getting the part number, she gave me the price quote on the rotors(dealership in Duluth GA) $100 dollars each front rotor and for each back, and when I compared it to partsgeek they were anywhere from 11-40 dollars more expensive! PartsGeek.com needs to lower their prices, otherwise what is the point in ordering from them!!! Guess they are betting that people will not price shop(most won't and will pay the price, just because it was said to be cheaper ... uuuggghhh) Anyways if I give the yr model and trim pkg i should be able to get the right part without the VIN...just another added headache in my humble opinion!

Originally Posted by limequat

I don't like it one bit, and I refuse to supply my VIN.

1) It's a way of tranferring liability to the customer: That's the VIN you supplied, it can't POSSIBLY be the wrong part!

2) It's a hassle. Why should I wait in line, go the desk, find out I need a VIN, go back to my car, find a pen, find paper, write the VIN, Is that a zero or an O?, come back, wait in line, wait for the monkey to punch in 16 characters, and then... "We don't have that part in stock, would you like to order it?" Prepay of course.

3) It creates a data base uniquely identifying: You, your car, the part. Whether or not we are being "tracked" is only a question of semantics. No, Subaru isn't doing this because they want to get in our business. BUT, IT IS A SEARCHABLE DATABASE!

The implications aren't hard to imagine. Say vehicle X is used in a homicide. It's unregistered, but the local dealerships cough up their records. Someone transposes a "1" for an "I" and suddenly you're being investigated for murder!

Here's another one. Let's say we decide that global warming is a real threat and all cars must have all stock functioning catalytic converters. Let's say that modifying a vehicles emissions system becomes a $1000 misdemeanor with up to 90 days in jail (equivolent to driving w/o tags).
Would it be hard to imagine the local cops going through the dealership records to find who recently purchased up-pipe gaskets?

Here's what I do if a dealership asks for VIN:
* First, "Just say no." Cause a delay, ask to see the manager.

* If that doesn't work, go to a different dealer. Make it clear, that they're losing business over a damned computer program.

* Don't have another local dealer? Buy online.

* Finally, offer to supply the first 8 (or so) digits of the VIN. This is a comprimise. They can still get all the information they need, but it does not uniquely identify the person and the car.

[polarisboy385]

Originally Posted by RuGirl2011

Unbelievable ... I had the same thing happen to me just now while checking on the price of a part. I had read that "partsgeek.com" is the least expensive place to buy oem parts ... NOT TRUE, after running outside and getting the part number, she gave me the price quote on the rotors(dealership in Duluth GA) $100 dollars each front rotor and for each back, and when I compared it to partsgeek they were anywhere from 11-40 dollars more expensive! PartsGeek.com needs to lower their prices, otherwise what is the point in ordering from them!!! Guess they are betting that people will not price shop(most won't and will pay the price, just because it was said to be cheaper ... uuuggghhh) Anyways if I give the yr model and trim pkg i should be able to get the right part without the VIN...just another added headache in my humble opinion!

Www.Rockauto.com

[Rally Snow]

I just want to punch the parts guy in the face when i need parts... I have an 02 but all of my drivetrain is from an 06sti and they still want the vin... Im like hey idiot its not gonna fit!!!

[Hondaslayer]

Originally Posted by Rally Snow

I just want to punch the parts guy in the face when i need parts... I have an 02 but all of my drivetrain is from an 06sti and they still want the vin... Im like hey idiot its not gonna fit!!!

Genius, if you need parts for the 06 items give them the VIN from the 06 that you got the parts off (you recorded the VIN in case you needed parts that may have a production split, right?) and if you need parts for the 02 just give them the VIN for the 02.


Why the **** is this thread still open?

Petition to un-sticky this garbage.

[JacSmyth]

I think the fact of needing a VIN number to get a part is anoying but it is a good idea, expecially for someone who doesn't know what they are talking about.

[jlien619]

it helps in the process of making sure you get the right part and that it fits your particular model.

[ticoticotico]

I was asked for my VIN to buy a filter. Seemed strange at the time.

[GG_FXT]

I didn't read the whole tread, but here is my thoughts (I worked for Toyota parts for a few years). It does make things easier to have the VIN # when looking up parts, so I don't have an issue with them asking for it. I do have an issue when they don't even try to look it up if you don't have it, and then after you get the VIN and they say "oh, it looks like they are all the same..." YOU WOULD HAVE KNOWN THAT IF YOU ONLY TRIED TO DO YOUR JOB.

Rant...rant...rant.

I would always ask for it, but if the customer didn't have it I could still help them.

BTW - when I worked in the business the system did not log the VIN for warranty.

[nottofast]

6 of one and half dozen of the other. Or the sword cuts both ways............
If you have a vehicle that is modified as someone suggested just look up some cars VIN numbers so you can give them a VIN at the parts counter. Clearly not everyone is enthusiastic about all these Subaru cars and parts. It would seem to make sense though for the parts people to make some effort to make the sale and assist their more devoted followers.

Funny I called today for a hose for my 93 Legacy Turbo Wagon and went through the stuff about the VIN. The parts guy at Cherry Hill Subaru was nice enough to help me out without having the VIN handy. Ordered the parts without even paying.

[civichx97]

the guy at our local Subaru dealer wouldn't even look up parts w/o the VIN, it was ridiculous. The car is non-running in my driveway, wtf. So I go all the way back home, look up the VIN, and then realize "FUUUUUUUUUUU!!!!!!!" It's not the original engine in the car anyhow, wtf is the VIN gonna do?! HAHAHAAHA!!!!!!!!

