Who's right summit racing or me?

[rsmarr1982]

I live less than 2 miles from the ohio summit racing I usually go there for all my parts . I look them up online and take the part number right to the cashier and avoid the long sales lines. I recently purchased a water pump for my 72 k20 the truck I have is set up for a short pump. The one I decided to buy from summit ended up having the wrong bolt pattern for the pulley which I found out after in stalling it. Upon returning it they said we are going to charge you a 50% restock fee because you should have seen the sales department. So after returning it is going see the sales people and he tells me that a 72 chevy truck should take a long style pump and was very persistent in telling me a short one was wrong. Didn't all 67-72 with a small block have short ones?

[hugger6933]

All small block pumps were short in this series

[rsmarr1982]

They pretty much told me that if I had seen a salesman first they wouldn't have charged me a restock fee because that would have been their wrong. I was kinda told that I don't know more than the salesman. But clearly I guess I do

[72c105speed]

Take the old one to them! I love proving no it all parts guys wrong

[rsmarr1982]

Originally Posted by 72c105speed

Take the old one to them! I love proving no it all parts guys wrong

It got scraped a couple weeks ago, it was a replacement pump .

[lolife99]

Edited:
Cars switched to long water pumps in the 1969 model year.
Trucks switched in the 1973 model year.

[swamp rat]

The guy is an idiot...

[46stude]

Originally Posted by rsmarr1982

They pretty much told me that if I had seen a salesman first they wouldn't have charged me a restock fee because that would have been their wrong. I was kinda told that I don't know more than the salesman. But clearly I guess I do

I'm confused.

Was the one you got with the wrong pattern for the pulley the one they charged you the fee on? Wasn't that your fault for ordering the wrong one?

And the sales guy is arguing w/ you about the one you need to replace it with?

[rsmarr1982]

Originally Posted by 46stude

I'm confused.

Was the one you got with the wrong pattern for the pulley the one they charged you the fee on? Wasn't that your fault for ordering the wrong one?

And the sales guy is arguing w/ you about the one you need to replace it with?

If you search a water pump for a 72 k20 with a 350 on summits page part # aaz-58-403 comes up as an option and says it fits that application. However it doesn't beacause of the different in the pulley bolt pattern. Then when I was told to talk to a sales person he argued with me that a 72 k20 or any other 1972 pick up should have the long style pump which is false as people on here will confirm.

[rsmarr1982]

Guy at the return counter acted like I was an idiot for avoiding the sales counter and just ordering the parts by the number their website came up with and charged me a restock fee. However the second one they tried to sell me was for sure not right because he said I needed a long style.

[dirtwork]

I had the same problem with the water pump for one of my trucks last summer. Bought a pump from local auto parts store, painted, and put it on. Found same problem that studs for the pulley would not line up. Could not return it because I already painted it. Ended up getting one from Advance if I remember correctly, and it had more threaded holes in the flange for the pulley studs to allow more configurations. Worked out fine then other than the wasted time and money. Both my trucks have short pumps.

[46stude]

Their website shows 20 long & 13 short applications for that search. Lots of confusion going on there.

If you do the engine family tab, along with the iron, natural finish, & stock replacement tabs, it comes up with GMB-130-1350, which looks to be a short. Show that to the salesman.

[rsmarr1982]

Originally Posted by 46stude

Their website shows 20 long & 13 short applications for that search. Lots of confusion going on there.

If you do the engine family tab, along with the iron, natural finish, & stock replacement tabs, it comes up with GMB-130-1350, which looks to be a short. Show that to the salesman.

For the $13 or so dollars it isn't worth the effort, I quit goin to autozone and advanced because of stupidity like this. I couldn't even just ask for a 1/2 inch npt plug without being asking for a make year and model at my local autozone

[MARKDTN]

Originally Posted by lolife99

Cars switched to long water pumps in the 1968 model year.
Trucks switched in the 1973 model year.

Pretty sure for cars it was 69 when they changed over-except Corvettes kept it longer and have a bigger diameter shaft.

[bigdog55]

I have a 70 gmc that came with a long water pump. If I remember right, having ac equipped truck determines the length of the water pump. But I could be wrong about that.

[67ChevyRedneck]

This thread alone is proof that even "car guys" get stuff wrong...

I've tried to be more accepting of the computer jockeys. Unless you have a specific part number, they have to go through all of their screens before they can get to the parts section (same as when you go online).

