[Roo]

There is no excuse for this. In 2003 (and including very early 2004) the Forester had one specific type of rear wiper, after which they went to a different wiper blade style.

SOA591U215 - part number for the earlier arm wiper blade
86542SA080 - IIRC, the part number for the later 2004 on wiper blades.

Sheer laziness - which is too bad, because I'd be happy to be serving Subaru customer needs - I could use that job that this person doesn't seem to care anything about.

 

[Roo]

actually guys, before you start going off the deep end you should know some things about the program they have to work with there.

I used to work at a subaru dealership in parts.
The parts catalog that they have absolutely sucks.
Its damn near impossible to look up part numbers without the vin. some parts are on the list of quick look up, but only the standard maintenance items.

Its a very very inconvenient position to be in behind that parts counter.

we had mazda and subaru that was handled in our department.
i absolutely hated getting calls for subaru parts, and hated it even more when my subaru techs would bring me a grocery list for a rebuild (most common thing to happen at subaru, literally, for every 2 oil changes, there was 1 rebuild. ) it sucked completely.

Interesting perspective. I've worked at a Mazda-Subaru dealership before and I can tell you that if you can work well with numbers, it's all rather easy. The parts catalog is easy to learn - and you obviously weren't trained very well - or certified as a parts specialist.

Our techs would give us the RO - which has the VIN specified on it - and I'm here to tell you, once you've done as many re-builds as you claim, you should have the part lists memorized.

Only the lazy would complain about having to use the Subaru Parts catalog, which is even easier than the online catalog where I still go to find the part numbers - if I don't already have them memorized.

 

[Roo]

I did read the post. Not sure what the big deal about giving them the VIN is still beyond proving a point to no advantage? It's not like it's your SSN no.

The point is that the parts counterperson was being a lazy SOB. I can tell you for a FACT (from years of working Subaru dealership parts counter) that you do NOT ALWAYS need the VIN number to find parts information. There are a few exceptions with some cross-over parts, but those are the exception, not the rule.

Only LAZY S.O.B.'s refuse to TRY to find the right part(s) without the VIN.