Give me your suggestions on how to deal with this.

Dealing with parts and sales people that are less than pleasant, grouch, argumentive, insultive, etc. Seems like latley there are a lot of them. They really turn me off.

Don't deal with them.

And tell their boss why.

yea,..what goose said

yea,..what goose said

yea,..what goose said

Next time you go to get a part, at the first hint of an attitude tell them you find it unexceptable and you want a manager. Tell the manager your side of the story and tell him if he can't fix the problem you'll take your business, and money, elsewhere. Remember, if it were not for you along with everybody else who comes through the door, they wouldn't have that job. Especially in times like these.

There are two parts guys at the JD dealer. One is an A-hole, the other is great, I just wait and deal with the good one if he's with another customer. If the a-hole wasn't 6' 5" and about 300 lbs, I'd tell him about his attitude, but I'm scared he'd come across that counter. There are some top-links right below the counter I could defend myself with, but he might take it from me... My advice is find a different dealer or use online parts resources to order what you need.

Tell him right to his face that he's an in-bred cross-eyed retard.

Then let 'im come across the counter...........

When the dust settles, you'd probably end up owning it, the shop and the sales department too. :>)

Allan

I have dealt with this with a JD dealer here that has two locations. The one closest to me puts you on hold, acts like they could care less about your business, and half the time screws up the order. The other week they didn't even actually order my stuff. So I call the other location now, much better staff, and told them about the other location. They said that is becoming quite common and that management is looking to correct the issues. Pay should be linked to performance everywhere....

Had a Napa in town It closed about two weeks ago. Last time I dealt with them three years ago I needed a solenoid.Guy behind the counter told me he didn"t have it didn"t even look in the books. Had to drive home 20miles to look up the Napa number on my computer. Drove back 20miles gave him the number he had it in stock. I wonder why they went out of business?

i"d simply turn and walk out the door if this over grown rectum got smart with me. i"d then call the company and tell them the story. if the nasty guy chose to follow me as i left to continue his actions, i"d retreat to a point and then turn and defend myself with full fury. btw, i"m only 5-10, but weigh 275# and am very solid and muscular.

good point...as long as you didn't get hurt too badly.

At my age I just dont put up with that crap anymore, I GO TO THE MANAGER. Im NOT going to wait in line to give them my money and pay their salary to be insulted. HOWEVER I feel its also right to tell the manager (which I do) when I get good service.

Rule No 1 in retail. The customer is always right

Rule No. 2 if things are different, go to Rule No. 1 lol

Rule 3. You can NOT win an argument with a customer because if you win the argument you loose the customer.

PS However, a customer can be an a hole at times also so the above may not fully apply if thats the case???

John T

Just ask for the manager.Tell the grouch to go get the manager.Ill be he changes his tune quick.

The 6' 5" and 300 lbs is what makes this guy a jerk. Obviously, he has come across no-one capable of giving him an attitude adjustment. To make matters worse is some employers give people like that a preference in hiring as they seem impressed by it. One of the first jobs I worked after college was for a company where the boss wanted guys like that. I think the boss was exorcising fantasies he had from his youth where he was allowed to hang around the college football team.
And people wonder why the quality of work performed is so low now as employers want guys built like football players and women built like Barbie dolls.

All the comments below forget to take into account all sorts of things. I use to be the parts guy and here are my reasons for saying this then go look in the mirror. 1. - guystanding there wanting parts hasn"t paid his bill in three months and brags about taking a vacation. 2. he got me out of bed on sunday to get him parts that he brought back on monday because his shade tree mechanic talents failed him. 3. He"s always complaining about the price of things be he doesn"t pay MY bills or know how much it takes to keep the doors open. 4. He brought the attitude in with him because he broke the thing doing something stupid. NOW the next time you all walk into a parts store be a little more friendly and patient and maybe you"ll get put on the good customer list. Also there is a time to complain about your service and its probably not starting a fight in front of the counter. Thats my side now flame on!

Despite our instincts telling us to hold our ground and making them come to us instead try reaching out to them (if they have not committed some unpardonable offense to this point). You might be pleasantly surprised at the response. More than once I have reached out and people are surprised at "how did you get that guy to go all flat out for you?" Sometimes people are just looking for someone to treat them with a little compassion and understanding.
Sometimes, you have no choice if the employee is in a family business and is going nowhere because of that. Also, the fact being it will cost 50 dollars in gas now to go to the competitor to get a 5 dollar part is important.

