fiasco at the auto store

[LonestaRR]

I installed clear lenses yesterday on my turn signals. I had gotten the amber bulbs, and after install, I decided I should have gone with the clear bulbs that shine amber. So I went to a different auto store closer to home. I'm looking for the right bulbs when the clerk walks up and says, "do you know what you're looking for?" I told him I wanted to find single contact clear bulbs that shine amber. He told me they don't have any (Auto Zone) and no one makes them. There is no such thing. So I think back over all the posts I've read and the help I've gotten from other board members and I realize maybe I'm not explaining myself well enough. So I try again. We are standing in front of the freakin' bulbs and he says there is no such thing again. I'm not going to be rude to him like he is to me, but I am staring right at them. So I casually take a two pack of Sylvania Silverstar high performance bulbs off the rack and say, "like these. I think these are the ones I want. I just need to make sure the pins are not off set." He yanks them from my hand (really) and says, "Those aren't amber, just a brighter white." So I grab the last box of 1156A on the rack and turn it over and ask, "what does it mean when it says, 'when lit, SilverStar generates amber light.'"? He says, "oh, yes well those do." It's the same freakin' package he has in his hands. The guy was obviously wrong and there was no way out of it for him, but he would not admit it. So I said, "you told me there is no such thing and that these only shine white. Do you think they will really shine amber?" To which he replied, "I don't know, we can't be certain." And he just walks off.

Realizing he didn't know anything about bulbs, I walked down another aisle and saw another clerk. I said, "could you answer a question about these bulbs?" His answer was just plain rude. So I left, no bulbs.

I drove literally right across the street to O'Reilly and went in to find the same bulbs. This time the clerk was much nicer, but he also did not know the bulbs shone amber. I pointed that out to him and then he decided he knew better about which set of SilverStar I needed. He wanted me to buy something like a 7507A. I kindly questioned him about that. He was certain. In fact, he said, "well, I can't be for sure, but if I was going to guess, I would take the 7507A over that 1156A" Frustrated beyond measure now, I asked if we could just open the box and take a closer look. It took a major act of congress to do so, but alas, when opened he could see that the 1156A was "closer to what you are looking for". So he was willing to sell them to me with the option for me to return them if they don't fit - because he was pretty certain they wouldn't.

The guys at O'Reilly were at least as helpful and friendly as they could be. At checkout, I told the clerk a little of what I had just gone through at the Auto Zone across the street. I asked him if they ever get customers that come across the street to them because the people at that particular Auto Zone were so rude. He said, "all the time. In fact, we are thinking of having customer appreciation day over there."

I've been in an auto store maybe 3 times in my life. What an experience. If I hadn't had the advice and help from this board, my project would never have been completed. I learned the valuable lesson of knowing what I want before I go in to buy anything again - because the chances are pretty good, they won't have the knowledge this board offers.

Thanks to all of you who give the tech advice. It's invaluable to us novices and my bike looks great with the clear lenses and the clear bulbs!

[Anger]

I swore I'd never shop in an AZ again after one time 2 years ago at 8 mile and Gratiot. I was in a hurry to buy some spark plug wires, plugs, etc. The store was empty. I approached the counter. The punk behind the counter waits for the exact moment I'm about to say my request list to pick up the phone, call his girlfriend and entertain me with his conversation with his girl.

I left.

I did have to go back in there for a can of brake fluid once but my wife and I shop online where possible, at pepboys or at a great local shop, United Auto.

[DJ Downunder]

Same thing here...

I'm sure they have to take a rudness test before they get the job.

DJ

[AL]

Went through the same thing myself Kristi,so don't think it a gender thing. It's really great when your able to get a good parts guy at any of these parts stores(AZ,Shucks,ect)Lucky for me that one of the good folks here told me about autobarn to order the silverstars from,and they were on sale for almost 50% less then shucks had them for. Thanks again to all who help with such good info.

[MartyWadd]

Rude? That's what you get for being a girl!!!
Just kidding. Congrats on your mod!!!!

[popgazer]

Recently I had a lot of fun with the license plate bulb. I don't know if you had to get one. It's a tiny 12 V, halogen with off-centered pins. I just walk up to a clerck show him the bulb and ask "do you think you guys carry these!" the answer is always "Of ourse". Then, I step back and let myself be entertained. After the second store I realized it was one of those bulbs made in hell. Even the dealer said they'd have to special order it!

[MikeCam]

Kristi,

Good story and sadly so typical. But they do it to us guys too often as well.

Now, girl, you need to do a tech spec write up for the board! Show diagrams, sketches, pics of the right and the wrong and the part numbers, product codes and etc. That way we can skip the search and get right to business when we convert our lens!

Thanks in advance.

M

[Airman]

Kristi,

Good story and sadly so typical. But they do it to us guys too often as well.

Now, girl, you need to do a tech spec write up for the board! Show diagrams, sketches, pics of the right and the wrong and the part numbers, product codes and etc. That way we can skip the search and get right to business when we convert our lens!

Thanks in advance.

M

Pictures with numbers typed in. Step by step like Cyclerob used to do.
I print that stuff out and put it my BigBMWBook. You can't believe how helpful some of that stuff is.

[LonestaRR]

I guess I should have taken pics as I worked, but I assumed everyone else knew this stuff. Actually, I found most of the info on what to do from the board - Go to Feb. 4, 2006 under R1150 section and look for the heading CLEAR LENS. There you will find everything you need to know. Then, when there were things I encountered that I didn't know how to do (because I really have never done any work on anything mechanical before) I sent a PM to a couple of members on the board to ask specific questions that I was too embarrassed to ask on the board. I don't know them personally, but they seem to know a lot about this stuff. They didn't mind helping me through it. Sure wish they had gone to the auto store for me too!!! I would give their names, but they probably would prefer to stay anonymous so they don't get inundated with PM's asking tech questions.

[MikeCam]

Nice deflection! Well done.

[Paul Mihalka]

Somewhat similar experience here. Also AutoZone. Went in to get some gear oil for my R1100RT. Found on the shelf two bottles of Mobil1 75/140 gear oil, which was what I wanted, but no price marked on the shelf. Took it to the counter where a woman (I usually call them ladies, but not this one) was the sales clerk. I asked her to look up the price and sell it to me. She looked and did not find a price. She asked what it is for. I told her. She declared that is the wrong oil for what I need but did not say what is the right oil. I told her I know it is right and I want to buy it. She comes back really argumenting that it is the wrong oil and she knows because she has so and so much training. I left.

[collyers]

be careful when remounting the clear lenses - put a drop of silicone (lube, not glue) on the screws (or 3-in-1oil) to keep from splitting the plastic - do NOT overtighten these. They're cheap, but a pain to get more (or singles).
The Silver Star bulbs are pricey, but look great wit the little blue dot, and take a LONG time to burn out.

[Boxer]

When this happens to me at AutoZone or whereever, and I know its what I want, I ask the clerk what is it for, then whatever they say I just tell them, "Yes, that's what I have. You're a genius! Ring that baby up!"

Home Depot is bad about reading your mind too. They always ask me what its for when I ask for some odd piece of hardware or screw or wire. Sometimes its helpful, and sometimes its annoying.

[ofrogg]

BTW,

you can get the amber bulbs, a little bit of silver spray paint, and just dust the glass a little. I did it on my car turn signals. It's worked for >45k miles.