There is now 100+ years of cars, with all sorts of manufacturers, makes, and models. When it comes to the autozone type places, its absurd to expect someone who mostly sells oil filters for newer model cars to have any idea that your 69 C20 needs a short or long water pump, or know what clutch your 67 4 speed camaro should have, yet this is what we expect. Years ago cars/trucks used/shared a lot of the same simple parts. The amount of parts in a new truck is insane.

In the case of the summit guy, he shouldn't have been an ass. If he didn't know, that's one thing, but don't pretend you know and be wrong AND be an ass.

Go easy on the parts guys, nowadays they're hired based on customer service and computer skills.

That's why I like places like NPD. Those guys seem to know their stuff/catalogs pretty well. I pretty much only buy fluids, brakes, and tune up stuff locally for my old stuff. Anything else is ordered based on research and known part numbers.

[StingRay]

Originally Posted by bigdog55

I have a 70 gmc that came with a long water pump. If I remember right, having ac equipped truck determines the length of the water pump. But I could be wrong about that.

Any A/C stuff I've ever had was all short pump.

[bigdog55]

I don't know for sure what my truck originally came with since I'm not the original owner. I just know that it had a long water pump when I bought it form the previous owner. I seem to remember reading somewhere that the length was ac related but not positive on it now.

[toolboxchev]

Originally Posted by rsmarr1982

Guy at the return counter acted like I was an idiot for avoiding the sales counter and just ordering the parts by the number their website came up with and charged me a restock fee. However the second one they tried to sell me was for sure not right because he said I needed a long style.

That is the retail world we deal with, if their data is wrong, guess what? NO, that does not fly here also.

If I were in Customer Service at this company I would get the issue correct, NC. I would want your business back as you are a paying customer, not a number or an idiot when you leave my workplace.

I have seen the same thing also, you are not alone.

[special-K]

Summit is in the wrong no matter which way you went about it because their website lists a part that is wrong. They owe you that ridiculously steep restocking fee. I have never heard of a 50% restock fee. What in the world??? That is crazy. The standard for restock fees is 15% across the board, at least in my 60 years that is what I have seen. They can put it back on the shelf just as easily as they took it off. Restock fees are a cry baby charge set to compensate a business for losing a sale they thought they had already made money on.

[67ChevyRedneck]

Did you have the part for longer than 90 days?

http://www.summitracing.com/customerservice/faqs

If not, that goes against their un-used return policy:

What are your restocking fees?

Products that are over 90 days old, or show evidence of wear or use, are subject to restocking or disposition fees.

Fees will be determined based on the age and condition of the returned product and its packaging.
Products that show signs of excessive age, abuse, or improper handling, upon return inspection, may be refused for return.
These exceptions will be returned to sender or disposed of based on the customer's preference.

[Grumpy old man]

These issues only happen when the company becomes "all knowing in their own minds " any part can be found from a smaller more customer based supply house . When these big guys turn their showrooms into a cattle call follow the yellow line in turn and don't cause waves because we're smarter than the dumb customer places of business I avoid them like the plague ! I buy a lot of parts and use Manestruckparts.com for their customer service and willingness to discuss what I want and why . The local auto parts stores are 18 yr olds with a computer and have no idea what points do let alone anything else on a 50 year old truck .
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[jeffahart]

I use summit... for some things.
It's kinda like the right tool for the job.
Example: I just rebuilt a winch.
Summit: 4 gauge battery cables and terminal boots.
Amazon: bearings(I knew the part numbers)
Winch manufacturer: For the seal kit(summit did have one, but I did not trust it was correct).
Local Autozone: Fluids.
John Deere: Corn head grease (I'm still considering using it in the gear box)
Home Depot/Lowes: Bolts

I went with who could provide the best price and service for the level of specialty.

Phone, online, and in person combination. Oh and Pierce answers the phone! Love those guys!

Trust your gut when dealing with jackasses!

[dubds10]

Last time and only time I ever had to do a water pump was on my '72 Blazer. It had a motor swap and we weren't sure which one it was. Took a guess at O'Reily's only to find out it was wrong. Went back with the new one and broken one and got the right one the second time.

No money to exchange, just swapped to the new one. Simple as that. Unfortunately there were 20-30 options when I went in and we honestly had no idea which would be correct since it was a crate motor. Some places it just depends on the sales person, but lots of companies do bend you over on restocking charges. You obviously just got the wrong person that day.

[lolife99]

Originally Posted by MARKDTN

Pretty sure for cars it was 69 when they changed over-except Corvettes kept it longer and have a bigger diameter shaft.

You are correct.
I didn't realize my typo.