I have worked on the other side of the counter. Often people came in with no information about the part they needed, no model number, no seral number and get mad when you don't understand what they want.

Agreed. There are some out there that are just spoiling for a fight. The fact that they keep up with the volatility does them in at some point. These people forget that in the small towns the business people talk among each other and the guy's reputation gets around. Once the true cost of doing business with such a person is known it is downhill for that person. Why give any preference on getting use of a fertilizer spreader for example if it is a very good chance that person is not coming back for follow-up business when you could keep a good customer satisfied.

Just walk away. I left $200 worth of parts sitting on the counter for those very reasons. Hoy'ty-toy'ty sales fella seem to think that I should wash and clean up a core so the box didn't get a oil spot on it. I could have understood if it was bad, this box had a dime sized spot on the side that had soaked in (not wet). Didn't say a word. Picked up my core and walked out. The $10 core return was nothing compaired to the $1000's it has cost them over the last 5 years.

When I can I buy of the net. If I need it realy bad I have a choice of dealers to go to. Hoy'ty-toy'ty isn't one of them.........

Yep there is a lot of that , PLUS the guy on the other side of the contour does not know his job , they do not have the part and the parts you get today are JUNK.Places like Auto Zone and our local N A P A and even Advance . If they did not have the computer to tell them what you need they have no idea what you are working on. I went from being a mechanic to Parts manage in a small dealership to parts manager in large dealership and from being a mechanic i had a feel for what was needed in the parts room to keep the guys twisten the wrenches going . also when a guy off the street came in to get a part i could serve him better . I hired people that knew what they were doing and had and interest in what they were doing and not there just for a pay check. Also everybody that walked up to the contour got a discount on parts . If you ask WHY i gave everybody a discount , simple i sold more then anybody else as everybody loves a break even if it is only 10% .

Deal with it like a dog does...P on it and walk away!!

Flat out,the Deere dealers around here are like that,so I got rid of everything Deere and went to an Agco dealer. I don't usually get treated like that anywhere else,but if I did,I'd just forget to go back there and would go somewhere else.

That's one of the reasons I drive past AutoZone and go the extra 5 miles for parts. I am tired of dealing with "teen agers" behind the counter that know more then I do about parts I need!!!

Around here it is case ih dealer that is like so.

Just don't do business with them unless you really have to. A local Deere business is getting most of my business now, not because of the color of the paint but because they're friendly and helpful. When I walk up to the counter I'm greeted by name an I do the same back to the parts man. I can joke with the parts man and he responds back with a laugh. At other parts counters my little bits of humor are greeted with a stone faced attitude. As far as them being able to find the part goes, they have a zillion different parts and part numbers to sort through today and the computer diagrams they are looking at are sometimes confusing to even the best brain in town. The implement parts people now have the same problem the car parts have had for years-hundreds of different models to choose from and each one has different parts. I try my best to give them all the information they might want, but a lot of times, the name I have for a part doesn't match the name the parts book has for it. Yesterday at the Deere dealer I asked the parts man if he had a couuple of press wheels for a 7200 planter. He was young and intelligent, but he paused for a little while trying to figure out what I was talking about. Then he went to the back and came out with two CLOSING wheels. I guess I'm just not modern enough!!!

Went to the Deere dealer the other day for a bushing for the planter. The parts man was very experienced but he couldn't find the bushing in the computer diagrams for love or money! He'd sit there and try to think of another name for the part and the section it might be listed in. After a half hour of both him and me looking at the pics on the screen, we found it. He was just as calm in the end as he was at the beginning. I was getting frustrated. Jim

My two cents on this.. I buy all parts, repair and owner manuals for everything I own. When I call or go in I usually know model, serial and part numbers. Sometimes the part numbers are changed to newer numbers but still gets the counter guy where he needs to be. I find that the more I can know about what I need or need to do the better off I am no matter if its at napa, j.d., or walmart.. THis site helps alot to..

The guy that I get most of my parts from has a sullen attitude, but I've figured out that if I allow an extra 5 minutes for some no pressure conversation, before I approach the counter, I can always cheer him up and get him on my side. Then he'll bust his butt to find some obscure, unfindable part to fit a 50 or 60 year old machine. And he'll let me take a whole bin of "maybe's" home to see if they will fit, 'cause he knows I'll bring everything back in an hour and pay for everything I've wrecked. He keeps a good stock of parts, and gets deliveries every night for out of stocks. I wish he was Mr. Sunshine, because I think he'll eventually have everyone in the community mad at him and have to lock the place up due to no patrons. He's five miles from my home, and I'm gonna do my best to keep him going. The next parts house is 20 miles away. His dad started the business and retired a few years ago. Son doesn't have a "people personality", one of the requirements for dealing with most people. His sister was very pleasant and knowledgable, but I think she got tired of all day every day grumpy brother and moved on to greener pastures.