[hdbavn]

I told the guy you wanted to type long VIN number or click on drop down pre-filled list of model, make... so he took the latter

[Suby90]

Had to get that damm vin number for touch up paint the other day lol

[blackfang]

Originally Posted by Suby90

Had to get that damm vin number for touch up paint the other day lol

They do not need the vin for that, they just need the paint code off the plate.

[badxmpl]

First of all if you have ever worked in a dealership and dealt with the morons that come in and have not a clue of what they are talking about you would ask for the VIN too. As for the CYA i have personally had the " you dont need my vin people" and when it comes in wrong and i use their VIN to show them why it shuts them up quick and im still stuck with your wrong part. On the other hand im all about tuning and swapping parts from one model to another and if you know what you need from what model i would be more than happy to get it for you. If you do have someone ask you for the VIN there is a reason for it. Lugs nuts is kind of stupid because they have been using the same ones on every car for 15 years. Touch paint i always ask for it because when you ask the color you get uhhhhhh blue. Sorry for the rant but if you have never done it for a living you have no right to say anything. I dont complain when come to your job and you ask me if i want fries with that everytime.

[oceanwater48]

Don't be a little female dog and give them your Vin. Your dealership have a copy. The government branches have a copy. The factory have a copy. The pigs have a copy. Everyone who read this thread now have Ron Vin. Who facking currrs.

[jspivey69]

its just their way of doing business

[sampson]

Originally Posted by Hondaslayer

Genius, if you need parts for the 06 items give them the VIN from the 06 that you got the parts off (you recorded the VIN in case you needed parts that may have a production split, right?) and if you need parts for the 02 just give them the VIN for the 02.


Why the **** is this thread still open?

Petition to un-sticky this garbage.

And if you don't have the VIN for the car the parts were from?... It happens, a lot, more often than not (I have no stats available but I would easily wager my car or some other large ticket item on it). In a perfect world everyone would know the VIN for every part in every car, right? Unfortunately, or more accurately fortunately, this isn't a perfect world. In a perfect world moderators of enthusiast forums wouldn't be unnecessarily pricky, though I digress..

Old thread, lots of points. Overall the VIN is basically irrelevant to a parts department overall. There is no CYA or worry you're getting the wrong part. When you walk in that door and make the purchase you typically sign away the liability. Name some other end user consumer end companies that ask for a specific serial number/identifier in order to sell you parts or at a minimum look them up. What if you are buying a part and don't own a subaru, or are not the owner or any number of reasons you don't have the VIN? The customer is always right and always wrong, so it doesn't matter if they bought the wrong part. If they are mad, then they are right.

The claim, by an employee of a subaru dealer, that the parts dept. needs your VIN because they can't search by model year or any other criteria, is complete bullcrap. The dealerships software is proprietary, mostly regional in nature and licensed by the individual dealerships (there are three dealerships here with subaru licenses and I've done programming work for two of them and my family is heavily involved with ownership). I've purchased parts from the two big parts departments for local subaru dealers and numerous other dealerships in the area. Your VIN is completely irrelevant when buying parts, of even more so, just looking parts up.

If your VIN mattered so much, why doesn't autozone/pepboys/advance auto or any tire shop ask for your VIN when you buy a part? Because there are only two reasons for it, and they are linked.

They ask for database building and data mining. That's it.

[silverstreak02]

I work for a Mitsu dealer in parts, and I can honestly tell you...the Mitsubishi ASA system is GARBAGE. If you don't have the vin, you will literally get 15 listings for everything; even if it's as simple as an oil filter or drive belt.

Trim pieces are pretty much impossible without the VIN through our system. Having said that, I've never operated the Subaru parts catalog, so I'm not sure if they operate via the Snap-on system or if it's a fully independent software. Regardless, looking up parts for older vehicles without a VIN is really a pain..and with there being so few Mitsus in the world compared to a lot of other brands, it's not uncommon to see parts for cars built from 2002-2006 considered obsolete and impossible to find.

[RustyHinge]

WOW
I really dont know what to say about all the stupidity swirling in this thread. Such a FAIL .

Every subaru dealership only needs your last 8 VIN characters. Which contains the production date, factory options it was produced with (ex. fog lights) and make, model, etc. It doesnt even allow the dealer to know what aftermarket parts (from SPT for example) were put on the car before/after purchase! Example, going and looking at an STI and wanting to get the SPT short shifter and shifter bushing installed on it THEN purchasing it. If you go to another dealer and ask for a shifter bushing, they will give you the factory bushing not an SPT bushing. EVEN THOUGH you bought the car after the equipment was installed the parts aren't even recorded to the VIN.

There was a problem with your downpipe.
You replaced the downpipe and bought it from Subaru along with gaskets.
A while later you went in to have your turbo replaced under warranty.
The service department DOESN'T corrdinate with the parts department so they can't build a case saying your downpipe was replaced so you must have excessivley modded your vehicle. (when in reality all you did was replace a faulty downpipe)

Although, if you mod your car and try to hide it, you shouldn't of burnt your money on an extended warranty. It'll get voided.
Safest bet: get a warranty, do cosmetic changes ex. suspension/rims/tires/interior, then plan and buy all aftermarket performance parts. The day warranty is up, throw everything on and be prepared to be spending good money on replacing parts at your own expense.