The car I was driving today needed a bulb replacing. I stopped in a retail park,removed the blown bulb and went in to that well known big car accessories - parts - cycle store. Headed for the bulbs rack and selected the matching bulb.
At the desk the assistant insisted that he checked what bulb I needed. I told him which bulb it was. Tap tap tap on the computer and off he trots and comes back with completely the wrog bulb
"This is the one you need sir" (rather smugly)
I explained that I'd just removed the blown bulb in my left hand from the car outside the doors of the store and that the bulb in my right hand was the same and I would be buying that one. He insisted that I tell him which bulb it was and the car details again. Being a good humoured sort I obliged and of he trotted off again and came back insisiting that the bulb he had was the right one.
Then he started questioning me. I stopped him and had too insist that he just take my money for the bulb I wanted.
"Would you like it fitted SIR"
At that point my sense of humour had departed
" We can fit for you for £X SIR"
I explained that I'd opened the bonnet, removed the rear cover of the light assembly removed the correct bulb and selected the same type of bulb only too be told that I had the wrong bulb, so just take the money and leave me alone! The chap looked all upset and reluctantly took my money and then added "well it's your choice mate". Back at the car I put the new bulb in and as I turned the ignition on so I could check the bulb I could see that I had an audience watching from inside the store. Bulb failure warning light never came on and a quick circuit of the car confirmed all lights working
A goodbye 'wave' to the highly trained monkeys as I left put a smile back on my face.
My sons wife wasn't so lucky, she paid cash for the same companies monkey's selection and fitting service for new wiper blades two weeks ago. They fitted the wrong blades that came adrift and badly scored her cars windscreen two days later. She'd paid cash and lost the receipt. (Payment by card and she'd have been on a winner)
They didn't want too know, even though she could pick out the assistant who had fitted them and he obviously remembered her when they went in to complain. They were escorted from the store in need of a new windscreen.
So much for fully trained pro's!
At the desk the assistant insisted that he checked what bulb I needed. I told him which bulb it was. Tap tap tap on the computer and off he trots and comes back with completely the wrog bulb

I explained that I'd just removed the blown bulb in my left hand from the car outside the doors of the store and that the bulb in my right hand was the same and I would be buying that one. He insisted that I tell him which bulb it was and the car details again. Being a good humoured sort I obliged and of he trotted off again and came back insisiting that the bulb he had was the right one.
Then he started questioning me. I stopped him and had too insist that he just take my money for the bulb I wanted.
"Would you like it fitted SIR"
At that point my sense of humour had departed

" We can fit for you for £X SIR"
I explained that I'd opened the bonnet, removed the rear cover of the light assembly removed the correct bulb and selected the same type of bulb only too be told that I had the wrong bulb, so just take the money and leave me alone! The chap looked all upset and reluctantly took my money and then added "well it's your choice mate". Back at the car I put the new bulb in and as I turned the ignition on so I could check the bulb I could see that I had an audience watching from inside the store. Bulb failure warning light never came on and a quick circuit of the car confirmed all lights working

My sons wife wasn't so lucky, she paid cash for the same companies monkey's selection and fitting service for new wiper blades two weeks ago. They fitted the wrong blades that came adrift and badly scored her cars windscreen two days later. She'd paid cash and lost the receipt. (Payment by card and she'd have been on a winner)
They didn't want too know, even though she could pick out the assistant who had fitted them and he obviously remembered her when they went in to complain. They were escorted from the store in need of a new windscreen.
So much for fully trained pro's!