Jocco,
I agree with others that there are 2 sides to this discussion. I have often stood behind customers who argue with the parts guy, don't know what they want, etc. When it's my turn, the guy's jaws are pretty tight already and I try and lessen his burden by being polite and cordial and sometimes even commenting on the previous shopper. Usually end up getting a smile out of the counter guy with a little more service and sometimes even a deal on something.

Life's too short to go around making yourself and the people around you miserable and I try and not let others get to me either. I can excuse ignorance or mistakes on the part of people. After all, none of us is perfect. But if a guy is rude or has an attitude, I'll just take my business elsewhere and don't let it get under my skin.

A bit different problem here. You walk up to the counter and salesperson just stares at you, never utters a word. You ask for something and are told to ask another person. You get what you want, go back to first salesperson, put item on counter, and they just stare at you and don't say anything. You have to ask how much it is, they write a bill, then send you to a third person who is the cashier.

Worse yet is waiting your turn at a counter, then when it's you turn, another customer will walk up and tell salesperson what they want and they get waited on first! Like you don't even exist.
In Brazil, everyone cuts in front of everyone else, so waiting your turn has no meaning and they have no respect for personal space, so you have some fat sweaty guys rubbing and shoving against you as you push your way thru the chaos at the counter just to be waited on.
Just wonderful.

Back when it was still just IH,we had a dealer here with a Jeckyl and Hyde parts department. The one parts guy was the nicest guy you ever wanted to deal with,the other one,to this day I've never come across another person as miserable and condicending as he was.

(quoted from post at 08:37:21 05/19/11) yea,..what goose said

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What ohiojim said

1. Tell that person that you don't need their attitude, or ask them what their problem is. Either he/she will be much more pleasant or they'll get the manager.
2. Find another more helpful employee or ask for the manager.
3. Get a hold of /call the owner(s) or corporate HQ. You will find attitudes will be quickly adjusted, or you will find new faces upon your next visit.
4. Find somewhere else to do business with, even if they're well out of your way.

"The customer is always right." This isn't totally true, but the customer need never deal with a jerk, or an overall arrogant place of business either. It is not your privilege as a customer to deal with a business. It is a privilege of the business to have you as a customer. You bring your $$$, some of which pays for what leaves their shelves when you take it home, some goes for overhead, and some that puts dinner on their table or $$ on their stock price. They cease to exist without customers. Many business have forgotten this. Some places have the attitude that you can't go anywere else, or nobody is as good as they are. There's always somewhere else to go, and there are always people who will want your business. Some employees also have the attitude that they can't be replaced. Some of those find out that this is untrue, too.

All employees should have some general knowledge of the products the business handles. Computers are great, but those paper pages don't exist for the sole purpose of holding a binder down on a shelf, either.

Provided the customer has cheked their attitude at the door when they walk in, the employee should be pleasant to deal with. Maybe not all smiles, comedic lines, and chatty, but not crabby, clueless, and P.O.'ed at the world, either. Some people can come off as "sour" and don't always mean it.

We've all seen a (potential, current, or former) customer walk into a place and treat someone at the counter like crap. This is unfortunate, but it's part of the job, and it happens. If the emplyee has had enough, they can always ask their manager to deal with the rude customer. Some people are absolute jerks, but they need never be the people on the business owner's side of the counter.

I was in a NAPA store once when a guy came in who had the attitude that when he walks through the door, the world stops for him, and his problem whas more important than anyone elses. He thought he could cut in line, and got mad at the employee at the counter when the employee wouldn't serve him because he cut in front of half a dozen people. He then started the "Do you know who I am?" routine. He then loudly proclaimed that he would take his business elsewhere. The manager walked over, and politely stated that taking his business elsewhere was the customer's prerogative, but no customers shall receive preferrential treatement, and to either take a number, and that the line started over there, or the door was in the same place it was when he came through it. I felt this was handled very well.



