We don't give out...

[blaser24nig]

Yeah ... its normal... I wouldnt waste my time giving you part numbers either if i was behind the parts counter.

Im assuming you charge someone for your time in your profession? Why wouldnt they want to do the same?

For years I have always got part numbers, no problem, this all started today and I could not understand the logic. "Protecting the brand" was the main reason and stopping people from buying second hand parts from the scrapyard were the reasons I was giving not waste of time...

 

[Charles Morgan]

Perhaps you just rubbed them up the wrong way? Or rang when they had paying customers to deal with?

 

[Sp!ke]

Multiply these few minutes a few thousand times over and then tell me its not a big deal.

You do own your car but you cant expect people to provide their time for free for the duration of your ownership, especially since you can look up the part numbers yourself.

 

[blaser24nig]

Perhaps you just rubbed them up the wrong way? Or rang when they had paying customers to deal with?

I was extremely polite and I rang five different stealers and they all said pretty much the same thing.

 

[prprandall51]

Surely it takes only a few minutes to give out and a company as big as Mercedes shouldn't deem this an issue.

Mercedes do not pay the wages of the people working at the Parts Counters of the dealerships. The dealerships pay their own staff wages and they are independent of Mercedes.

Did you buy the car from the dealer you phoned (as you phoned 5 dealers, this would of course be an impossibility)? Do you get your car serviced at any of these "unhelpful" dealers? Do you pass any business their way?

As others have said, we assume that you don't give away your professional services for free so why should they?

You are even rude enough to call them "stealers" instead of dealers even though you are the one stealing (information) from them. I would not have not spun you a line about "protecting the brand", I'd have told you to go forth and multiply.

 

[blaser24nig]

Multiply these few minutes a few thousand times over and then tell me its not a big deal.

You do own your car but you cant expect people to provide their time for free for the duration of your ownership, especially since you can look up the part numbers yourself.

Oh no, not in that way. I didn't even know I could look it up myself (just found out now), was just surprised as I had always got them from the stealers no problem, thats all.

 

[blaser24nig]

Mercedes do not pay the wages of the people working at the Parts Counters of the dealerships. The dealerships pay their own staff wages and they are independent of Mercedes.

Did you buy the car from the dealer you phoned (as you phoned 5 dealers, this would of course be an impossibility)? Do you get your car serviced at any of these "unhelpful" dealers? Do you pass any business their way?

As others have said, we assume that you don't give away your professional services for free so why should they?

You are even rude enough to call them "stealers" instead of dealers even though you are the one stealing (information) from them. I would not have not spun you a line about "protecting the brand", I'd have told you to go forth and multiply.

Is that not a bit harsh? Whether they pay their own staff wages or not, they are still part of the brand MERCEDES. I have dealt with mercedes bromley a few times and do pass some business their way.

My car has a full service history from mercedes by the previous owner though I'm now looking to go independent.

They are stealers because of what I and most others have experienced with them so I just call them that. I was still going to buy an original mercedes benz part, so some how the money or some of it finds its way back to mercedes.

 

[Beetnik]

It's the equivalent of going into a camera shop and spending an hour looking at half a dozen different models whilst getting advice from a specialist, making an excuse for not buying and then getting the one you decide on from Amazon because it's £50 cheaper.

The reason why you'll no longer find a camera shop on your high street.

 

[prprandall51]

Is that not a bit harsh?

Maybe, so I apologise. However, calling them "stealers" is one of my pet hates - nobody is forced to buy anything from them. They set out their prices and you can choose to either use them or find somebody cheaper.

I still don't see why you cannot see that they would be unwilling to provide information that you will use to then go and buy a product from somebody else.

Money from your purchases may indeed make its way back to Mercedes but you can be sure that none of it will ever find its way into the dealers' pockets.

 

[blaser24nig]

Maybe, so I apologise. However, calling them "stealers" is one of my pet hates - nobody is forced to buy anything from them. They set out their prices and you can choose to either use them or find somebody cheaper.

I still don't see why you cannot see that they would be unwilling to provide information that you will use to then go and buy a product from somebody else.

Money from your purchases may indeed make its way back to Mercedes but you can be sure that none of it will ever find its way into the dealers' pockets.

I agree and sorry if calling them that name annoys you. Its just that because I had always got it from them I just expected them to still give them to me...Times are changing I guess. Thanks anyway.

 

[MD5]

Ebay will have its part to play. Imagine how times they take calls where someone says "I've seen a part on ebay - will it be okay for my car?" As said, multiply that by however many times you like in a day, and you would quickly be fed up for being used as a reference library.

On the other hand, the parts you mentioned could be purchased from your dealer at similar prices, possibly even cheaper, and once you get to know the parts guys, they can be very helpful.

Also as mentioned, the official MB owners club gives you access to MBs parts online as part of your membership.