Rant about parts seller.
Discussion
Given the recent drop in temperature, my car has been taken slightly longer than normal to crank and start. Coupled with the fact that the cold temperature will highlight weaknesses in a battery I've decided to replace the battery.
My car is a V10 S6 and takes a sizeable battery. So I went online and had a look at the website of a European car parts seller and fine a Bosch silver battery listed for my car. It's £86 but they currently have a promotion with 15% off. I drive to the local branch and pick it up. I get home and when compared with the old battery, it's about 4 inches shorter than the one already fitted and of a lower amp rating. Now I have to freaking drive all the way back to the branch to get a refund and then try to source another one which will waste an hour or so of my time tomorrow.
If they don't have the exact part in to fit my car, why the hell would they list a battery which is both the wrong dimension and the wrong amp rating???
My car is a V10 S6 and takes a sizeable battery. So I went online and had a look at the website of a European car parts seller and fine a Bosch silver battery listed for my car. It's £86 but they currently have a promotion with 15% off. I drive to the local branch and pick it up. I get home and when compared with the old battery, it's about 4 inches shorter than the one already fitted and of a lower amp rating. Now I have to freaking drive all the way back to the branch to get a refund and then try to source another one which will waste an hour or so of my time tomorrow.
If they don't have the exact part in to fit my car, why the hell would they list a battery which is both the wrong dimension and the wrong amp rating???
The difference in size means that the battery, which fits in the boot, will slide around as the bolt down clips won't reach to secure it properly.
I've already got a proper Audi battery ordered from my local independent specialist which I can pick up tomorrow. Having rung around this afternoon, it seems that no other manufacturer makes and exact fit of the battery needed for my car. Probably because there aren't many S6s on the road.
I've already got a proper Audi battery ordered from my local independent specialist which I can pick up tomorrow. Having rung around this afternoon, it seems that no other manufacturer makes and exact fit of the battery needed for my car. Probably because there aren't many S6s on the road.
That is not a rant, try harder! 
Seriously though try a Main Dealer, tell them the price that ECP/Whoever is quoting, and see if they can get close. OEM's are aware what the aftermarket is up to and IMO are slowly catching up, albeit 15 years too bloody late.
A decent partsman, would sort this out for you... (Don't ask!)
Seriously though try a Main Dealer, tell them the price that ECP/Whoever is quoting, and see if they can get close. OEM's are aware what the aftermarket is up to and IMO are slowly catching up, albeit 15 years too bloody late.
A decent partsman, would sort this out for you... (Don't ask!)
KungFuPanda said:
I don't think they've given me a wrong part by mistake. What they've done is knowingly listed a battery for my car that doesn't fit and isn't right for the application.
As much as your ego may be soothed by thinking they've tried to do you over, chances are it's just the giant catalogue having a wrong entry somewhere. They're wrong for lots of cars, and wandering into the shop they'll just grab whatever battery the computer says suits yours.Sounds like Audi are the ones who make life hard work, speccing up a weird-size battery that can't easily be replaced (presumably the early generations of S6 had normal ones, a battery fit site just suggested the same one from 1996-on for me)
Kong said:
Bigger doesn't always mean better when it comes to batteries.. Still sounds like they have f
ked up though. Got to be careful with ECP, my mate got sent the wrong brake discs for his Elise. Maybe they are better left for the mainstream stuff?
Well they managed to cock up a set of windscreen wipers for my Fiesta, doesn't get much more mainstream than that surely.ked up though. Got to be careful with ECP, my mate got sent the wrong brake discs for his Elise. Maybe they are better left for the mainstream stuff?I recently had to replace a cracked right indicator so I thought I'd do the repeaters at the same time.
I bought a left one and a right one, the left one was right but the right one was a left one in the wrong bag, so I went back to the shop and explained this, they simply exchanged it for the right right one in a right bag.
Then again my parts place is only up the road so that's alright but the parts bloke was a little confused at first.
I bought a left one and a right one, the left one was right but the right one was a left one in the wrong bag, so I went back to the shop and explained this, they simply exchanged it for the right right one in a right bag.
Then again my parts place is only up the road so that's alright but the parts bloke was a little confused at first.
These places have such a massive range, with parts often shared between different makes and models that I always try and double or triple check what they've got listed with other suppliers before I order.
I've mainly been fine with ECP but I'll check the old part if possible then open the new one in the shop to make sure it's right, as they did give a wrong oil filter once though it was 'correct' in their database.
I've mainly been fine with ECP but I'll check the old part if possible then open the new one in the shop to make sure it's right, as they did give a wrong oil filter once though it was 'correct' in their database.
DJFish said:
I recently had to replace a cracked right indicator so I thought I'd do the repeaters at the same time.
I bought a left one and a right one, the left one was right but the right one was a left one in the wrong bag, so I went back to the shop and explained this, they simply exchanged it for the right right one in a right bag.
Bagged up they were wrong from whichever manufacturer put them there... Hardly a distributor's fault. I bought a left one and a right one, the left one was right but the right one was a left one in the wrong bag, so I went back to the shop and explained this, they simply exchanged it for the right right one in a right bag.
Wipers is shockingly bad though.
I did exactly the same thing at ecp with my s4, ended up getting a tape measure out to measure the size of the one in my car and making them go find the one that fitted. Never trust a database to give you the right answer. eta. All of the choices on their computer were wrong, dont leave until youve stuck the new and old next to eachover and made sure.
Edited by 4key on Monday 5th November 21:22
S and RS cars often have wrong parts listed.
Had the same problem when sourcing a battery for my RS4 last Christmas.
PITA when you've ordered it "click and collect", got it home and it is the wrong one - this time it was too long!
Sorted out by referencing the type on another site and then pretending I had all manner of different cars until I find that the 1.9tdi A3 has the same type on the ECP site. Pretended I had a 1.9 A3 and then used the discount code (only available on click and collect) to order the battery.
ECP have a sub forum on audisrs with a rea person who can answer questions and sort problems such as this.
Had the same problem when sourcing a battery for my RS4 last Christmas.
PITA when you've ordered it "click and collect", got it home and it is the wrong one - this time it was too long!
Sorted out by referencing the type on another site and then pretending I had all manner of different cars until I find that the 1.9tdi A3 has the same type on the ECP site. Pretended I had a 1.9 A3 and then used the discount code (only available on click and collect) to order the battery.
ECP have a sub forum on audisrs with a rea person who can answer questions and sort problems such as this.
I was going to check the new battery against the old one in the car park, then I noticed a sign saying no fitting of parts in the car park so I couldn't be bothered with any hassle.
I've noticed that there is a branch a couple of miles away from me now so will be back tomorrow for a refund. At the same time I'll be picking up some screenwash on their 4 bottles for £8 offer.
Also whilst I was there, I noticed a lot of customers just coming in and reading a list of service parts they required and buying them there and then. Surely it would have been easier to click and collect. At least you know what you're getting, how much it will cost and more importantly avail yourself of the huge 30% off discounts and other promotions they're always doing??
I've noticed that there is a branch a couple of miles away from me now so will be back tomorrow for a refund. At the same time I'll be picking up some screenwash on their 4 bottles for £8 offer.
Also whilst I was there, I noticed a lot of customers just coming in and reading a list of service parts they required and buying them there and then. Surely it would have been easier to click and collect. At least you know what you're getting, how much it will cost and more importantly avail yourself of the huge 30% off discounts and other promotions they're always doing??
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