I went about 3 hours away with a neighbor to an auction last spring. He brought along a broken marker part off his JD 7000 planter, and we drove around to some JD dealers afterwards. At the first one, 2 guys were both on the phone. After standing there for 15 minutes, (no "I'll be with you in a minute" or "when I'm done with this call, I'll be able to help you" or anything, it was if nobody but the two of them was in the building), we left. The second dealer spent 20 minutes on the computer, and finally said they didn't have any, and the part number was NLA from JD, no other dealers had any either, and reccomended a salvage yard for "old planters". Finally, we ended up in Monticello, IN. When we walked in the door with the part and before we got to the counter, a parts man told my neighbor what was in his hand, not needing the book or computer, the part number, and told another parts guy that there were about half a dozen in row XX, bin XX and to get him one with the lighter green paint to closer match what was in his hand. We asked him if these were still available, he got on the computer and said he could have 200 of them there tomorrow if we wanted them. In less than 5 minutes, he had his part, we were asked if there was anything else they could do for us, he paid, we were wished a good evening, and were out the door.

I don't expect everyone to be nearly as good as the last guy above. I don't expect anyone ever to act like the first ones, either. The second one was clueless, and I wonder how much money he and the first ones cost their employers' each day above and beyond their paychecks.

How counter people handle those who can't speak english, and throw something on the counter, I haven't a clue.

AG

Think I've probably related this on this forum before, but it bears repeating.

About 25 years ago when I worked in Customer Service for a large printing plant I had a sideline business repairing boats. I once needed a particular ball bearing, but unfortunately part of the number on the bearing was obliterated.

I went to a place called Precision Bearing 'cause I figured it was a standard bearing I could buy locally rather than order it from my usual parts source. At Precision, I handed the bearing to a dumply little dork with a cigar stub in his mug. He took one look at the damaged number, said "It would be a G-- D----- waste of time to look for it", handed the bearing back to me and turned to the next customer.

I was steamed. I then went to a place called Power Drives and Bearings. I handed the guy the bearing. He squinted at what was left of the number, took a dial caliper out of his shirt pocket, took a couple of measurements, and reached on the shelf and handed me one. All in no more than ten seconds or so.

When I got back to a telephone, (pre-cell phone), I called the manager at Precision and lit into him about the bonehead at his counter.

Interesting part was, in my job at the printing plant I frequently ran around town on company business. The Maintenance Department knew this and frequently had me pick up parts if I was going downtown anyway, including an occasional stop at Precision Bearing. I never again saw that dip at Precision. Must have gotten the axe on the spot. Maybe I was just the final one of a long list of complaints about the guy.

(quoted from post at 10:14:50 05/19/11) Just walk away. I left $200 worth of parts sitting on the counter for those very reasons. Hoy'ty-toy'ty sales fella seem to think that I should wash and clean up a core so the box didn't get a oil spot on it. I could have understood if it was bad, this box had a dime sized spot on the side that had soaked in (not wet). Didn't say a word. Picked up my core and walked out. The $10 core return was nothing compaired to the $1000's it has cost them over the last 5 years.

When I can I buy of the net. If I need it realy bad I have a choice of dealers to go to. Hoy'ty-toy'ty isn't one of them.........

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Nobody at the dealership has even noticed the loss of the $1000's in parts as customers come and go all the time.
Unless you politely bring it to the managers attention in a level tone of voice. Nobody is going to know, notice or do anything about it.

I mean how high to the top do you want to go with it? If it were me I would find the contact for the owner. If you cant find that find the number for the district manager. The district manager will bust heads pretty quick.

