@piper184 Thank you for sharing your experience.
One thing that hasn't changed since I worked in the dealership is that MOST parts people really are on your side and really do want you to save money.
It's amazing how many times we go out of our way to help somebody, and they think we are trying to get more money out of them.
Fun and true story:
Truck comes in with "starter does nothing when he turns the key." Sure enough, it's the starter.
Owner tells me, "I think it's just the solenoid."
I explain he's probably right, but a solenoid is almost the same cost as the entire starter, and the labor is the same, so let's just replace the entire starter. (I'm a GM tech, so the solenoid is part of the starter)
"You're just trying to sell me parts I don't need. Just replace the solenoid."
Again, I'm looking out for our customer and wanting to save him money. So I explain that with labor, it's more expensive to remove and replace the solenoid rather than just swap out the entire starter. He insists we are trying to sell him parts he doesn't need and wants us to replace the solenoid and put the old starter back in.
We do as he asks, and he picks up his truck.
A couple weeks later, I see it in front of the shop (blocking the door, by the way). I call him and sure enough, the starter is out. That makes sense, because whatever heat caused the solenoid to fail also affected the rest of the starter.
Here's the fun part-- We replace it with a new starter and built-in solenoid. That's the end of it, kind of.
That Saturday evening, the family and I are having dinner out and he just happened to be eating at the same restaurant. We say hello and introduce each other to our families.
I go to pay the restaurant check, and the server explains, "There is nothing to pay. The other gentleman paid your dinner for you."