Possible bad attitude reasons?? Second paycheck has bounced, Manufacturer has refused warrantee claims from shop supervisor who said just replace defective alternators with the larger amp models ordered for the electrolift snowplows, the recall warantee vehicle in shop for 3 months wasn"t sold by former Kaiser dealer but the AMCs won"t work on it for carb defect- and last 3 orders for replacement carb as rush/warrantee by government recall are back ordered--AND marked C.O.D. to dealer. Manufacturers rep tells customer that dealers partsmen were supposed to have the parts or repair kit from January orders for stock--on recall issued April. Manufacture cust service rep brings in customer to cuss me out and I tell him he can sign the authorization for the work and parts as state law allows and we"ll have vehicle out the door in 3 days with passed emission inspection like previous vehicle-but it WON"T have a motorcraft carb from OEM or unavailable repair kit and the factory people were told of that 2 months previous and denied work order even after states attorney called them. When told to step back from customer so she doesn"t over hear company business- instead tell her direct I can give name and address of previous fixed vehicle or call him to stop by and he"ll tell of his problems with the AMC dealer he tried to get repairs done before coming to us- and he"ll drive in with the repaired vehicle that rep standing next to her say"s can"t be fixed any other way. Also give her name and number of states attorney assigned to the recall problem, the federal number of recall record keeper. Then I ask if she wants job done now or wait for AMC to provide the parts, rep is here , he can personally bring the warrantee part by end of day if as he has just said it is available at local wharehouse. I wasn"t fired, vehicle was towed out next day to AMC dealer-- but I got call 2 weeks later from other old Kaiser dealer about vehicle towed into them with customers lawyer and cash in hand to repair- wanted to know the parts numbers of state legal but not OEM repair. Week later was call from cusomer lawyer, vehicle on road, inspected and repair bill paid in cash and refund law suit against AMC for triple dammage plus cost filed- would I be available as witness? Other side of counter- needed valve guides for 1937 Harley UL, young counter guy checks fiche can"t find model, asks mech and digs out old parts book, blows off dust and finds part, notes number for obsolete order, check price book and find superceding numbers- 4 of them, goes to parts shelf for order slip and finds 5 valve guides in box- he was kind of surprised. I bought 3 of the guides. RN.

(quoted from post at 14:57:21 05/19/11) All the comments below forget to take into account all sorts of things. I use to be the parts guy and here are my reasons for saying this then go look in the mirror. 1. - guystanding there wanting parts hasn"t paid his bill in three months and brags about taking a vacation. 2. he got me out of bed on sunday to get him parts that he brought back on monday because his shade tree mechanic talents failed him. 3. He"s always complaining about the price of things be he doesn"t pay MY bills or know how much it takes to keep the doors open. 4. He brought the attitude in with him because he broke the thing doing something stupid. NOW the next time you all walk into a parts store be a little more friendly and patient and maybe you"ll get put on the good customer list. Also there is a time to complain about your service and its probably not starting a fight in front of the counter. Thats my side now flame on!

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1. Real simple. Cut him off. Cash only for what leaves the door from today foreward. 1 year before he can get his credit back. A customer who makes an attempt to pay/pays part of a bill may be having a tough time. A customer who doesn't make any attempt to pay is a thief. 12 months of interest on a charge account will get you nothing extra during a bankruptcy hearing, either. Good customer or not, if they don't pay, they don't get goods/service. See if he puts you as a contact on his credit application at one of your competitors.

2. If he did this to me once, shame on him. He wouldn't have a second chance to do it to me.

3. If he complains about the price, but keeps coming back, he couldn't find it any cheaper anywhere else. If it were half the price, he'd complain. Grin and bear it.

4. There's a good customer list? What the he__ is that?

AG

Or the Hospital will own your ranch.
Walt

Good advice, Allen! I'm going to put on my Massey Ferguson hat and try it on the way home from work. I need a couple of bearings for the rake to get ready for hay. I think I'll try one of Gunnery Sargeant Hartman's insults from the Movie full Metal Jacket, there's a couple of real good ones that ought to get him mad pretty quick. Wish me luck on my new John Deere Dealership!

very correct i do the same!!!

quite honestly , I dont think its JUST sales people or counter people.I think its the whole generation of folks coming on.ive been around a long time,all over the country,and I think young folks today with few exceptions are the rudest,crudest, most inconsiderate people ive ever had the displeasure of running across.Whats that old saying?,the more people I see ,the more I like mules!

(quoted from post at 19:40:54 05/19/11) quite honestly , I dont think its JUST sales people or counter people.I think its the whole generation of folks coming on.ive been around a long time,all over the country,and I think young folks today with few exceptions are the rudest,crudest, most inconsiderate people ive ever had the displeasure of running across.Whats that old saying?,the more people I see ,the more I like mules!

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I won't defend those with attitude problems, and as a generalization, sadly agree with most of your statement.

BUT................ The generation "coming on" like every generation before them was raised by their parents' generation, a fact that people of all ages can relate to. At least some fault lies with how "this whole generation of folks" were brought up. Some things can't be learned in school, and not from a college degree, either.


(Don't shoot me, I'm 29.)

AG

The young people of today were taught that attitude by their parents, or lack of, in my opinion.

We had a small town Allis dealer who ran a good old fashioned dealership that all the locals frequented. He didn't know me real well, but one day I stopped there for a part while I was going through town. He was behind the parts counter just finishing up with a customer when I walked in. After he gave the customer the parts and settled the bill, he started gossiping with the customer, asking how the wife and kids were etc. I stood there for maybe ten minutes while they carried on, then I turned and headed for the door. It was then that he asked what I wanted while I was walking away. I kept walking. He was the sole the owner of the place but he must not have been very hungry. Jim

(quoted from post at 14:40:54 05/19/11) quite honestly , I dont think its JUST sales people or counter people.I think its the whole generation of folks coming on.ive been around a long time,all over the country,and I think young folks today with few exceptions are the rudest,crudest, most inconsiderate people ive ever had the displeasure of running across.Whats that old saying?,the more people I see ,the more I like mules!

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Crude, lazy, slothful members of the young generation was addressed by a certain popular Greek Philosopher. Not much has changed in how many centuries since?

thats what makes it even worse!!seems to me like about 75% of the young folks I know today were raised with one parent and even they werent around to teach them nothing.Its hard to imagine what their kids will be,,But again you have some that were raised the exact way,or even worse,and they shine like a diamond in a goats rear.,,I think i'm getting cynical in my old age,definitly a different world now.

And then there's the other side of the coin.

Was at an IH dealer once, woman was there with a list of parts hubby needed (in the height of harvest, everyone busy). Only trouble is, hubby forgot to note which tractor it was for. Those in the line behind were amused by the following exchange:

"OK, now- its a red tractor, right? Otherwise I've gotta send you down to Deere."
"Yes, Red and white."
"Does it have a cab?"
"No, no cab."
"Does it have back wheels about as tall as you are, or much smaller?"
"As tall as me- I can't see over the hood."

Guy writes 806 on the list, hands it to a runner to get the parts. He knew all the tractors the guy had, and figured it out through process of elimination.

I was really sorry when that outfit got out of the tractor business. All we've got left is Deere and Kubota- both are excellent, not a loser parts man in the bunch.

I used to do that to some guy. Gave him a rough road to hoe every time I saw him. Berated him. Called him names that I can't repeat here. Even threatened him a few times. Then I found out that he wasn't the guy my wife ran away with. It finally donned on me that if she ran away with him, he couldn't still be here, now could he? I probably should have apologized to him, but he quit coming around.

Mark

I sure wish many of you would spend some time in their shoes on the other side of the counter.
I think you would get a real awakening !

Row to hoe as in a weedy garden..

We got a John Deere dealer that's only 30 miles from here and I will not step foot in there store the longest day I live got a napa dealer that's the same way . The John Deere dealer has about 15 stores in several states and there prices are higher than either privately owned store that I do business with and the parts people aren't jerks like at the big store . I will not do business with parts people that are jerks as for napa and there cheap crap just as far ahead to look up the part number and call auto zone same quality of parts cheaper

I used to work a job similar to parts guy's and with my boss you would be rude to a customer only once.
Like everywhere there are places that have some great parts guys/gals and some that are down right lazy and could care less about what they are doing. Handle it by going to the good places even if I have to pay a little more.

I'm just a small timer, run some sheep and sell some hay, but I'm trying to BUILD SOMETHING here. While I understand that the big 1K head dairy farmer down the road spends 100X as much a moth as I do in a year at a business, I'd still like to at least be given some reasonable service. That big guy could go under tomorrow and leave them holding $100K in bills. There's one place nearby that won;t even talk to you, literally, if they don't recognize you! Wave some cash under their nose and they talk. Another place the people are great but even they will drop me for the big guy like I don't exist. That's just not right.

Yep, I used to be a parts manager at a Case-IH back in Nebraska.

That was back when PAPER parts books were still used instead of the computerized crap they have now.

We had notes written in the parts books like serial numbers, any changes made from stock like a turbo on a non turbo tractor, etc.

The notes listed what other tractors they had, and what engine. Meaning German or English diesel, etc. DOUG

I have been in business for many years, there are some customers who will make you grouchy.I remember being in the old B&B Diner and watch Joe jump over the counter to get at a drunk who was giving him trouble.Joe was the kindest man I ever knew, he gave many a free meal to fellows who were out of work.He would lend us young fellows money to take the girls to the drive in movie.Just didnt pay to get him mad.I see a lot of bad mouthing of young people who dont seem to know much.I usually ask .What did you know at 17?We get too soon old and too late smart.

Spent 18 years as a counter clerk for US Postal Service. Anybody familiar with the PostaL Service culture? Possibly only 1 in 10 customers difficult to deal with. On course that's in Vermont. Just grin and bear it and laugh all the way to the bank. Retired a year ago. I'm still laughing and tickled pink. Have a goodun.